Otahkians encounter perfect Muleriders

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith isn't about to overlook Division II Southern Arkansas, which visits the Show Me Center for a 5 p.m. tipoff today.

But Smith is more concerned about his Otahkians (2-3) right now than he is the Muleriders, who bring a 5-0 record to Cape Girardeau and are off to their best start since the 1987-88 season.

"They've been winning and they'll come in here and feel pretty good about it. We're not going to take them lightly," Smith said. "But right now, we have to fix ourselves offensively and defensively. There's just a lot of little things we need to correct."

Losses to nationally ranked Utah and Oklahoma were not surprising, although the Otahkians had a chance to beat the Utes as they kept things close most of the way. But a setback to Bowling Green last weekend in the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tournament did not sit well with Smith.

"That's one game we were disappointed in. We felt we should have won," Smith said. "Part of it is, you play such a tough early schedule and it's hard to build any confidence."

The Otahkians bounced back in the consolation game of the tournament to hammer Prairie View A&M 85-38. They will look for a two-game winning streak today when they play just their second home game of the season and first since the Nov. 21 opener against Southern Illinois.

"It's really nice to be at home," Smith said. "We haven't played here in a while."

The Otahkians have been led so far by senior guard Kenja White, last year's Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year who is averaging 12.6 points per game.

Junior center Chandra Brown is averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds in her first season at Southeast. She's shooting 56.8 percent from the field.

Southeast has also received solid play from two other first-year performers. Freshman guard Jessica Aebi is averaging nine points while shooting 46.7 percent from 3-point range (seven of 15). Junior guard Sami Jo Cotton is averaging 8.4 points and hitting 37.5 percent of her 3-pointers (nine of 24).

Southern Arkansas features a young squad. Kim Davis, a 6-1 freshman, averages 14.8 points and 10 rebounds. Sharonda Davis, a 5-10 sophomore, averages 10.6 points and 11.6 rebounds. Both players are shooting better than 56 percent from the floor. Another freshman, 6-foot Katie Carmony, averages 10.8 points and has hit 43.8 percent of her 3-pointers (seven of 16).

"I think they'll be a good Division II team," Smith said. "They play in a good conference, so to be 5-0, they must be pretty good."