OVC TOURNEY VISITS SHOW ME CENTER; OTAHKS TRY TO AVENGE BIG LOSS TO MURRAY ST.

There has been some talk about Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team wanting to gain a measure of revenge against Murray State tonight.

To heck with the revenge, said coach Ed Arnzen. The Otahkians simply want to continue their season.

In order to do that, Southeast must defeat Murray State when the squads square off at the Show Me Center in a first-round Ohio Valley Conference Tournament game. The tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

The winner moves on to Saturday's tourney semifinals in Nashville, Tenn. The loser is done for the season.

"I don't think revenge is a factor," said Arnzen. "The biggest factor is knowing that, if you lose, you launder your uniforms."

Even without a revenge motive, there is no doubt that, less than two weeks ago, the Lady Racers put a serious dent in the Otahkians' OVC title plans.

On Feb. 11 in Murray, Ky., Southeast seemingly had the game all but wrapped up with a four-point lead in the final minute.

But the Otahkians turned the ball over under their own basket in the closing seconds, leading to a Murray State bucket with 1.6 seconds remaining that lifted the Lady Racers to a 64-63 victory.

Had the Otahkians not let that game slip away, they would have wound up with a share of the OVC regular-season title. As it turned out, Southeast finished in second place, one game behind tri-champions Tennessee Tech, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee-Martin.

"We certainly lost a heartbreaker down there," said Arnzen. "That kept us from tying for the championship."

Still, the Otahkians had a fabulous regular season. Picked in the preseason to finish eighth out of 10 teams, Southeast was in contention for the OVC crown until the very end.

After winning just 13 games in the previous two seasons combined, the Otahkians improved to 18-8 overall and 13-5 in OVC play. The 18 victories represent a team record for the squad since it moved up to the Division I level eight years ago.

"I knew we'd be better this year, but to be honest, I didn't think we'd be competing for the conference championship," Arnzen said. "It's been a surprise to me, to be so good so soon."

And because of that, Arnzen said he has had to adjust his goals for the squad.

"At the beginning of the season, our goal was to make it to Nashville," he said. "Now, it's to win the conference tournament."

The first step toward that goal begins against a Murray State squad that finished fifth in the OVC at 9-9 and went 10-16 overall. The Lady Racers, who lost numerous close games during the season, closed strong by winning four of their final six.

"Even though they lost their last game (in overtime at Austin Peay Saturday), they've been playing well the latter part of the season," said Arnzen. "They have a very good rebounding team and some excellent outside shooters.

"We beat them pretty good at our place (78-59 on Jan. 14) but they got us at their place. I expect a very good game."

Murray State is led offensively by Bobbi Coltharp, a 5-foot-10 senior forward who averages 15.8 points per game.

Also scoring in double figures for the Lady Racers are 5-8 junior guard Heather Bates (13.2 ppg) and 6-foot sophomore forward Monika Gadson (12.7 ppg).

Gadson and 6-2 junior center Danelle Watts -- who hit the game-winning shot from in close to beat Southeast on Feb. 11 -- are two of the OVC's better rebounders. Watts pulls down nine boards per game while Gadson grabs 7.5 a contest.

"They outrebounded us by 16 in the last game and that really hurt us," Arnzen said. "They have the two best rebounders on one team in the OVC. They are both tremendous rebounders and we have to at least try and stay with them on the boards."

Paula Corder, a 5-10 junior forward, leads a balanced Southeast offensive attack with 14.3 points per game.

Corder is also the nation's leading free-throw shooter at 94 percent and, with two free throws against Eastern Illinois Saturday, has now made 38 straight foul shots to break the previous OVC record of 36 in a row.

Also scoring in double figures for the Otahkians are 5-5 senior guard Rusty Sowers (13.2 ppg) and 6-3 freshman center Pam Iversen (12 ppg), who leads Southeast in rebounding with 7.6 per contest.

Sowers scored a career-high 32 points Saturday as the Otahkians rallied from 18 points down to beat Eastern Illinois 101-86.

"We're really excited to start the tournament and it's going to be great playing at home," said Sowers.

Arnzen is making a plea that Southeast fans show up for the tipoff instead of waiting until a little closer to game time of the men's contest. He figures the Otahkians, playing an OVC Tournament game at home for the first time ever, deserve the support. And it could be crucial as Southeast attempts to keep its home record perfect this season. The Otahkians are 13-0 at the Show Me Center.

"We're hoping a lot of people will be in the building at 5:30 because that support would really help us out," he said. "It's going to be an exciting night, one we've been looking forward to for some time."

Murray State at SEMO

OVC Tournament, First Round

5:30 p.m., Show Me Center

Probable Starters

SEMO (18-8, 13-5 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Paula Corder F Jr. 5-10 14.3

Tajuana White F Sr. 5-9 9.5

Pam Iversen C Fr. 6-3 12.0

Rusty Sowers G Sr. 5-5 13.2

Moneik Campbell G Jr. 5-5 8.3

Murray State (8-16, 9-9 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Bobbi Coltharp F Sr. 5-10 15.8

Monika Gadson F So. 6-0 12.7

Danelle Watts C Jr. 6-2 8.6

Heather Bates G Jr. 5-8 13.2

Enoki Verebes G Fr. 5-9 4.6

Series: Murray leads 12-11

This season: The teams split, 78-59 SEMO and 64-63 Murray

Radio: KAPE-1550