OTAHKS STRIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN 1997-98

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen and his Otahkians couldn't wait to get the 1997-98 season started so they could begin making amends for last year.

"We did not have a very good year last year so we're anxious to get back and start again," said Arnzen.

Prior to last season, Arnzen had directed the Otahkians to only one losing season in his impressive career, that a 12-14 mark in 1994-95. But last year the bottom fell out as Southeast went 5-21 and finished a last-place 3-15 in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference.

"It's been a long time since the first of March," said Arnzen, who entered this season with a glittering 272-132 career record in 15 season with the Otahkians. "We didn't feel very good about what we did. You can never go back and re-do the past, but you can start fresh.

"The one good thing about basketball, or any other sport, there's always a new season."

And, although the Otahkians are off to an 0-2 start heading into tonight's home game against Western Illinois, Arnzen believes the new season holds some promise for the Otahkians.

"I feel like we have a good group coming back and we recruited some good new players," he said. "We had a good preseason practice. I thought our attitude was excellent. So I'm optimistic, even though the first two games didn't go like we had wanted."

Southeast's first contest was a disappointing home loss to Wisconsin-Milwaukee while the second came on the road against Big 12 member Missouri.

The Otahkians return their top player from last year in 5-foot-11 senior forward Jamie Koester, who averaged team highs of 15.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and led the squad in virtually every offensive and defensive category.

Dana Hawkins, a 5-11 senior forward, is the second-leading returning scorer at 8.8 points per game.

Sarah Frazier, a 5-7 sophomore guard, is back after averaging 8.7 points per game and being named to the All-OVC freshmen team.

No other returning player averaged more than 4.3 points a contest, which is why Arnzen will be counting on several newcomers.

Point guard figures to be shared by 5-5 sophomore Moneik Campbell, who averaged 4.3 points last season, and 5-5 junior Rusty Sowers, who averaged 15 points and five assists at Johnson County (Kan.) Junior College.

"We like Rusty a lot, and Moneik showed us some good things last year," Arnzen said.

Which leaves the center position, which Arnzen considers to be the Otahkians' biggest question mark. Kim Palmer used up her eligibility after averaging 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Returning at center is 6-2 sophomore ChyAnne Kapitzke, who averaged 2.7 points as a freshmen. Also back is 6-1 redshirt freshman Annie Struve, who missed last season with an injury but showed good signs during the early action.

"The middle is a concern for us," said Arnzen. "That's a big key. Hopefully we can get some pretty decent production there."

Adding depth and also competing for starting berths will be two more key newcomers and several returning players.

Arnzen is counting on 5-9 junior guard/forward Tajuana White, who averaged 17 points and seven rebounds at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.

"She'll give us some quickness and an inside scoring threat," Arnzen said.

The other newcomer is the team's only incoming freshman, 5-11 forward Kimberly Nicholson, who averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds in Memphis, Tenn.

Other returning players from a year ago and their scoring averages are 5-8 senior guard Jaime (Wahlert) Neff, 3.8 ppg; 6-foot senior forward Stephanie Faith out of Poplar Bluff, 2.9 ppg; and 5-9 junior twin guards Sherry and Shauna Cook out of Jackson, 1.2 and 1.1 ppg., respectively.

In addition to the early-season game at Missouri, the Otahkians face some other extremely rugged early challenges, including next week's four-team tournament in Reno, Nev.

"Our non-conference schedule should be challenging and the OVC will be tough as always," Arnzen said.

Southeast was picked to finish dead last in the 10-team OVC in a preseason poll. Based on what happened last year, Arnzen expected that. But he said he definitely doesn't expect the Otahkians to finish there.

"I don't feel like we're a last-place club," he said. "We have a chance to prove some people wrong this year."