OTAHKIANS SEEK BID TO TOURNEY

True, things are not looking real good right now for Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team in the Ohio Valley Conference race.

But Southeast coach Ed Arnzen keeps emphasizing that it's not too late for the Otahkians to turn things around, although they must get started in that direction right away.

Which means tonight's 7:30 contest against Tennessee State at the Show Me Center is extremely important.

"I keep telling our players that it's still up for grabs if we start playing well," said Arnzen. "After the first four teams (in the OVC), it's really bunched up. We still have a chance.

"We could salvage this season if we could just win a few games right now."

The Otahkians, 4-13 overall, are a last-place 2-7 in the 10-team OVC. But they are within 1 1/2 games of the five teams currently ahead of them in the league standings.

While Eastern Kentucky (9-1), Tennessee Tech (7-3), Austin Peay (7-3) and Eastern Illinois (5-4) have been able to distance themselves from the rest of the pack, the bottom six teams are bunched together.

Murray State (4-6), Middle Tennessee State (4-6), Tennessee-Martin (4-6), Tennessee State (3-6) and Morehead State (3-6) are all within clear striking distance of the Otahkians as they at least shoot for a top-eight finish and a berth in the OVC Tournament.

"If we can string something together, we could very easily pass at least a few teams," Arnzen said.

Although TSU has struggled much of the season, beating the talented Lady Tigers tonight will be a difficult chore. TSU (6-10 overall) routed the Otahkians 82-54 back on Jan. 6 in Nashville.