OTAHKS TO START OVC DOCKET IN 'TOUGHEST POSSIBLE WAY'

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Reeling with four straight losses, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team will begin Ohio Valley Conference play in about the most difficult fashion imaginable.

First, the Otahkians take on host Tennessee Tech at 5:45 p.m. today. Then Southeast continues on the road for a 7 p.m. Saturday tipoff against Middle Tennessee State.

Tech and Middle finished in a three-way tie for first place in the OVC last season, with Tech going on to win the league tournament title. Both squads are expected to thrive again this season, Tech picked to win the OVC and Middle tabbed for third."It's the toughest possible way to start (OVC play)," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "Tennessee Tech is the best team in the league and Middle Tennessee is not far behind."Southeast, which finished fourth in the OVC last season -- just a game out of first -- began this year with an easy win over Mississippi Valley State.

But the Otahkians have since dropped four straight., including two setbacks in last weekend's Nevada-Las Vegas Tournament, losing to national power Louisiana Tech 96-54 and to host UNLV 69-58."We need a win in the worst way," Arnzen said.

Arnzen knew the Otahkians would face some tough non-conference tests early in the season, including the likes of powerhouses Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State.

What Arnzen didn't count on was suffering a loss at home to Missouri-Kansas City. The Kangaroos scored with just seconds remaining to stun the Otahkians by a point."I didn't expect us to be 1-4 at this point, although I knew we were playing some very good teams early," said Arnzen. "When we lost to UMKC, that really hurt us. But we have to get past it." Tech is just 1-3, but the Golden Eaglettes have played a murderous early schedule, losing to nationally prominent programs Western Kentucky, Arizona and Hawaii while beating a solid Oklahoma squad."You definitely can't go by Tech's record," Arnzen said. "They've played some tremendous teams already." The Golden Eaglettes feature two of the OVC's premier players in center Diane Seng and forward Janet Holt, both preseason first-team all-league picks. Seng was the MVP of last year's OVC tourney."Tech has a great inside game, and they've also got a good outside game now," said Arnzen. "They're definitely the (OVC) favorites."Arnzen said the Otahkians will need to improve in two critical areas in order to have a shot at faring well during this rugged road trip."We have to cut down on our turnovers. We're making a bunch. And we have to shoot the ball better," he said. "If we can some how get a split on this trip, I'd be very happy."