OVC favorite sits well with Otahks

Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team has been picked to win its first Ohio Valley Conference championship, which means the Otahkians figure to have a big target on their backs.

Bring it on, said the Otahkians during their annual media day Tuesday afternoon at the Show Me Center.

"I think it's good motivation for us," said senior forward Carina Souza, who averaged 11.7 points per game last year. "We know everybody will try to play their best against us, but I think that will be good for us."

Said senior guard/forward Yashika Sidbury, who averaged 10.5 points and hit a team-high 51 3-pointers last season, "It's a challenge for us, living up to expectations, but it's exciting. I think we have the team to live up to it."

Added senior guard Kenja White, who averaged a team-high 13.9 points per game last year, "I think it's a good challenge for us. We don't mind being picked first. With the depth we have this year, I believe we can live up to the challenge."

Like his players, Southeast second-year coach B.J. Smith welcomes the special attention that being the OVC favorite brings.

"I'd just as soon be picked No. 1," Smith said. "It will make us show up every day. We won't sneak up on anybody, which will help us be ready to play every game."

Smith believes the Otahkians are solidly equipped to prove the OVC's coaches and sports information directors -- who voted them No. 1 in the preseason poll -- correct.

"I feel like we have much more depth this year, more the parts we need," he said. "Our talent is upgraded."

Southeast returns seven letterwinners -- including five of the top six scorers -- from last year's team that went 19-11, finished second in the OVC's regular season for the first time and advanced to the OVC Tournament finals for the first time. The Otahkians have also added five key recruits.

"We still have a long way to go, but I think we'll be a lot better than last year," Souza said.

In addition to White, Souza and Sidbury, other returning players are senior guard Sarah Costello (8.2 ppg), sophomore guard Tiffanne Ryan (5.0 ppg), junior forward Miah Shelford (4.1 ppg) and sophomore forward Shannon Proffit (2.9 ppg). Costello led in assists last year with 97 and Ryan was second with 91.

Among four junior-college transfers are junior center Chandra Brown and junior guard Brandi Russia, both juco All-Americans, along with sophomore center Melissa Anthony and junior guard Sami Jo Cotton. Freshman guard Jessica Aebi rounds out the newcomers.

"All 12 players should be able to help us," Smith said. "I honestly don't know who's going to start."

Added Smith, "We have a special group this year. Our personality is very good. You have to have talent, but you also have to have that heart and character. I think we have that."

Southeast certainly won't ease into the season, opening Nov. 14 at nationally-ranked Utah and having other non-conference games against nationally-ranked Kansas State and Oklahoma, in addition to playing perennial power Southwest Missouri.

"We have a very tough schedule, but we did that for a reason," Smith said. "We're playing teams that will help us prepare for the NCAA Tournament. Our expectations are very high."

The Otahkians' first exhibition game, at 5 p.m. Thursday against Union University at the Show Me Center, also isn't a cakewalk.

Union, from Jackson, Tenn., is a traditional NAIA power than went 34-3 last year and is ranked third nationally this season. The Bulldogs have already played two regular-season games, winning both handily. They feature several strong returning players, five Division I transfers and two centers who stand 6-4 and 6-5.

"They'll be an excellent team, good enough to beat us," Smith said. "They'll play it like a regular-season game. We want to win, but that's not the main reason for the game.

"We're playing at Utah, who some people are picking as a final four darkhorse, next Friday. Last year we didn't think our exhibition games helped us prepare for our first game at Southwest Missouri. This should help us prepare a lot better."