OTAHKIANS GO FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN; JENNIES' CONTEST FINAL GAME WITHOUT STARS FOR SOUTHEAST WOMEN

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Central Missouri State's women's basketball team might not be as dominating as in years past, but that doesn't mean the Jennies are easy touches.

Far from it. Central is still more than formidable and Southeast Missouri State University coach Ed Arnzen knows his depleted Otahkians will have their hands full Saturday when they host the Jennies.

Tipoff for the key Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association game at the Show Me Center is set for 5:30 p.m.

Central enters Saturday's contest with an 8-3 overall record and a 2-0 MIAA mark. The Jennies were not ranked in this week's NCAA Division II national poll, marking one of the few times they have not appeared in the nation's top 20 over the past several years.

"They might not be the dominant type team they've been most of the time in the past, but they're still a very talented club," said Arnzen. "They seem to be playing much better over the past few games."

Indeed, the Jennies knocked off Division I Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago and that victory on the road in Norman, Okla., seemed to pick the team up. Central has since responded with a pair of conference victories.

Southeast, ranked 14th in the nation, is 10-2 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA follow-

ing Wednesday's 91-67 rout of Missouri-St. Louis. The Otahkians have played their three league games without five players, including starters Jerri Wiley, Renee Rogliardi and Sarita Wesley.

The five were suspended by the MIAA for the first four games of the conference schedule for inadvertently participating illegally on the same team during sum-

mer play. They'll miss Saturday's contest before returning for the remainder of the season.

Despite playing without leading scorer and rebounder Wiley, second-leading scoring Rogliardi and point guard Wesley, the Otahkians have responded in impressive fashion against some major odds.

Southeast lost at ninth-ranked Washburn by just four points, won at Northwest Missouri by 12 points and then won by a resounding 24 points at Missouri-St. Louis. All three of those squads were expected to be among the MIAA's best this season.

"I'm so proud of the way the eight players we have had eligible for the first three conference games have responded," said Arnzen. "They're in a really tough situation but they've handled it tremendously.

"We're just riding such a high right now. It's just been an in

credible experience for us. What this group has done the past three games will always be special to me."

The Otahkians have been led during the first three league games by Sherry Mitchell, the lone senior currently eligible. The 5-foot-7 standout has been playing point guard on offense and inside on defense.

Mitchell has had some huge games recently. She scored 15 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and handed out eight assists against Northwest. She poured in 28 points against Missouri-St. Louis.

"Sherry has just been tremendous," said Arnzen. "She's really been our leader. She's the heart and soul of this team right now."

Also scoring well have been four freshmen: Anne Cate, Jennifer Cavaness, Jody Pugh and Stephanie Holland. Junior Deanna Jackson has also been starting for the Otahks while Deanna Jackson and former Cape Central High standout Janet Miller have been contributing solid minutes.

"It's really been a team effort for us," said Arnzen. "All eight players we have eligible are really contributing."

Against Missouri-St. Louis Wednesday night, Pugh had a huge game with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Cate scored 18 points, hitting five of nine shots from three-point range. Cavaness contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Central features four double-figure scorers. Gina Blanks, a 5-foot-8 sophomore guard, leads the way with a 15.8 average. Close behind is 5-11 senior forward Dawn Thomas at 15.1.

Kristi Lawson, a 5-10 sophomore guard, averages 12.8 points per game, followed by 6-foot senior center Karen Chalupny at 10.9. The fifth starter is 5-10 freshman forward Chris Gard (5.3).

"The Central game is always a big one for our team and our fans," Arnzen said. "They're playing well now and we're still hurting without our full team, so it should be a good ballgame.

"Hopefully we can get a good crowd to the Show Me Center to support us. With a young club like we're putting on the floor, having our fans behind us could make all the difference in the world."

Southeast has already exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations by winning two of three contests without the suspended players. One more victory, against Central, would put the cap on a tremendous four-game run.

"We said all along we were just going to take these games one at a time and see what happened," said Arnzen. "Now we're down to the last game and another win would really be something."