OTAHKIANS SHOOT DOWN GOLDSTAR IN EXHIBITION VICTORY

Nothing was learned that was not already known. The result, however, was favorable.

The Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team defeated St. Louis Goldstar Gym 88-76 in its first exhibition game of the season Sunday at the Show Me Center.

Excellent guard play and outside shooting keyed the Otahkians' victory, but rebounding and interior defense remains a concern.

"I thought we shot the ball very well," Southeast coach Ed Arnzen said. "I thought we would be able to score. We have a lot of shooters.

"But we were outrebounded badly, and we gave up to many points. That is a concern."

Southeast was outrebounded 55 to 44 and allowed 27 offensive rebounds by Goldstar, which was playing its first game of a nine-game exhibition schedule.

The Otahkians, starting three guards, shot .448 for the game, including .455 from three-point range. Goldstar shot only .345 overall and .267 at three-point distance.

"Their guards spread us out on the wings and didn't give us the open shot," said Renee Rogliardi, a 1992 graduate of Southeast, who averaged double figures in points for the Otahkians' 1991 NCAA Division II finalists. "(Guard play) was definitely their strong point."

Southeast guard Paula Corder led all scorers with 23 points. Corder, a junior-college transfer from Three Rivers College, averaged 24 points per game and was named a juco All-American last year.

Shooting guard Rusty Sowers finished with 16, and made two of three shots from three-point range. Point guard Moneik Campbell scored eight points and turned the ball over only twice. Both Sowers and Campbell are Othakian returnees.

In the first 11 minutes of Sunday's game, Corder hit four of five three pointers and sunk four of four free throws as the Otahks cruised to a 31-15 lead.

"They seemed to be concentrating on defending the inside, which opened up the outside," Corder said. "We had a meeting with coach at the beginning of the season, and he said when to shoot when we're open. I was open, so I didn't really think about it."

Corder had 16 points at the break. Her backcourt mate Sowers had 11 by the half.

Lisa Braun led Goldstar with 11 first-half points, helping trim the halftime deficit to 44-35. She would finish with a team-high 20.

In the second half, the three-point shot kept the Southeast lead safe. One trey from Sherry Cook and two from Tiffany Melis helped the Otahkians build a 73-57 lead midway through the second half.

But Goldstar, winning the battle of the boards, fought back. The team of former college players closed the gap to 75-70 after three straight buckets, a three-pointer by Nancy Dumm, a rebound and putback by Nikki Bunner and a jumper by Dumm after a scramble.

Southeast's inside game came to the rescue just in time, however, as Pam Iverson, a 6-foot-2 freshman, sunk three short jumpers down the stretch to put the Otahkians up 84-74.

"They're young and they'll learn," Rogliardi said. "I think the post people have to touch the ball more, and that will open up their outside people."

* Former Jackson High standout Andrea Siemer, a former Missouri Player of the Year, scored eight points for Goldstar on 3-for-7 shooting. She also had 10 rebounds.

Rogliardi, who is the head girls basketball coach at Troy High School near St. Charles, was held to two points.