OTAHKS MOVE AHEAD OF OVC PACK

If you're a Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball fan, you certainly got your money's worth over the past week.

And you got to see the Otahkians close in on their first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship.

The Otahkians squeezed out their third consecutive narrow home victory in five days Saturday night as they knocked off Tennessee Tech 74-70 at the Show Me Center.

Southeast improved to 17-6 overall and 12-3 in OVC play. And the first-place Otahkians finally put at least a little distance between themselves and their nearest pursuers in the league race.

Tech and Middle Tennessee, which was upset by Eastern Illinois Saturday, fell 1 1/2 games behind the Otahkians. Also 1 1/2 games back is Tennessee-Martin. All three of those teams are tied for second at 10-4.

"We've still got three big games left and anything can happen," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "But it's nice to have a little cushion."

Saturday's victory also took care of two other major items for the Otahkians. Southeast's 17 wins are the most since the school made the move up to Division I eight years ago. The Otahkians had previously won 16 games twice.

And, since fifth-place Eastern Kentucky lost Saturday, the Otahkians have clinched at least fourth place in the OVC -- meaning they will definitely host a first-round conference tournament game on Feb. 23.

"The conference championship is our goal," said Arnzen. "But it's nice to know that we're definitely going to have a (tournament) game at home."

Home has certainly been a sweet place for the Otahkians this season as they have won all 12 games played at the Show Me Center.

During the past week's three home contests, the Otahkians had to go to the wire to secure every one of them. They beat Tennessee State by three points Tuesday and Middle Tennessee by three points Thursday.

"It was a big week for us," Arnzen said. "We won three games and all of them went down to the wire."

Of course, the Otahkians believe they can win those types of games, particularly when they're playing at home.

"We have a lot of confidence when we're playing at home," said Rusty Sowers.

Paula Corder led the Otahkians offensively with 13 points while Sowers and Pam Iversen both scored 12 points.

Regan Hughston, making her first start of the season, added eight points, as did Tajuana White.

Moneik Campbell led the rebounding from her point guard spot as she pulled down nine boards. She also had a team-high four assists. Iversen added seven rebounds as the Otahkians won the battle of the boards by a 45 to 39 count.

Tech (14-8 overall) was led by Janet Holt with 22 points. Diane Seng added 17 points and Ann Parks contributed 12.

After trailing by five points early in the game, the Otahkians spurted to a 43-30 lead late in the first half. A six-point run by Tech to close the period made it 43-36 at the intermission.

Southeast opened up a 60-48 lead at the midway point of the second half on a basket by Iversen.

But the Otahkians scored just two points over the next seven-plus minutes, allowing Tech to climb back into the contest -- and even take the lead.

Trailing 62-52, the Golden Eaglettes used an 11-0 run to go ahead, Parks' two free throws with 2:58 left giving Tech a 63-62 lead.

But Sowers came back by hitting two of three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2:12 remaining as Southeast regained the lead 64-63.

Parks made one of two foul shots seven seconds later to force a 64-64 tie.

The Otahkians then took the lead for good when Iversen -- who had hit the game-winning shot late against Tennessee State earlier in the week -- threw in an eight-foot baseline hook shot with 1:39 left. That put Southeast on top 66-64.

"I was just hoping it would go in," said Iversen. "I felt somewhat confident when I let it go but I wasn't sure."

After a Tech turnover, Corder hit two free throws with 1:02 left as the Otahkians went ahead 68-64. Another Tech turnover was followed by two more Corder foul shots with 50 seconds remaining as Southeast seized control of the game.

Southeast wound up scoring their last eight points from the charity stripe as Corder -- the nation's leading free-throw shooter -- was six-for-six and Sherry Cook added a pair.

"We knew they (Tech) would make a run but we kept our composure and hit our free throws at the end," Arnzen said.

Added Sowers with a smile, "We're getting used to it (close games) by now. Tech is a good team and we knew they'd make a run. But we have a lot of confidence."

The Otahkians will return to action Thursday with a game at Murray State.