Otahks win exhibition, turn focus to improvement

With nine new players and a new head coach, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team is still learning to play together.

That was evident Friday night when the Otahkians had the first of two exhibition games at the Show Me Center. They did win, 77-68 over St. Louis Goldstar, but it was a rough performance.

"We were rough in most spots," said Yashika Sidbury, one of seven junior-college transfers among the Otahkians' nine first-year players. "We've got a long way to go, but we'll keep getting better."

That was exactly the way first-year coach B.J. Smith felt after seeing his squad struggle to fend off an outmanned opponent.

"We've got a new system and a lot of new players. This was pretty typical for early in the season," Smith said. "We still don't have a feel for what our rotation is and we still don't know who our starters are.

"But this was a good starting point. I'm not worried about how we perform here. I'm worried about Nov. 22," the date of the season opener.

Sidbury, a junior forward, scored 13 points as she was one of four Otahkians who reached double figures.

Leading the way were senior forward Lori Chase and sophomore guard Kenja White with 14 points each.

Chase, one of Southeast's three returning players, led the squad in scoring last year and is a preseason first team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection.

White played for Smith at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College two years ago but was not a member of any team last season and is still rounding into shape.

"It's the first time I've been in a game in two years," White said, smiling. "It was good to be out here."

Carina Souza, a junior forward who was a top player for Smith on last year's Northeastern Oklahoma A&M squad that finished second in the nation among junior colleges, added 10 points and six rebounds.

Sarah Costello, a junior point guard and another junior-college transfer, contributed seven points, five assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Senior guard LaShelle Porter, a returning starter like Chase, added seven points.

Eleven of Southeast's 12 players saw action and 10 scored. The only player not getting into the game was redshirt freshman center Tanya Guell, who is not all the way back from last year's major knee surgery but has been practicing with the squad.

"All our players had good moments and all had some average moments," Smith said. "Nine of these kids had never played in this gym."

The Otahkians shot just 37.5 percent from the field (24 of 64) and allowed Goldstar to shoot 50 percent (23 of 46).

"We have to do a better job defensively and offensively," Smith said. "We just couldn't score. We didn't shoot it well."

Goldstar, made up of former college players, had five double-figure scorers, including Sandy Fletcher with 12 points. Fletcher and Renee Rogliardi, who had two points, played on Southeast's 1991 team that finished second in the NCAA Division II national tournament.

"It was nice to be back here," Fletcher said.

Southeast led 35-31 at halftime but never could quite shake Goldstar, which grabbed a 46-41 second-half lead and was still ahead 56-55 with under 10 minutes remaining.

Chase hit one of two free throws for a 56-56 tie, then Costello got a steal and layup to put Southeast ahead 58-56 with 6:03 remaining. The Otahkians never trailed again and led 72-58 in the late going. Goldstar pulled within 73-68 in the final moments but could get no closer.

Smith was impressed by Friday's crowd of more than 700 fans.

"It was a nice atmosphere," he said.

The Otahkians will have their final exhibition game next Friday, hosting Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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