Otahks seek 4th straight OVC win

When Southeast Missouri State University's Otahkians played Tennessee Tech at the Show Me Center less than two weeks ago, they wasted a late 17-point lead and had to win in overtime.

Today, when the squads square off in a 5:30 p.m. tipoff in Cookeville, Tenn., Southeast coach B.J. Smith would gladly take any kind of victory.

"I know they're going to be really tough at their place, especially after they took the last game to overtime," Smith said. "We'll take any kind of win this time."

The Otahkians (8-7, 3-1), after losing their conference opener to defending champion Austin Peay at home, have bounced back with three straight victories to move into a three-way tie for second place.

Although it's still early in the league race, Smith knows this week's two-game road trip could go a long way toward determining just how strong a chance the Otahkians have of winning their first OVC championship.

After playing Tech (6-8, 2-2), the Indians face first-place Austin Peay (10-5, 4-0) on Saturday.

"It's a huge trip for us," Smith said. "We really need to have some success."

Said junior guard Sami Jo Cotton, "We've started to play well and we need to keep it up. This is a big road trip for us."

Southeast has beaten Tech all four times under second-year coach Smith, but most of the games have been difficult. That was the case on Jan. 10, when the Eaglettes rallied to force overtime only to fall 102-90.

Tech sophomore center Emily Christian, last season's OVC freshman of the year, poured in 35 points in the earlier meeting. She leads the league in scoring with 20.9 points per game.

"She's really had some good games against us," Smith said.

But the Otahkians, after losing to Austin Peay 64-54 on Jan. 8, appear to have finally started playing like Smith thought they would all along.

Southeast has scored 102 points in two of its last three games. In conference play, the Otahkians lead the way with 84.2 points per game; their overall season average is just 68.8.

"The last few games, that's the way our offense is supposed to look," Smith said.

Cotton has been torching opposing defenses since conference play began, averaging 17.8 points while shooting a sizzling 53.1 percent from 3-point range (17 of 32).

Senior guards Kenja White (14.5 ppg) and Yashika Sidbury (13.2 ppg) have also been scoring well in OVC play.

For the season, Southeast's double-figure scorers are White (11.6 ppg), Cotton (11 ppg) and junior center Chandra Brown (10.3 ppg). Brown is one of the OVC's top rebonders with 7.3 per contest.

Senior point guard Sarah Costello has helped the offense click with strong play. Costello ranks second in the OVC in assists with 4.4 per game and she is third in assist-to-turnover ratio.

"A lot of players have really picked their games up," Smith said. "Sarah has really been playing well, leading the break and making good decisions."

Noteworthy

Tennessee Tech will play the game without coach Bill Worrell, who was handed a one-game suspension from OVC commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher on Tuesday. Worrell was assessed the suspension after being ejected from Tech's Jan. 17 game against Eastern Kentucky.