Nine minutes.

That's about how long second-seeded Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team held the lead in its 79-76 opening round victory over Eastern Illinois in front of 637 fans Tuesday at the Show Me Center.

And while six of those minutes came to start the game, it was the last three that counted the most.

After falling behind 11-10 with 12:12 left in the first half, the Otahkians (18-10) just couldn't get on track. A 12-for-32 start from the field, including 1-for-9 from 3-point range didn't help. Throw in a 11-of-20 performance from the line and it is easy to see how the Otahkians found themselves down 42-36 at halftime.

"We just didn't run our offense, we didn't execute," Southeast guard Kenja White said.

It wasn't until a timeout around the 12-minute mark of the second half when Southeast finally started turning things around.

Down 11, Southeast coach B.J. Smith heeded the advice of assistant coach John Ishee, who suggested a new approach.

"I was looking for answers," Smith said. "Coach Ishee said they couldn't guard us inside. As a coach you've got to rely on your assistants."

After the time-out, Southeast veered from their typical perimeter game, looking to dribble penetration and inside baskets to bring them back. Southeast was able to get several easy baskets and started to get to the free throw line after the time-out, and cut the lead to three points with 9:06 remaining.

The Panthers (6-22) made one last surge to go up eight, but the momentum had shifted to the Otahkians.

LaShelle Porter, playing in her final game at the Show Me Center, said it took a quick glance at the scoreboard to get the team going.

"We looked at the scoreboard and saw they were up, and we knew we had to come back," she said.

Southeast used an 8-0 run, with the help of six Carina Souza free throws, to tie the game at 66 with 4:46 left in the game. Souza's clutch free throw shooting came after a less-than-stellar performance from the line in the first half. Souza made only 2-of-8 first-half free throws.

"As bad as she was in the first half, she was that good in the second half," Smith said.

The Panthers temporarily silenced the Show Me Center Crowd with a free throw to put them up one, but the Otahkians answered with a 3-point play from White to give Southeast the lead 69-67 with 3:16 remaining.

"Did we have any doubt?" White scoffed. "No."

The next two minutes saw four ties, but Southeast would not trail again. Sarah Costello's two free throws with 26 seconds remaining gave Southeast a four-point lead, their biggest since they led 10-5 early in the first half.

After Yashika Sidbury hit one of two free throws, a Costello foul with eight seconds left brought the Panthers to within one. The Panthers fouled White immediately following, sending the junior to the line for two free throws. The first free throw bounced in, and White made no mistake on the second.

"I'm always nervous on the free throw line, but I just focused and was able to knock them down," she said.

After White's two free throws the Panthers made a desperation drive to the hoop but could not answer.

"I knew we weren't going to lose, but I didn't think it would be like that," Porter said after the game.

"Any time you can win a close game, especially when you come back, it's going to help team chemistry," Smith added.

Costello led the Otahkians with 16 points. White finished with 13 points, including 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Lori Chase moved into third place on the all-time scoring list with 14 points despite fouling out with seven minutes left, and Souza's 8-for-8 second-half free throw performance helped her finish with 14 points.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171