Otahks look for repeat success vs. Governors

If Southeast Missouri State University's women can duplicate their Saturday performance, they'll be on their way to the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

The key: Win at Austin Peay, where Southeast won 80-68 on Saturday. The teams play at 5:30 p.m. today.

"I know beating them the other day will give us a lot of confidence going down there again," Southeast coach Ed Arnzen said. "But it still won't mean a whole lot once the game tips off. We've still got to do it again."

Arnzen sees the contest between 16-11 teams as an even one on paper. The Lady Govs, seeded fourth for the eight-team tournament, finished one game ahead of the fifth-place Otahkians in the league standings.

Had it not been for a late collapse against Austin Peay earlier this season at the Show Me Center -- Southeast led by 10 points with four minutes left but lost by four -- the Otahkians would probably be playing the opening-round game at home.

"These are two evenly matched clubs," Arnzen said. "We had two good ballgames and I feel like we should have beaten them in both.

"It's down to one game now. I'm sure we'll have to play well to beat them and the same is probably true for them."

Austin Peay must figure out a way to slow down Southeast's inside game. The Otahkians' three primary post players -- Lori Chase, Pam Iversen and Tisa Thomas -- combined for 47 points on Saturday.

Southeast must figure out a way to slow down Austin Peay junior guard Brooke Armistead, the OVC's second-leading scorer who poured in 31 points on Saturday as she bettered he average by nine points.

"They'll have to do something about our post game and we'll have to do something about Armistead," Arnzen said. "It should be interesting to see what adjustments are made. I'm sure it's going to be another really good ballgame and it's probably going to go down to the wire."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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