Turnovers send Otahkians to Texas tournament loss

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas --Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team couldn't capitalize on a 6-0 start Friday and lost 70-60 to Bowling Green in the opener of the Flint Hills Resources Islander Classic.

Bowling Green (2-1) took its first lead at 13-12 with 8:30 left in the half. The Otahkians (1-3) used a 17-5 run to grab a 29-18 lead late in the half, then built its lead to 13 before a late Bowling Green run cut the lead to nine at halftime.

Bowling Green came out running in the second half, and a combination of cold shooting and second opportunities for Bowling Green led to a quick evaporation of the Otahkians' lead. Less than six minutes into the half the score was tied at 39.

Kenja White kept the Otahkians ahead briefly with key baskets. White's three-pointer gave Southeast a three-point lead and after Bowling Green tied the score White went to the line to put Southeast back up by two.

Southeast charged back to lead by six, but as quickly as they gained breathing room Bowling Green pulled the lead back to 53-52. Southeast was outscored 18-7 in the final minutes.

White led Southeast with 16 points. Sammi Jo Cotton added 13 points for the Otahkians. White and Cotton combined to shoot only 9-of-30 though. As a team Southeast shot 35.1 percent from the floor, with a 26.7 shooting percentage in the second half.

Ali Mann led Bowling Green with 19 points.