Otahks try to resume impressive road act

The level of competition has been different, but in Ohio Valley Conference play, Southeast Missouri State University's women have been much better on the road than at home so far this season.

Coach Ed Arnzen hopes that trend continues over the next two weeks as the Otahkians (12-7, 4-4 OVC) open a key stretch of four straight road games against Tennessee State (2-15, 1-7) tonight in Nashville, Tenn.

At home this year, Southeast is 1-4 against OVC opponents, although the defeats have come against upper-echelon league teams Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Austin Peay and Morehead State. The Otahkians are 3-0 in conference road games, with those wins over lower-level squads Eastern Illinois, Tennessee-Martin and Murray State.

"I've had some teams in the past that could have just about mailed it in on the road," said Arnzen. "This team is not that way. We seem to play with a lot of confidence on the road."

Even though Tennessee State is in last place in the OVC and lost to Southeast 77-53 on Jan. 14 in Cape Girardeau, Arnzen is not expecting an easy time against the Lady Tigers, who actually led the Otahkians at halftime of the earlier meeting.

Arnzen is particularly wary of forward Larissa Thomas, the lone senior on a young TSU squad. Thomas is third in the OVC in both scoring (18.6 ppg) and third in rebounding (8.1 rpg), but no other Lady Tiger averages more than 7.4 points per game.

"Thomas is an excellent player, an outstanding offensive rebounder," Arnzen said. "Any time you go on the road, you expect a difficult game."

Following tonight's contest, the Otahkians will remain on the road to face Tennessee Tech Saturday night. Southeast then returns home before heading out on the road again next week to Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. So three of the Otahkians' next four games are against some of the OVC's premier squads.

"It's an important stretch of games for us. A lot will be determined," said Arnzen. "But I still think it will go down to the final week to find out where you go (for the first round of the OVC Tournament).

"I've said all along there will be a lot of upsets. Look at Saturday when Murray beats (first-place) Eastern Kentucky. You just have to take it one game at a time."Approaching milestones

Senior center Pam Iversen is set to become only the second Otahkian to ever record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 150 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks for a career as she needs one block, two steals and three assists to join Renee Rogliardi in that exclusive club.

Junior forward Lori Chase is approaching membership in the 1,000-point club as she needs 58 points to become the 13th Otahkian to reach that career milestone. Iversen went over 1,000 points earlier this season.