OTAHKS HOPE NEW YEAR BRINGS BETTER RESULTS

As far as Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen is concerned, it's a new year for the Otahkians.

The 1999 part of the schedule was certainly not kind to the Otahkians as they went just 2-7 and dropped both Ohio Valley Conference contests.

But Arnzen is counting on the 2000 portion of the slate being a whole lot better, beginning with Monday's 7:05 p.m. non-conference game at Arkansas-Little Rock.

"It's a new year, and we're just going to concentrate on getting things going," said Arnzen. "I think our players realize that they're not a bad basketball team. It's just we haven't had much success, but there is still a lot of the season left to play."

Southeast has not played a game since a 77-59 loss to Indiana State on Dec. 10. After a fairly lengthy break for the holidays, the Otahkians returned to practice Tuesday and Arnzen said they appeared to be somewhat rejuvenated.

"I think the break really came at a great time for us," he said. "Any time the first part of the season hasn't gone well, I think it's good to get away for a while. The attitude of the players when they came back seemed to be really good."

Monday's opponent, Arkansas-Little Rock, is fielding a women's basketball team for the first time in about 15 years after the program was discontinued.

"I think it's a game that is winnable for us, but it is on the road, which is always difficult," Arnzen said. " But if this club is to right itself, we've got to draw our toe in the sand and say enough of this.

"If we win this one, then we come home with two conference games which will be difficult, but winnable. It's a chance for us to maybe get on a roll. I really believe that success breeds success. If we can just get a little winning streak going, then I think we'll be fine."

Following Monday's game, the Otahkians will host OVC foes Tennessee State Thursday and Austin Peay Saturday.

OTAHKIAN NOTES: Arnzen said that 5-foot-9 sophomore guard Tiffany Melis, who saw limited action last season but had looked good in the two exhibition games, will be redshirted because of a stress fracture that has prevented her from seeing any regular-season action so far.