COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OTAHKS LIMP INTO SEASON OPENER

A less-than-healthy Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team will open the regular season today by facing an NAIA opponent.

Missouri Baptist will usher in a new campaign for the Otahkians when the Lady Spartans pay a visit to the Show Me Center for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.

The Otahkians will be without two junior-college transfers who were being counted on heavily by coach Ed Arnzen. Center Cindy Bates recently had shoulder surgery and will be sidelined at least six weeks while forward Kim Brown has a leg stress fracture and will likely miss from two to three weeks.

In addition, junior center Pam Iversen -- the Otahkians' leading returning scorer from last season -- is still somewhat slowed by offseason knee surgery, although she is improving rapidly and will start tonight.

"Injuries are a part of the game and we've just got to move forward," said Arnzen. "I think we'll be a much better basketball team later in the season than we are now, as our players jell and we get healthy. But it's time to start the season."

Like any Division I coach whose team is getting ready to play a squad from a lower division, Arnzen is worried about tonight's contest. He's particularly concerned that the Otahkians won't give the Lady Spartans proper respect.

"As coaches, you never overlook anybody, but I'm afraid players do," he said. "I hope we show them proper respect because they (Missouri Baptist) will step it up a notch. It will be their biggest game of the year and I hope we'll be ready to play. I think we will be.

"Coaches are scared to death of these games, when you're expected to win."

Arnzen said Missouri Baptist is a good enough NAIA team to cause Southeast some problems and the Lady Spartans also have the advantage of having already played two games, winning both.

"They're good enough to beat you if you're not ready," he said. "They have experience, with five seniors and five juniors. And they've got two games under their belt."

The Otahkians have played two games already, but both were exhibition contests. Southeast won both, but that won't mean much starting tonight.

"We've had two quizzes," Arnzen said. "It's test time now."

Scheduled to start for the Otahkians tonight will be three returning players and two newcomers. Along with Iversen at center, sophomore Lori Chase -- the only other returning starter -- will be at power forward while sophomore LaShelle Porter will be at point guard. Porter saw considerable action last year.

Newcomers in the starting lineup will be two juco transfers, small forward Jenny Anderson and shooting guard Veronica Benson.