Otahks close gap, but can't find solution to losing skid

RICHMOND, Ky. -- An 18-point improvement still couldn't prevent a fifth consecutive defeat.

The Southeast Missouri State University Otahkians, who lost to EKU by 27 points on Jan. 10 at the Show Me Center, took the powerful Lady Colonels to the wire Saturday before falling by 18, 82-73, at McBrayer Arena.

EKU, leading the Ohio Valley Conference, improved to 18-5, 10-2 in the OVC. Southeast fell to 12-1, 4-8.

"We got a great effort out of our kids and I'm really proud of them," Southeast coach Ed Arnzen said. "This is probably, talent-wise, the best team in the conference. We came in here, stared them in the face and went toe-to-toe with them. What more can you ask?"

Ultimately the Otahkians, who led by a point at halftime and trailed by just three points with under four minutes to play, were done in by a season-high 31 turnovers, many of them coming against EKU's full-court pressure defense.

"They put tremendous pressure on your guards. LaShelle Porter and Veronica Benson must be exhausted," Arnzen said. "If you're looking for a spot where we lost the game, it's the 31 turnovers. We outshot them, outrebounded them and I thought outworked them."

Porter and Pam Iversen each scored 15 points to lead the Otahkians. Iversen also grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots. Porter contributed four assists and three steals.

Southeast junior forward Lori Chase added 13 points, all coming in the second half, as she became the 13th Otahkian to score 1,000 career points. Chase, a first-team all-OVC selection last season, has 1,007 points in her three-year career.

Charlotte Sizemore scored 17 points as she was among five EKU players to hit double figures. Zoey Artist had 14 points, Katie Kelly 13, Teresa McNair 12 and Mikki Bond 10.

There were five ties and five lead changes in a tight first half that ended with the Otahkians ahead 32-31 as Iversen buried an 18-foot shot at the buzzer.

The Otahkians went up 34-31 early in the second half on a basket by Andrea Koeper. But EKU then grabbed control of the contest with a 10-0 run, taking the lead for good on an Artist 3-pointer that made it 37-34 with 18 minutes remaining.

EKU led 62-51 with seven minutes left, but Porter led a charge that made things interesting. She scored nine points during an 11-3 run that pulled the Otahkians to within 65-62 with just under four minutes to go.

But the Lady Colonels scored the next six points to finally put the Otahkians away for good.

"I know we've lost five in a row, but I think we can really draw a lot of positives from this game," said Arnzen, whose squad will play its next three contests at the Show Me Center.

mmishow@semissourian.com

(573) 335-6611, extension 132