OTAHKS ADD TALENT AFTER SURPRISING SEASON

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen is always excited about the start of a new season.

But this year, there is perhaps an extra bounce in Arnzen's step. That's because the Otahkians are coming off their best-ever Division I season and have more high hopes for the coming campaign."We're excited," said Arnzen. "We had a good season last year and we've got several of our key people back, plus we've added some very good new players."I really think we can have another very good basketball team."After two straight disappointing seasons, the Otahkians finally got back on track last year, going 19-9, finishing fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference and qualifying for the OVC semifinals in Nashville, Tenn."We went through two hard years, but we feel like we've gotten back to where we want to be," said Arnzen of his program. "We lost four players to graduation, but the rest are here and they have confidence."Among the players the Otahkians lost to graduation are second-leading scorer Rusty Sowers and second-leading rebounder Tajuana White. Their absence will be missed.

But back are leading scorer and premier shooter Paula Corder-King, a senior who led the nation in free-throw percentage last season while averaging 14.7 points per game; and third-leading scorer and leading rebounder Pam Iversen, one of the OVC's top freshman a year ago, when she averaged 11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Corder shot an amazing 94.1 percent from the charity stripe last year, which ended with her making 39 straight free throws to set an OVC record."Paula is just an unbelievable shooter, the best I've ever coached on any level," Arnzen said. "Pam is a very good inside player who had a really good year, especially for a freshman."Among other key players back are senior point guard Moneik Campbell, who led the squad in assists last season with 73 while scoring 8.3 points per game; and Regan Hughston, another of the OVC's more promising freshman a year ago, when she averaged 5.2 points."Moneik has been a very good leader for us and Regan has really come on," said Arnzen.

Also returning, and expected to contend for serious playing time, are center Annie Struve (3.2 ppg), center Allison Iversen (2.2 ppg), forward Kimberly Nicholson (2.1 ppg), guard Tiffany Melis (2.0 ppg) and guard Liea Toedte (1.7 ppg)."I think we've got a very good nucleus coming back," said Arnzen.

Arnzen is high on his four newcomers, led by quick point guard Lashelle Porter, who redshirted last year but practiced with the team.

Three true freshmen on the squad are Kristy Roherty, Lori Chase and Jennifer Gries. Arnzen figures they will all be battling for playing time.

Assessing his team, Arnzen points out several definite strengths which should make the Otahkians quite a formidable foe."We're a very close-knit group, which I feel is our No. 1 strength," he said. "They all seem to get along very well together. They have really seemed to bond, which is very important."I think our inside game should be very strong. We can shoot the ball. Defensively, we led the OVC last year. And these kids have great work ethic."As far as weaknesses, Arnzen points to rebounding, an area he hopes the Otahkians improve in greatly this season."We were outrebounded for the season last year," he said. "We're not a great rebounding team yet, but we hope to get there."While the Otahkians finished fourth in the OVC last year, they were only one game out of first place and appeared to be in good shape to win the league title before suffering a pair of late heartbreaking losses."We were so close to winning the conference last year," Arnzen said. "And we were so close to getting an NIT bid."Arnzen hopes the Otahkians can take that final step this year."We're knocking on the door," he said. "Now we want to kick the door in."