OTAHKS FIND UT-MARTIN RIDING HIGH AFTER UPSET

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen and Tennessee-Martin coach Gary Van Atta have differing opinions about how much UTM's stunning victory over Tennessee Tech Saturday means in relation to tonight's game.

Arnzen figures the Skyhawks will be riding high entering the first-round OVC Tournament game against Southeast.

"They're obviously the hot club now because they just knocked off Tech," said Arnzen.

But Van Atta isn't so sure after seeing his team break a four-game losing streak against OVC champion Tennessee Tech.

"I don't know how high you can get after winning one game, especially one in five," said Van Atta. "But I do feel better about our team now."

So the stage is set for the contest pitting the fourth-seeded Otahkians (14-12 overall, 9-7 OVC) against the fifth-seeded Skyhawks (12-15, 6-10). The winner advances to Friday's tourney semifinals in Nashville, Tenn., while the loser is done for the season.

"We're looking forward to the tournament and we're very happy to have the first game at home," Arnzen said.

On the surface, it would appear that Southeast has a huge advantage against UTM because the Otahkians posted a pair of 13-point victories over the Skyhawks during the regular season.

Arnzen, however, doesn't know how much that will mean once tonight's game tips off.

"There are three parts to the season, pre-conference, conference and now," he said. "I think you forget about the record now. Both teams know if you win, you go on, and if not, you launder your uniforms."

What Arnzen does believe is important about those earlier two meetings with UTM is that the Otahkians appeared to have a decided advantage inside with the likes of Lori Chase, Pam Iversen and others and he's hopeful they can continue to take advantage of that.

"We've had some success against Martin for a couple of games. Lori and Pam have been able to score and rebound well, which has helped us," said Arnzen. "We need to get the ball into the post. Everybody has a fault and if they (UTM) have a weakness, it's probably their inside game."

While UTM's inside play might not be all that strong, Arnzen believes the Skyhawks have one of the better outside attacks in the OVC. Kelly Pendleton, UTM's only double-figure scorer on the season at 15.6 points per game, T.J. Barker and Erika Dunning all shoot better than 40 percent from 3-point range.

"They have got very good guards. Each one of them shoots the three and is extremely quick," said Arnzen. "They also are extremely deep. They'll play 10 kids and try to wear you down."

Van Atta knows his team will have to turn some things around from the previous meetings between the squads, but asked what the Skyhawks will have to do differently, he hesitated.

"That's a good question," he said. "SEMO has a really good team and we'll have our hands full going to their place again. But we're very excited about having the opportunity to play. We're looking forward to the tournament."