OTAHKS READY TO 'BREAK' THROUGH; SE READY TO TAKE LONG HOLIDAY RECESS, HOPES TO RETURN FRESH

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen is somewhat disappointed his team doesn't have a better record.

But as Arnzen prepares to send his players home for a lengthy winter break while school is out of session, he is comforted by a two-game winning streak that has gotten the Otahkians back to the .500 level at 4-4.

"I really thought we could be 7-1 or at least 6-2 at this point," said Arnzen. "We dropped two games late and nine points was our biggest loss.

"But you can't look back, you can only look forward. I still have high hopes for the season. We were disappointed when we dropped four in a row, but I think we're back on track now."

What will definitely lift Arnzen's spirits going into the holidays is Saturday's 81-72 victory on the road against a solid Belmont (Tenn.) squad. That game will serve as Southeast's last contest until Dec. 30 when Mississippi Valley State comes to the Show Me Center.

"That was a big win for us," Arnzen said. "It will obviously make the holiday break feel a lot better, with a two-game winning streak and especially beating a good Belmont club. I think it showed we are maturing."

The Otahkians have a final practice scheduled for today, then the players will be able to go home and not have to return until the next practice on Dec. 26. Arnzen makes it a point to schedule a lengthy break around the holidays each year.

"We use the break as a recruiting tool. We say we give the longest break in Division I basketball, which we probably do," said Arnzen, who added with a laugh, "I'll probably regret it when we take the floor Dec. 30. But what we lose in timing, I think we gain in freshness.

"I just feel Christmas should be spent with families. I feel like it's a big part of family life. I want the players to have plenty of time at home around this time of the year."

* Junior guard Veronica Benson has by far been Arnzen's most pleasant surprise of the season so far.

Arnzen said he knew the transfer from Bevill State-Fayette Junior College in Alabama was a solid player, but he had no idea she would be the Otahkians' leading scorer.

The 5-foot-7 Benson, who is extremely quick, is averaging 14.4 points per game, which ranks eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference. Benson is second in the OVC in field-goal shooting at 57.5 percent, and she is also second on the Otahkians in both assists (18) and steals (16).

"We knew Veronica was a good player, but we didn't know she would be the scorer she has been," Arnzen said. "She's been an awfully big plus for us, and she and (sophomore point guard) LaShelle Porter at the guard tandem have really quickened our basketball team. That's been a real bright spot."

Southeast's only other player averaging in double figures is sophomore forward Lori Chase (11.1 ppg), who also leads the OVC in free-throw shooting at 88.4 percent. She has picked up where she left off from her strong freshman season.

"Lori has continued to play well from last year, and she's picked up her scoring," Arnzen said.

On the down side, junior center Pam Iversen has been slow to regain her form after major offseason knee surgery as she is averaging just 6.5 points per contest, but she is the squad's top rebounder at 6.6 a game, just ahead of Chase's 6.2 average.

"Pam still has a long way to go, but on the other hand, that has given Tisa Thomas a chance to play and she has looked good," said Arnzen.

Thomas, a 6-2 freshman, is Southeast's fourth-leading scorer at seven points a game, behind Porter's 8.5 average. Thomas is also the Otahkians' third-leading rebounder at 4.6 a contest.

Yet another newcomer, freshman guard Christine Rathke, has been solid off the bench, averaging 4.5 points per game and leading the squad in assists with 20, which are just ahead of Benson's 18 and Porter's 16.

* The Otahkians lead the OVC in scoring defense (60.5 ppg) and field-goal percentage defense (39.7 percent).