SOUTHEAST STRIKES TWICE AGAINST MINERS; DEFENSE PACES OTAHKIANS TO 71-56 VICTORY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team should finally earn some national recognition this week.

The Otahkians routed visiting Missouri-Rolla 71-56 Saturday at the Show Me Center, thus apparently putting them in line for a ranking among the nation's top 20 NCAA Division II teams.

Rolla had entered the contest rated 18th in the country, but Southeast used a tenacious defensive effort to leave no doubt concerning who was the better club on this night.

"Our defense really did it for us," said an obviously satisfied Southeast coach Ed Arnzen as he addressed the media following the victory. "We thought going in that the game would be won by the team that had the best defensive effort.

"Defense will win games for you and that's what happened tonight."

As for a possible national ranking this week, Arnzen said, "I sure hope this gets us in there. Rolla's coach (Mary Ortelee) is on the (ranking) committee and if this doesn't impress her, I don't know what will."

The Otahkians, who won their seventh straight game, are now 17-3 overall and 8-2 in the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Rolla fell to 15-5 and 8-2. The squads are tied for second place in the MIAA behind 10-0 Central Missouri State.

Point guard Sarita Wesley paced the Otahkians in scoring with 22 points, including eight during a critical 13-0 second-half run that totally iced the triumph. But afterward, the senior preferred to discuss Southeast's defensive performance. Rolla shot just 36 percent from the field for the game.

"Defense was definitely the key," Wesley said. "Coach pointed that out. He said the game would be won defensively. We knew they had good shooters and we had to get out on them."

Renee Rogliardi added 16 points and 15 rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass. Jerri Wiley scored 12 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds. Southeast outrebounded the Lady Miners by a 55-37 count.

"We really hit the boards," said Arnzen.

Freshman Anne Cate contributed 12 points, 10 coming in the first half.

And Sherry Mitchell handed out 11 assists to set a new school record in that department. She now has 477 assists in her brilliant Southeast career, breaking the old mark of 470 held by Sandy Heitschmidt, who played for the Otahks from 1983-87.

"I'm so happy for Sherry," said Wesley of her fellow senior. "She deserves this."

The outcome of Saturday's game was never really in doubt after the early going as Southeast scored the first 11 points. Rolla never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

It was 33-23 at halftime and 41-33 when the Otahkians blitzed Rolla with a 13-0 burst. That made it 54-33 and the Otahkians held their biggest lead at 65-43 with just over four minutes left.

"We were pointing to this game," said Wesley. "They were ranked nationally and we weren't. But we think we should be."

Southeast will be back in action Monday at 7:30 p.m. with a non-conference game against Missouri Baptist at the Show Me Center. The Otahkians resume MIAA play Wednesday against Missouri Southern at the Show Me Center.

"We're playing well right now," said Arnzen. "There's still a long way to go and we'll have some tough games, but if we can stay healthy, I like our potential."