Otahks put wrap on home series tonight

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team can salvage at least something out of a disappointing homestand tonight.

The Otahkians (8-6 overall, 1-3 Ohio Valley Conference) host Tennessee State (2-10, 1-3) at the Show Me Center and try to snap a three-game losing streak, all the defeats coming last week at home against OVC opponents. The game is at 7 p.m.

"Tennessee State might not have a good record, but they've got a good team," Southeast coach Ed Arnzen said. "This game becomes as important as the others now."

Southeast, expected in the preseason to be a contender in the OVC race, entered last week with high hopes as they prepared to host three teams picked to finish near the top of the conference.

Tough stretch of losses

The Otahkians suffered an 80-77 loss to defending league champion and preseason favorite Tennessee Tech on Tuesday. On Thursday the Otahkians were blown out 94-67 by preseason No. 2 and current first-place squad Eastern Kentucky. Then Saturday night, preseason No. 4 Morehead State used a late 10-0 run to knock off Southeast 79-70.

"It was a really disappointing week," Arnzen said. "I know we faced some of the top teams in the league, but we had a chance to do something and we didn't do it."

Tennessee State, picked to tie for seventh in the nine-team league -- two spots ahead of Southeast -- has struggled most of the season, but Saturday night the Lady Tigers secured their first OVC victory of the season, 68-55 over Tennessee-Martin.

"They'll be coming in here feeling good after beating Martin," Arnzen said. "It would be really difficult before we go on the road for some games to lose all four of these games at home. This really becomes an important game now."

The Otahkians visit Tennessee-Martin on Thursday and Murray State on Saturday.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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