SWISH, SWISH: OTAHKIANS WIN ON LATE FTs

She may be only a freshman, but Southeast Missouri State University center Pam Iversen is one of the nation's best free-throw shooters.

And she is obviously immune to the pressure of being at the charity stripe with a game on the line.

Iversen, fouled while shooting after grabbing an offensive rebound, calmly swished both shots with 5.1 seconds left against Tennessee State Tuesday night.

Those free throws put the Otahkians ahead 72-71 and paved the way for a 74-71 comeback victory over the Lady Tigers at the Show Me Center.

The Otahkians thus continued their unbeaten ways at home as they have won all 10 games at the Show Me Center this season.

And Southeast, now 15-6 overall and 10-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference, took over sole possession of second place in the league, just one-half game behind Middle Tennessee. Those squads will square off in a first-place showdown at the Show Me Center Thursday.

"We really dodged a bullet," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "It would have been awfully tough to lose this one."

Down the stretch, the Otahkians can thank Iversen for helping bail them out.

TSU (10-10, 5-7 OVC) had rallied in the second half and appeared to be in control with a 71-67 lead and under a minute remaining.

But Iversen grabbed an offensive rebound, scored and was fouled with 53 seconds left. She completed the three-point play to pull Southeast within 71-70.

Then, after TSU failed to score on its possession, the 6-foot-3 Iversen came up big again. Moneik Campbell missed a 3-point try but Iversen grabbed the rebound and was fouled putting up a shot.

"I was pretty nervous," said a laughing Iversen later. "I was shaking and I had goose bumps. I just said okay, one at a time."

Iversen didn't look nervous as neither free throw hit the rim.

"The first one, I didn't know. It was a big sigh of relief," she said. "The second one, I knew it was in."

Iversen entered the game shooting 91.7 percent from the line -- second on the squad and in the OVC to teammate Paula Corder's 91.8 percent. Iversen would rank high in the national statistics but she doesn't have enough attempts to qualify.

Ironically, Iversen said, "I was the worst free-throw shooter in high school. I've just practiced a lot since then."

Said Arnzen, "That's a lot to expect of a girl who one year ago was playing in high school. But she's shooting better than 90 percent."

Corder's two free throws with 0.8 seconds left -- after TSU had thrown a long pass away -- ended the night's scoring.

Iversen, Corder and Tajuana White all scored 15 points to lead the Otahkians. Rusty Sowers added 12 points.

White, only a 61.6-percent foul shooter, hit 11 of 14 from the line, many of them in crucial situations.

Shronda Moore poured in 28 points to pace the Lady Tigers. She hit 11 of 19 shots, including three of six 3-pointers. Cari Hassell added 12 points and Erica Cash had 10.

A first half that was tight most of the way ended with the Otahkians leading 41-38.

Southeast went ahead 49-40 early in the second half as the Otahkians appeared to be taking control.

But the Otahkians hit a long dry spell and the Lady Tigers stormed back to take a four-point lead with just over six minutes left.

The Otahkians surged back ahead 60-57 with a little more than five minutes remaining.

But TSU went on a 13-4 run. When Moore scored on a conventional three-point play at the 2:28 mark, the Lady Tigers had a 70-64 lead and it looked like they were in good shape.

TSU then had a chance to expand its lead after a Southeast turnover but the Lady Tigers missed a shot.

Campbell came back with a huge fast-break basket and she was fouled on the play. Her free throw with 1:39 left pulled Southeast to within 70-67.

Moore made one of two foul shots with 1:14 seconds remaining to make it 71-67. But the Lady Tigers would not score again as the Otahkians stormed back.

"We knew we couldn't lose this game," said Iversen. "We had to keep our home streak going."

The Otahkians did -- but just barely. And Arnzen knew they were fortunate to have survived.

"We didn't play very good," he said. "We couldn't rebound (TSU held a 42-34 edge on the boards) and we didn't play very good defense. We played just well enough to win and we were a little fortunate at the end."