OVC ROAD GETS EVEN BUMPIER FOR OTAHKS

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Another Ohio Valley Conference road game, another defeat for Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team.

That is getting to be an old song for Southeast coach Ed Arnzen, whose Otahkians suffered a 95-71 loss to host Austin Peay Saturday night.

But this latest tune was a bit different for Southeast, which had lost five previous OVC road games this season by a total of 24 points, with the largest margin of defeat being just six points.

That average took a beating Saturday as the Lady Governors led by as many as 31 points in totally dismantling the Otahkians, who fell to 0-6 in league contests away from the Show Me Center.

Southeast is now 8-12 overall and 5-7 in OVC play. Austin Peay, which posted its third straight victory, improved to 11-10 overall and 7-5 in the league.

"I felt like Austin Peay played very well," said Arnzen. "Other than Tennessee Tech, they probably have the best three guards in the conference. Two of them shoot it extremely well."

Austin Peay's two freshmen shooting guards, Brooke Armistead and Paige Smith, both had solid nights, particularly Armistead.

The OVC's leading scorer at more than 20 points per game, Armistead poured in 20 first-half points and finished with a game-high 25. She hit nine of 15 shots, including three of six 3-pointers.

"We couldn't get her under control," Arnzen said.

Smith added 12 points while point guard Kelly Chavez dished out a school-record 13 assists. Also scoring in double figures for the Lady Govs were Molly Worrall with 12 points and Jocelyn Duke with 10.

Southeast was led by Paula Corder-King with 16 points. Also in double figures were Moneik Campbell (14), Lori Chase (12) and LaShelle Porter (11). Chase grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

The Otahkians played without their second-leading scorer, Pam Iversen, who was at the game but did not dress out.

Iversen suffered a knee injury during Thursday's loss at Tennessee State and exams in Cape Girardeau Friday revealed that she has a torn anterior cruciate ligament that will ultimately require reconstructive surgery.

Arnzen said that Iversen wants to try and play the rest of the season while wearing a brace before she has surgery.

"Pam has a completely torn ACL," said Arnzen. "It's a test of her character that she wants to try and get braced to come back. But I don't think we can count on that. Other players are going to have to step up."

Southeast never led Saturday. Armistead hit two early 3-pointers as Austin Peay opened up a 6-1 lead, only to see the Otahkians fight back to forge ties at 6-6 and 10-10.

Smith scored a conventional three-point play with just over 11 minutes left in the first half to put the Lady Govs ahead 13-10. Austin Peay would basically never look back the rest of the game.

Austin Peay opened up a 36-23 lead, then Southeast pulled to within 36-28, but Armistead's long 3-pointer six seconds before the halftime buzzer put the Lady Govs up 43-30 at the break.

Things only got worse at the outset of the second half as Austin Peay scored 16 of the first 18 points to go ahead 59-32 and effectively seal the victory. The Lady Govs' biggest lead was 68-37, which they held just seven minutes into the final half.

The Otahkians will try to get well at home this week as they have three OVC games at the Show Me Center, beginning with Tuesday's 5:30 p.m. tipoff against Middle Tennessee.