OTAHKS TRY TO ARRANGE EKU SHOWDOWN

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team will have an Ohio Valley Conference showdown Monday at Eastern Kentucky.

But first things first for the Otahkians. For Monday's affair to mean as much as possible, the Otahkians must take care of business today when they play the opening leg of a two-game road trip.

The Otahkians will take on Morehead State in a 4:30 p.m. tipoff today, followed by Monday's 4:30 p.m. contest against Eastern Kentucky.

"The Eastern Kentucky game is going to be a battle. It will be a good ballgame," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "But the key is we have to win (today). If we do that, then Monday's game will take care of itself.

"This first game is the key. If we win, then you take your chances Monday. If you lose, then you're in trouble heading to Eastern Kentucky."

Southeast, which is 10-6 overall, and Eastern Kentucky are tied for second place in the nine-team OVC at 5-1 as both squads trail 7-0 Tennessee Tech.

Morehead State, 5-13 overall, is just 1-6 in OVC play and tied for last place, but Arnzen considers the Lady Eagles to be one of the more physically imposing teams in the league.

"They scare me to death," Arnzen said. "Their record isn't good, but they have good athletes. I thought last year they had some of the best talent in the conference, they just didn't win."

The Lady Eagles went just 2-25 overall and 1-17 in OVC play last season, but they are already off to a much better start this time around.

Morehead State's Tasha Gales, a 6-foot-2 junior, is one of the top inside players in the OVC. She is fourth in the league in scoring at 16.9 points per game and also ranks fifth in rebounding at 7.9 a contest.

"She's as good an athlete as there is in the conference," said Arnzen.

Three other players are averaging in double figures for the Lady Eagles: 5-9 sophomore Travece Turner (15.2 ppg), 6-foot freshman Jody Sizemore (12.4 ppg) and 5-11 freshman Kandi Brown (12.3 ppg).

As a team, the Lady Eagles rank third in the OVC in scoring at 76 points per game.

"They'll put some points up," said Arnzen.

But the Otahkians feature the OVC's top-ranked defense, allowing just 65 points a contest, so Southeast figures to have a solid chance to slow Morehead State down.

And the Otahkians will definitely take plenty of momentum on the road with them. Southeast has won all three of its league games away from home so far.

"I think we should have some confidence," Arnzen said. "We've played well and we're practicing hard. We've really come together since Christmas."