Otahkians focus on SIU after strong Utah game

After playing national power Utah so tough in last Friday's season opener, Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith knows it might be easy for his players to overlook Southern Illinois.

Smith is intent on making sure that doesn't happen tonight as the Otahkians play their first home game, a 6 p.m. tipoff against the Salukis.

"You always worry about something like that happening and we're going to guard against it," Smith said. "But really, I don't think that's going to be a problem for us."

SIU struggled to a 7-20 record last year -- including a 3-15 Missouri Valley Conference mark -- and the Salukis have been picked to finish last in the MVC this season. But Smith believes SIU will be considerably improved.

"I think they're a lot better from what they've been," Smith said. "And at this point, everybody has a chance to have a good season.

"We weren't expected to do too much last year, so the predictions really don't mean anything."

The Otahkians were a surprise in Smith's first season as their coach last year, going 19-11, finishing a best-ever second place in the Ohio Valley Conference and reaching the OVC Tournament finals for the first time.

With seven letterwinners -- including five of last year's top six scorers -- returning, along with five promising newcomers, the Otahkians have been picked to win their first OVC title.

And the Otahkians' performance at 19th-ranked Utah did nothing to diminish those expectations. Southeast led by four points early in the second half and trailed by just one point with about eight minutes left before losing 76-65.

"I was disappointed we lost, because at the eight minute mark I thought we had the game where we wanted it in order to win," Smith said. "But it was encouraging, to be able to go on the road and compete with a team like that. I think for our players it was really good, to show them they could play with that kind of team.

"We didn't execute a lot of things, which we expected at this time of the year. But we really competed."

Freshman guard Jessica Aebi had a strong debut for the Otahkians by scoring a team-high 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Senior guard Kenja White added 11 points.

"I thought Jessica was our best player on that night," Smith said. "She shows a lot of poise for a freshman."

Although the Salukis lost leading scorer Molly McDowell from last year, they return three starters and have brought in eight new players.

Leading SIU's returnees are 5-foot-4 senior guard Dana Pinkston, who averaged nine points per game last season; 6-2 senior center Tiffany Crutcher (7.5 ppg); and 6-foot senior forward Katie Berwanger (7.1 ppg).

Following tonight's game, the Otahkians face another huge challenge Monday when they visit 21st-ranked Oklahoma. And next month, they take on eighth-ranked Kansas State.

"It's good for us to play teams like that," White said. "Being a smaller school, if we can beat a bigger school like that, we'll get recognition like they get."