OTAHK BASKETBALL TO PLAY EXHIBITION SUNDAY

Southeast Missouri State University's 1999-2000 women's basketball team will face outside competition for the first time Sunday when the Otahkians take on St. Louis Goldstar in an exhibition game.

The tipoff at the Show Me Center is set for 2 p.m. The contest will be one of two exhibition games the Otahkians play, the other being Nov. 15 when the Ukraine National team visits."We're anxious to play our first exhibition game," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "Practices have been going well, but it will be nice to face some outside competition for the first time."St. Louis Goldstar is a traveling team made up of former Division I and Division II players, including ex-Otahkian standout Renee Rogliardi.

Southeast had a fairly easy time with Goldstar last year. Arnzen doesn't really know what to expect Sunday but he's anxious to get a good look at all his players, including the new ones."It's a chance for us to get a look at everybody," he said. "It's not the pressure of a regular-season game, but any time you step on the court, you want to win."The Otahkians are coming off their best season on the Division I level, a 19-9 mark that saw them place fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference and qualify for the OVC Tournament semifinals in Nashville, Tenn.

Following Sunday's game, there will be a Halloween costume contest for Kids Club members or potential members. The Otahkians will be handing out candy and then judging the costumes. The winner of best costume will receive two movie passes from Wehrenberg Theaters.

Cross country at OVC meetSoutheast's cross country teams will compete in today's Ohio Valley Conference Championships in Clarksville, Tenn., with the women looking to break Eastern Kentucky's stranglehold on the meet.

Eastern Kentucky' women have won an unprecedented 17 straight OVC titles and are favored to make it 18 in a row. But Southeast coach Joey Haines believes his Otahkians, second last year, are ready to end the streak."I feel confident that our women can win," said Haines. "It certainly won't be easy, but if our women run the way they have all season, we can beat Eastern Kentucky."We are very solid in our first through seven runners and any of our top three runners is capable of winning the individual title."Leading the way for Southeast will be seniors Leslie McNamara and Tammy Wenkel, along with sophomore Amy Arteme. Rounding out the top seven are sophomores Celeste Ramsey and Jessie Thompson, along with freshmen Christy Williams and Anna Verseman.

On the men's side, Southeast, eighth in the OVC meet last season, hopes to move into the top five, according to Haines."Our men are improving and getting into the top five would be a nice step for them," Haines said.

Soccer at Eastern IllinoisThe Southeast women's soccer team finishes the regular season Sunday with a game at OVC leader Eastern Illinois.

Eastern Illinois is 3-0 in OVC play while Southeast is 2-1-1."I am expecting the Eastern Illinois game to be very close," said Otahkian coach Heather Nelson. "They have a solid lineup."Southeast has been impressive in its inaugural season, making a run at the OVC regular-season title, which will be decided over the next few days.

Nichole Thiele is leading the OVC in scoring with 1.30 goals per game while goalkeeper Beth Guccione is among the national leaders with 8.00 saves per game.