NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women overcame a ragged performance Saturday night to lock up second place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Otahkians, despite 26 turnovers, pulled away in the second half to post an 81-72 victory over Tennessee State in the regular-season finale.

Southeast improved to 17-10 overall and 11-5 in OVC play to finish one game ahead of third-place Eastern Kentucky. It is the Otahkians' highest-ever OVC finish.

The Otahkians, the No. 2 seed for the eight-team OVC Tournament, will host No. 7 seed Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a first-round game. The Tigers (4-22, 2-14) finished last in the nine-team league and did not qualify for the tournament.

"We're happy to be second, but we're sure not satisfied," Southeast first-year coach B.J. Smith said. "Second place is something that had not been done here before, so it's a nice accomplishment for these ladies.

"But we would like to be one higher after the conference tournament."

Kenja White led the Otahkians with 21 points, 16 in the first half.

"I think we struggled a little bit in the first half, but we played better in the second half," White said.

Lori Chase scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, although Southeast was outrebounded 56-41.

Carina Souza added 10 points while Sarah Costello and LaShelle Porter had eight apiece. Costello dished out four assists and had four steals. Souza and Tiffanne Ryan also each recorded four assists.

Six TSU players scored in double figures, led by Tristin Johnson and LaToya Clay with 12 points apiece. Johnson grabbed 11 rebounds.

Back and forth early

A back-and-forth first half that featured nine lead changes ended with Southeast on top 38-35. The Otahkians broke a 35-35 tie as Costello made one of two free throws with 33 seconds left. Chase's follow shot just before the buzzer put Southeast up by three at the break despite 16 turnovers.

The Otahkians scored the first seven points of the second half -- Chase had five -- to go up 45-35 and they remained comfortably in front the rest of the way, although they never could totally put away the Tigers.

Southeast never led by less than eight points after the initial second-half burst, and the Otahkians opened a late 16-point advantage.

"We were sloppy, especially in the first half, but in the second half I thought we were a lot better," Smith said. "It was one of those games where they could have called a foul on every possession."

The teams combined for 50 fouls, 28 on TSU.

Southeast shot 50 percent from the field (24 of 48) and made nine of 19 3-pointers, but the Otahkians struggled from the free-throw line as they hit just 24 of 41 to help keep the Tigers remotely close down the stretch.

"We could have really put the game away if we had made our free throws late," Smith said.

Now the Otahkians, who have posted two straight victories after having lost two in a row, will gear up for the OVC Tournament that determines the league's NCAA qualifier.

"We're glad to get these wins going into the conference tournament," White said.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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