OTAHKIANS SET STAGE FOR MARTIN

Because of the strong play of several newcomers, some of the returning players on Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team might get overlooked at times.

But it would have been almost impossible to overlook Rusty Sowers Thursday night. The senior guard scored a game-high 19 points as she helped lead the Otahkians past visiting Murray State 78-59.

The victory at the Show Me Center improved Southeast to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

MSU fell to 3-12 overall, 2-5 in the league.

"Rusty really grew up a lot this summer," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "She's gotten really focused and she's playing very well for us."

Arnzen said Sowers, who hit four of seven 3-pointers and seven of 12 shots from the field overall, also excelled defensively Thursday night.

"Rusty did a great job on Heather Bates, who we were really concerned about," said Arnzen. "I thought Rusty took her (Bates) totally out of her game."

Bates scored eight points and hit just two of eight shots.

Paula Corder hit five of six shots and scored 14 points while Pam Iversen was five of nine from the field as she added 11 points. Iversen also grabbed 11 rebounds as Southeast won the battle of the boards 45 to 41.

"Pam did a good job inside," Arnzen said. "I thought all our players did well. It was a total team effort. I thought it was one of our better performances of the season."

Rebounding was a concern of Arnzen's but the Otahkians more than held their own on the boards.

"Murray is a good rebounding team and I thought we did a very good job on the boards," said Arnzen.

The Lady Racers were led offensively by Bobbi Coltharp with 18 points. Monika Gadson added 12 points.

Sowers scored 12 first-half points as the Otahkians opened up a 38-26 lead at the intermission.

Then, after MSU had made a run early in the second half to close within 40-34, Sowers scored seven points during a 9-0 spurt that gave the Otahkians command again at 49-34 with just over 13 minutes left. Southeast cruised the rest of the way.

"Murray is a good team, even though their record is not good," said Arnzen. "It was a big game for us. People might have thought we'd be overlooking a game like this, but it's just as important as all the others."

The lead changed hands several times over the first 10 minutes of the opening half before the Otahkians began to take control.

Iversen scored inside with just over eight minutes remaining to put Southeast ahead for good at 21-20.

Southeast was clinging to a 23-22 lead when the Otahkians scored eight straight points, capped by Corder's basket that made it 31-22 with 3:20 remaining in the opening half.

Annie Struve's 15-footer put the Otahkians ahead 35-24 and Moneik Campbell's 3-pointer made it 38-24. It was 38-26 at halftime.

After MSU made a brief rally early in the second half, Sowers took over to help Southeast escape further trouble.

The Otahkians will close out their three-game homestand Saturday when OVC power Tennessee-Martin comes to the Show Me Center for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.

"Martin might be the best team in the conference," Arnzen said. "It's a huge game. We've won our first two (on the homestand) and now we can finally look toward Martin."