Otahks demolish Tigers for third straight OVC win

Considering the state of Tennessee State's program, all signs pointed to a Southeast Missouri State University romp Thursday night.

The Otahkians didn't disappoint. They shook off a bit of a slow start to rout the visiting Tigers 102-45 and post their third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference victory. It was also the second time in three games that Southeast scored 102 points.

Southeast improved to 8-7 overall and 3-1 in OVC play as it tied a season-high winning streak. TSU, which has been outscored by an average of nearly 30 points per game, fell to 0-12 and 0-3.

"I thought it was our best 40-minute effort of staying focused and executing our game plan," Southeast coach B.J. Smith said.

The Otahkians, who never trailed, led just 19-13 midway through the first half. They then went on a 13-0 run and the rout was on. It was 54-26 at the break and Southeast kept piling up the points in the second half.

Two first-year Otahkians reached Southeast career high point totals.

Junior center Chandra Brown hit 10 of 11 shots -- most of them from within a few feet of the basket -- and scored 22 points to surpass her previous high game of 20. She made eight of nine first-half shots on her way to 16 points. Brown, who also had seven rebounds, was the Copi-Rite player of the game.

"The last three or four games I had been in a slump. This felt great," Brown said. "It really helped getting good shots."

Junior guard Brandi Russia, who was expected to be one of Southeast's top players but has struggled some, came off the bench and had 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Her previous high point total was seven. Russia hit five of six first-half shots and scored 11 points.

"I'm trying to get it going slowly but surely," said Russia.

Said Smith, "It was good to get Chandra going. And people have not seen Brandi at her best yet. She didn't play last year and it's hard to sit out a year. I still think she'll be a very good player for us."

Also scoring in double figures for the Otahkians were junior guard Sami Jo Cotton (15), senior forward Yashika Sidbury (13), freshman guard Jessica Aebi (11) and senior guard Kenja White (10). Cotton hit four of nine 3-pointers, Sidbury three of three and Aebi three of four. Sidbury added seven rebounds.

For much of the game, it looked like Southeast was running a layup drill. That's how porous TSU's defense was. The Otahkians shot 63.9 percent (39 of 61), including 69.7 percent (23 of 33) in the opening half. Southeast also made 15 of 26 3-pointers for 57.7 percent.

Thanks to all those easy baskets, the Otahkians compiled a whopping 32 assists, led by senior point guard Sarah Costello with eight. Cotton and Aebi both had five.