Otahks expect bigger, better things in Texas

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team already has traveled across the United States even though it has played just three games.

This week the frequent flier miles have continued to add up. After losing at No. 19 Oklahoma 83-48 on Monday, the Otahkians flew the next day to Corpus Christi, Texas, where they will compete in this weekend's Flint Hills Resources Islander Classic.

The Otahkians (1-2) take on Bowling Green (1-1) at 5 p.m. today. The other first-round matchup pits host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2-1) against Prairie View A&M (2-2). Finals are Saturday.

In addition to losing at Oklahoma Monday night, the Otahkians lost 76-65 to 21st-ranked Utah in the season opener. The lone home game was a 73-64 victory over Southern Illinois.

"We've done a lot of traveling so far, that's for sure," said Southeast coach B.J. Smith, whose squad competes late next month in a tournament in San Antonio. "But this one isn't too bad because we've had enough time to get our legs under us."

Smith hopes a rugged early slate has helped toughen the Otahkians enough to win this weekend's tournament.

"It's a very winnable tournament. We'll be disappointed if we don't win," Smith said.

While the Otahkians went 19-11 last year and finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is the only other tournament team with winning record last season, going 15-12. Bowling Green was 12-16 and Prairie View A&M 9-16.

"Bowling Green and Corpus Christi are good teams, but they're sure not in the Utah and Oklahoma category," Smith said.

Smith said the Otahkians did not play that poorly against Oklahoma, but two areas in particular doomed their hopes.

"We didn't shoot it very well, and defensively we played well at times but we kept giving up second shots," Smith said. "Those things against Oklahoma will put you in a bind."

After already playing two ranked teams out of their first three games, Smith said it's time for the Otahkians to string together some wins.

"This early in the season nothing is a must-win, but we need to win," he said. "To do all this work, we need to start getting rewarded for it."