OTAHKIANS TRY TO BEAT AP AGAIN

A victory at Austin Peay on Jan. 6 helped Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team get off to a strong start in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Today, the Otahkians will try to get back on track with a second win over the Lady Govs, who visit the Show Me Center for a 4:30 p.m. tipoff.

Southeast had a four-game winning streak snapped Monday night as host Eastern Kentucky prevailed 89-82, dropping the Otahkians into third place in the nine-team OVC.

But the Otahkians, at 11-7 overall and 6-2 in conference play, are still in solid shape in the OVC race and a victory over fourth-place Austin Peay (8-10, 5-3) would solidify their status.

"It's another big game for us, but really, they're all big at this time of the season," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "Austin Peay is right behind us (in the OVC standings). This is a really pivotal game for them, but it is for us too. If we could win it, we could put a little more distance between us and them."

Otahks a surprise

The Otahkians were lightly regarded when conference play began as the OVC's head coaches and sports information directors had picked them fifth in the league's preseason poll.

But, after winning at Tennessee State in their conference opener, the Otahkians stunned preseason OVC No. 2 Austin Peay 87-80. That began a string of four straight league road victories for Southeast that was snapped Monday at Eastern Kentucky.

"The win at Austin Peay was a big one because it came against a team picked to finish high in the conference," Arnzen said. "I think that game really helped to legitimize us and it really did get us going (in conference play)."

Southeast's only other OVC loss besides Monday's was a one-point overtime setback at home to defending conference champion and current leader Tennessee Tech.

Despite that earlier win over Austin Peay, which was sparked by 20 points each from Veronica Benson and Christine Rathke, and 15 from Pam Iversen, Arnzen knows sweeping the season series from the Lady Govs will be no easy chore.

"They're a good basketball team and they'll be difficult to beat, even at home," said Arnzen. "They've been playing well and they'll come here ready to play, especially after we beat them at their place.

They always play well here and it will be a good basketball game."

Guards lead AP

Arnzen considers Austin Peay to have the best group of offensive guards in the OVC, led by sophomore standouts Brooke Armistead and Paige Smith. The 5-foot-9 Armistead was the league's rookie of the year last season while the 5-7 Smith also made the conference's all-freshmen team.

Armistead is the Lady Govs' leading scorer at 21.5 points per game, which ranks second in the OVC. Smith contributes 13.5 points a contest.

"I think they have the three best guards (including 5-3 junior Kelly Chavez), at least offensively, in the league," said Arnzen. "They possess one of the best scorers in the conference (Armistead) and they have other good scorers at well."

Jocelyn Duke, a 5-11 senior forward, is averaging 13.5 points per game for the Lady Govs while 6-2 freshman center Gerlonda Hardin carries an 11.8 scoring average and leads the OVC in field-goal shooting at a sizzling 67.2 percent.

"Their freshman inside has really helped them," said Arnzen.

Following today's action, the Otahkians will conclude their two-game OVC homestand Saturday when seventh-place Tennessee State (4-14, 2-7) comes to town for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.