OTAHKS STUMBLE DOWN STRETCH, FALL 77-60

For the second game in a row, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team was right in the thick of things for more than 35 minutes.

But, for the second straight game, the Otahkians wilted in the late going as they dropped a 77-60 Ohio Valley Conference decision to Austin Peay at the Show Me Center Monday.

The Otahkians, who also faltered late during Saturday's 84-70 loss to Tennessee State, fell to 4-15 overall and 2-9 in OVC play with their fifth straight loss. Southeast remained in last place in the conference.

Austin Peay, the defending OVC champion, improved to 13-8 overall and a second-place 9-3 in the league.

"For 37 minutes, we were right there," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "I think with about three minutes left, we go to the free-throw line twice and miss front ends of one-and-ones. That really hurt.

"When the game was on the line, you have to find a player to step up, to carry you on their shoulders. We didn't have that and I thought Austin Peay did."

Dana Hawkins led the Otahkians offensively with 17 points. Kim Palmer added 14 and Jamie Koester had 12.

Austin Peay got 17 points from Andrea Miller, 16 from Simone Caldwell and 14 from Amanda Behrenbrinker.

Southeast fell behind by eight points in the early going, but the Otahkians rallied for a 30-29 halftime lead thanks to a late 3-point shot by Hawkins.

The Lady Governors used a 9-0 run to surge ahead 44-38, but the Otahkians stormed back with a 14-4 run of their own and they took their biggest lead of the second half on a Sarah Frazier basket with 8:41 left that made it 52-48.

That, however, was about the extent of the good news for the Otahkians. They went more than four minutes without a point as Austin Peay took control of the contest.

Behrenbrinker's basket with 5:22 left gave the Lady Govs the lead for good at 54-52. All told, Austin Peay outscored Southeast 29-8 over the final eight minutes.

"We got up by four points and then I thought we lost our intensity," Arnzen said. "I thought Austin Peay was ripe for the picking tonight. I didn't think they were intense. But we couldn't take advantage."

The Otahkians played without freshman guard Moneik Campbell, who had the flu. And forward Stephanie Faith missed much of the contest when she suffered a slight concussion after falling to the floor hard and hitting her head.

Southeast will return to action Thursday when Murray State comes to the Show Me Center for a 5 p.m. contest. The Lady Racers edged the Otahkians 52-50 recently in Murray, Ky.

"It's a game we should have a chance to win," said Arnzen.