Otahkians use long-range attack to stop Skyhawks

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University's Otahkians have struggled with their long-range shooting most of the season, hitting just 30.2 percent of their 3-point attempts.

But the Otahkians used impressive marksmanship from beyond the arc to bury Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee-Martin 83-60 Thursday night at the Show Me Center.

The Otahkians, who posted their second straight victory while improving to 10-10 overall and 5-4 in OVC play, made 12 of 18 3-pointers (66.7 percent), including a sizzling eight of 10 (80 percent) in the second half.

"It's about time," said junior guard Sami Jo Cotton, one of the few Otahkians who had been shooting well from 3-point land as she entered the contest at 36.7 percent.

Said senior guard Sarah Costello: "The 3-pointer is a big part of our offense. A big thing tonight was shot selection, and looking for our shooters."

Southeast coach B.J. Smith has been waiting for a breakout performance from long range for much of the campaign.

"We've not been consistent with our 3-point shooting, but we have been better since the conference season started," Smith said. "If we have had a weakness, it's been shot selection. Tonight we shot open 3-pointers."

Costello hit all four of her 3-point attempts and led the Otahkians with 16 points, as she was Southeast's Copi-Rite player of the game.

Cotton made four of five 3-pointers and scored 14 points.

"We've traveled so much, it was great to be at home," said Cotton after the Otahkians played at the Show Me Center after a four-game road swing.

Senior forward Yashika Sidbury had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Senior guard Kenja White also scored in double figures, putting in 10 points.

Freshman guard Jessica Aebi went three for three from 3-point range and scored nine points while tying Sidbury for team-high honors in assists with five.

Senior forward Carina Souza added nine points and five rebounds. Junior center Chandra Brown made all three of her field-goal attempts and scored eight points. Sophomore guard Tiffanne Ryan, continuing to round into form after missing several weeks with an ankle injury, grabbed five rebounds to tie for the team lead.

"We got a lot of contributions from a lot of players," Smith said.

UTM (7-12, 4-5) was led by junior guard Chandra Carey with 14 points.

The Otahkians started out like they were going to run the Skyhawks out of the building, taking a 19-4 lead less than seven minutes into the contest.

But the Skyhawks hung tough. UTM trailed just 33-25 at halftime and was behind 44-39 midway through the second half before Southeast pulled away again for good.

"We played all right, not great," Cotton said. "We're looking to put two good halves together."

But Smith wasn't about to complain after a 23-point conference victory.

"I was very pleased with the win," Smith said. "That's the kind of game early in the year we've lost, where we get ahead and can't hold the lead."

Bolstered by their strong 3-point shooting, the Otahkians finished at 54.7 percent overall from the field (29 of 53) and also sizzled from the free-throw line at 92.9 percent (13 of 14).

Conversely, UTM shot just 35.4 percent from the floor (23 of 65).

Southeast hosts Murray State 5 p.m. Saturday.