COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OTAHKIANS THUMP MISSOURI BAPTIST

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen expected his Otahkians to win their season opener Friday night, considering they were playing NAIA Missouri Baptist.

But even Arnzen was impressed by how totally the Otahkians dominated the Lady Spartans -- particularly at the beginning -- as they cruised to an 83-53 victory at the Show Me Center.

"It's good scheduling," said a smiling Arnzen when asked about the Otahkians' quick start to the season. "But I did think we played well. A lot of times you bring a club in that you expect to beat, you let them hang around, they get some confidence and they make it tough on you.

"But we got on them early defensively, and I thought we did well offensively in the first half. I just think we're quicker this year. You need to get confidence early and this is a good way to start."

Arnzen will be counting on several new players this year and, although two of them are out a few weeks with injuries, the Otahkian rookies more than made their presence felt Friday.

Southeast's leading scorer was freshman center Tisa Thomas, who came off the bench to hit six of 11 shots and put in 15 points. She also pulled down six rebounds.

"I had no idea," said a smiling Thomas after being told she was the game's top scorer. "But I hope to be a big part of the team this year. I'm just going to do everything the coaches tell me."

Of the Otahkians' performance in their opener, Thomas said, "I think we played pretty good. We're still getting to know each other. In time, we'll click and be really good."

Another newcomer, junior-college transfer Veronica Benson, was next in scoring with 13 points. The junior guard hit six of 11 shots and created havoc defensively with three steals.

"Veronica gives us quickness at both ends of the floor. I like her a lot," Arnzen said. "Tisa can score. I think she's going to be a very good player."

Two returnees from last year's squad also reached double figures for the Otahkians. Sophomore forward Lori Chase scored 12 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Sophomore point guard LaShelle Porter added 11 points -- she hit all five of her field-goal attempts -- and was a demon on defense with five steals.

"I was very pleased with our execution," said Porter. "We have a lot to work on, but for the first game I thought we did well."

Freshman guard Christine Rathke added seven points and a team-high four assists. Yet another newcomer, juco transfer forward Jenny Anderson, scored six points, as did sophomore guards Kristy Roherty and Tiffany Melis. Forward Kimberly Nicholson, the team's lone senior, added five points and six rebounds.

Missouri Baptist, which fell to 2-1, got 12 points from Eva Gassenberger, 11 from Georgia Desmond and 10 from Christina Johnson.

Benson scored the game's first basket. Missouri Baptist answered to make it 2-2, but after that it was all Southeast.

The Otahkians scored 10 straight points -- getting four from Benson and four from Chase -- to go ahead 12-2.

Thomas scored seven points during a Southeast spurt that pushed the Otahkians out to a 29-8 lead and they went into halftime carrying a 38-13 advantage after holding the Lady Spartans to 20-percent shooting over the opening 20 minutes.

Things got no better for the Lady Spartans in the second half. They rallied briefly to within 60-39 but Southeast led by as many as 33 points late before settling for the 30-point victory.

Southeast shot 48 percent for the game (29 of 61) while Missouri Baptist was at 35 percent (20 of 58). The Otahkians held a big rebounding edge of 44-28.

The Otahkians will have their first road test of the season Tuesday night when they play at Missouri-Kansas City.

"That will be a tough game," said Arnzen. "We have a lot of new players and we'll see how they react away from home."