COLLEGE: OTAHKIANS TO MEET GOLDSTAR IN EXHIBITION

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen knows his team will be shorthanded because of injuries, but he's still looking forward to tonight's exhibition opener.

The Otahkians will take on St. Louis Goldstar at 7 p.m. at the Show Me Center in the first of two exhibition games prior to the start of the regular season on Nov. 17. There is no admission charge.

Southeast has been hampered by a variety of injuries so far during preseason practice. Center Pam Iversen, the squad's leading returning scorer who missed the final nine games of last season with a knee injury, is still hobbled somewhat and has not fully recovered following reconstructive surgery. She might see only limited action tonight.

And two junior-college transfers being counted on to provide key minutes -- center Cindy Bates and forward Kim Brown -- will both be out several weeks. Bates is scheduled to have shoulder surgery Monday while Brown has a leg stress fracture.

"We'll be shorthanded, but it will be good to play outside competition for the first time," said Arnzen. "We have some kids out, and I don't like it, but it will give some of the younger kids an opportunity to show what they can do, which is good.

"We've been practicing for almost three weeks now and it will be nice to finally see somebody other than ourselves."

Goldstar, a squad made up of ex-collegiate players, will feature former Otahkian standout Renee Rogliardi, who played on some of Southeast's highly successful NCAA Division II teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

"It's a chance (for fans) to see some former standout college players, and it will be nice to have Renee back playing at the Show Me Center," Arnzen said. "She's played (for Goldstar) the last two years here and it's always good to see her."