OTAHKS LOOK FOR ELUSIVE OVC ROAD WIN AT MURRAY

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team has played three Ohio Valley Conference road games so far this season and all three times it has been a case of close but no cigar for the Otahkians.

Today, the Otahkians will try to end that trend when they take on Murray State in a 4 p.m. tipoff at the Regional Special Events Center.

"We've been close, but we just haven't been able to put two halves together," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "Hopefully we will be able to (today)."

The Otahkians fell to 5-8 overall and 2-3 in OVC play Thursday night as Tennessee-Martin rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to prevail 71-65.

That defeat marked Southeast's third narrow road loss to a team picked among the top three squads in the OVC's preseason poll. The Otahkians had previously dropped four-point decisions to both Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee.

"We're playing the best teams tough, but we're still losing," Arnzen said.

Arnzen expects another rugged road test today against the Lady Racers, who are just 4-10 overall but 2-2 in OVC play after Thursday's 62-50 win over Eastern Illinois.

"It's a big game for both teams," said Arnzen. "Murray is good and they'll have confidence after winning (Thursday). It's a big rivalry, whether it's men or women."

Murray State features a solid blend of inside and outside play.

Monika Gadson, a 6-foot junior center, leads the inside work with averages of more than 12 points and eight rebounds per game, the latter figure leading the OVC and just ahead of Southeast center Pam Iversen's average of nearly eight boards per contest.

Heather Bates, a 5-8 senior guard, is the offensive leader at more than 13 points per game while 6-foot junior forward Liz Stansberry contributes more than 10 points per contest.

Susan Tackett, a 6-1 sophomore forward, averages almost 10 points a game and shoots better than 40 percent from 3-point range.

"They've got a lot of weapons we'll have to defend," Arnzen said.

Arnzen is hoping his team will be a bit healthier for today's game. Point guard Moneik Campbell missed Thursday's contest with the flu while shooting guard Liea played but was limited by a sprained ankle.