Otahks exhibit firepower in rout of Union

Not that it would have counted on their record, but Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith thought there was a chance the Otahkians could lose Thursday's exhibition opener.

Shows you what Smith knows.

The Otahkians' defense smothered NAIA powerhouse Union (Tenn.) University in the first half and Southeast rolled to an 84-66 victory at the Show Me Center.

"We still have a long way to go," Smith said, "but it's a great way to start."

Union, 34-3 last year, is 2-0 this season and ranked third nationally. Smith knew the Bulldogs would treat Thursday's exhibition as a real game while the Otahkians focused more on learning about their team than posting a victory.

But the Otahkians piled up a 45-21 halftime lead and were never threatened. Their biggest second-half advantage was 32 points.

"I was really concerned because I knew they were talented and had already played some games, and we were going to play a lot of people," Smith said. "I thought our defense in the first half was really good. Overall our first half was really good, but I thought we lost some discipline in the second half."

That's something Smith was quick to point out to the Otahkians after Union outscored Southeast by 14 points over the final 14 minutes of the game.

"The first half was good, but the second half was not so good," said senior forward Yashika Sidbury, who scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. "Coach let us know about it. He was pretty upset."

Said junior-college transfer guard Sami Jo Cotton, who scored 14 points, "We played good defense in the first half but not too good in the second half. Defense is going to be a big key for us."

Chandra Brown, a 6-foot-3 junior-college transfer center and the Otahkians' most heralded recruit, led Southeast with 15 points and displayed the assortment of athletic low-post moves that has Smith salivating. She also blocked four shots.

"Chandra did some things tonight that showed what she can be," Smith said. "She's not there yet, but she can really be a great player for us."

Sophomores Tiffanne Ryan and Shannon Proffit both scored nine points, and Jessica Aebi -- the Otahkians' only freshman -- added eight points.

First-year guard Brandi Russia, like Brown a junior-college All-American, scored just two points but dished out a team-high six assists.

"We didn't do what we could have done, but if we get to where we want to be, we should be dancing," said Russia, referring to the NCAA Tournament.

Southeast shot 51.6 percent (33 of 64) from the field and 52.6 percent (10 of 19) from 3-point range. Cotton hit four of seven 3-pointers; Sidbury hit three of five; and Ryan made two of three.

"We shoot it a whole lot better this year," Smith said. "We have a lot more offensive options."

Defensively, the Otahkians limited Union to 40-percent shooting (24 of 60), including just 27.6 percent (eight of 29) in the first half. LaTorya Fuller led the Bulldogs with 22 points.

The Otahkians have their final exhibition game Monday when St. Louis Goldstar visits the Show Me Center for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.