Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen knows time is running out for the Otahkians in the Ohio Valley Conference race.

The Otahkians have only two home games remaining and, considering they are winless in conference road tests so far this season, they can ill afford to let any more opportunities slip away.

That's why today's 5:30 p.m. contest with Tennessee-Martin at the Show Me Center is so vital.

"It's a big game, but every game is big now," said Arnzen. "We have to start making something happen in a hurry."

Southeast began a three-game homestand Tuesday by losing to Middle Tennessee 67-58. It was just the Otahkians' second home conference loss of the season.

The Otahkians, 8-13 overall after suffering their third straight defeat, are 5-8 in OVC play. Southeast, Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State are all tied for seventh in the10-team league.

Only the top eight finishers qualify for the OVC Tournament, so right now the Otahkians are teetering on the edge as they chase that goal.

"It's going to be a fight to get in, but we still have a good opportunity if we can win some games," Arnzen said.

UTM, which shared the OVC regular-season title last season with Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee, has struggled some this year, but the Skyhawks have improved to 6-6 in league play, good for a fifth-place tie. They're 7-14 overall.

"They're a very good team," said Arnzen, whose squad lost at UTM 71-65 earlier in the season.

Zabrina Harris, last year's OVC Player of the Year, is the Skyhawks' top offensive threat as the 6-foot senior averages16 points and six rebounds per game. Harris had 18 points against Southeast in the earlier meeting.

"Harris is one of the best post players in the league and they have good outside shooters," Arnzen said.

Southeast has suffered some key injuries, including a knee injury by second-leading scorer and leading rebounder Pam Iversen. But Arnzen said the Otahkians have to try and overcome the adversity.

"It's so easy to hang our heads and feel sorry for ourselves, but we can't do that," he said.