OVC's BIG SURPRISE: OTAHKS SURPASS ALL EXPECTATIONS

Losing in Saturday's semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament was extremely disappointing for Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen and his players.

But Arnzen realizes that the future indeed looks bright for the Otahkians.

That's why, only moments after the 73-62 defeat against Tennessee Tech at the Nashville Arena, Arnzen was already pointing to next season.

"We have to develop a tradition and I think we've definitely started in that direction," said Arnzen. "It's always disappointing to lose, but we have to realize how much we accomplished this season."

What the Otahkians accomplished was their best-ever season since moving up to the Division I level eight years ago. Southeast finished with a 19-9 record, including a 13-5 OVC mark that put them in fourth place -- and just one game out of first.

And, for the first time ever, the Otahkians won a game in the OVC Tournament.

"It was a wonderful season," said Arnzen. "When the season first began, I thought if we could just somehow get to Nashville, that would be a great accomplishment. We did that and I'm extremely proud of all the girls."

What makes this year all the more impressive is that the Otahkians were coming off two horrendous seasons that had Arnzen extremely frustrated.

Two years ago, Southeast went 5-21 overall and finished in last place in the 10-team OVC. Then last season, the Otahkians went 8-19 overall and wound up eighth in the league.

When the 1998-99 preseason poll came out, the Otahkians were picked to finish eighth. But armed with some talented new players, Arnzen was confident things would be looking up.

"I knew we'd be a lot better than last year," he said. "I didn't know if we would finish fourth in the OVC and challenge for the championship the entire season, which we did, but I thought we'd be better."

The Otahkians certainly were. The season started with a win and a loss in the first two games. Then came one of the biggest wins in the program's Division I history -- a 90-71 rout of the University of Missouri that marked Southeast's first-ever victory over the Tigers.

"The win over Missouri was a really big one for us," said Arnzen. "I think that game gave us a lot of confidence and showed that we could play with a lot of teams."

Southeast went on to a highly successful OVC season and finished the campaign perfect in 14 home games, including a win over Murray State in the first round of the league tournament that sent the Otahkians to Nashville.

And one of the great things about the season as far as Arnzen is concerned is the fact Southeast will return many of its key players next season, in addition to welcoming in some talented recruits.

The Otahkians will certainly miss their four seniors, two of them starters. Guard Rusty Sowers was the team's second-leading scorer at 13 points per game while forward Tajuana White averaged nearly 10 points per game and was second on the squad in rebounding with six a contest.

Twin sisters Sherry and Shauna Cook out of Jackson High School were valuable reserves who both spent four seasons with the program.

"We'll miss the seniors," Arnzen said. "Rusty and Tajuana really grew up over the summer and had very good senior seasons."

But all the other key Otahkians will return, led by the dynamic outside-inside duo of Paula Corder and Pam Iversen.

Corder, a junior forward who transferred to Southeast after an All-American career at Three Rivers Community College, led the Otahkians in scoring with more than 14 points per game.

Corder also is the nation's leading free-throw shooter at 94 percent and the streak of 39 straight successful foul shots she ended the season with is an OVC record. Corder also tied the league's single-game 3-point mark by sinking nine against Eastern Kentucky.

Iversen had an equally brilliant freshman season as the 6-foot-3 center averaged nearly 12 points per game, third best on the team, and she paced the squad in rebounding with nearly eight a contest.

"Paula and Pam both had outstanding first seasons for us and we'll be counting on them heavily next season," said Arnzen.

Junior point guard Moneik Campbell turned into a solid floor general as she averaged more than eight points per game while running the team well.

"Moneik really grew up over the summer, just like Rusty and Tajuana did," said Arnzen.

The Otahkians also got a solid first season from freshman center Regan Hughston, who was generally the first Southeast inside player off the bench and even made three starts. Hughston averaged just over five points per game.

"Those three excellent recruits (Corder, Iversen and Hughston) really helped us come together, along with Rusty, Tajuana and Moneik," Arnzen said.

Several other players who helped off the bench will also be back next season. With some new recruits thrown into the mix with all those returnees, it's no wonder Arnzen is excited about the future.

"It was a great experience for us to get to Nashville," he said. "I feel for the seniors who won't be back with us, but all the ones who will be back got a taste of this and that can only help us.

"I think the future of Southeast women's basketball is certainly bright. Everybody has to work hard and improve, but we're looking forward to next season."

(All statistics on this page are through February 23)

No. 10 Moncik Campbell

Position: Guard

Height: 5-5

Year: Junior

Hometown: West Memphis, Ark.

She averaged 8.3 points per game with 72 assists.

No. 14 Rusty Sowers

Position: Guard

Height: 5-5

Year: Senior

Hometown: Melvern, Kan.

She averaged 13.2 points per game, including 65 assists.

No. 15 Tiffany Melis

Position: Guard

Height: 5-9

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Plymouth, Wisc.

She averaged 2 points per game and had 21 assists.

No. 20 Tajuana White

Position: Guard/Forward

Height 5-9

Year: Senior

Hometown: Fordyce, Ark.

She averaged 9.7 points per game and had 39 assists.

No. 22 Shauna Cook

Position: Guard/Forward

Height: 5-9

Year: Senior

Hometown: Whitewater

No. 24 Sherry Cook

Position: Guard/Forward

Height: 5-9

Year: Senior

Hometown: Whitewater

She averaged 2.7 points per game and had 46 assists.

No. 30 Liea Toedte

Position: Guard

Height: 5-9

Year: Junior

Hometown: Centralia, Ill.

No. 32 Paula Corder

Position: Guard/Forward

Height: 5-10

Year: Junior

Hometown: Ellington

She lead the team with 14.5 points per game and 54 assists. She scored 53 3-point baskets and averaged a nation-best .940 from the free throw line. She was second team all conference.

No. 34 Kimberly Nicholson

Position: Forward

Height: 5-11

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.

She averaged 2.1 points per game.

No. 40 Reagan Hughston

Position: Forward

Height: 6-1

Year: Freshman

Hometown: West Plains

She averaged 5.2 points per game with 32 rebounds.

No. 50 Allison Iverson

Position: Center

Height: 6-3

Year: Junior

Hometown: Denison, Iowa

She averaged 2.3 points per game.

No. 52 Annie Struve

Position: Center

Height: 6-1

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Eagle, Wisc.

She averaged 3.4 points per game.

No. 55 Pam Iverson

Position: Center

Height: 6-3

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Denison, Iowa

She averaged 11.7 points per game. She also earned a spot on the OVC All-Freshman Team. She averaged team-high 7.8 rebounds, and was among the nation's leaders with a .892 from the free throw line.

Otahkian Team Highs

Points 104 at Morehead State 1/30/99

Field goals made 38 vs. Morehead State 1/30/99

Field goal attempts 77 vs. Oakland City 12/08/98

Field goal percentage .585 vs. Morehead State 1/30/99

3-point field goals made 13 vs. Eastern Kentucky 1/02/99

3-point field goal attempts 27 vs. Eastern Kentucky 1/02/99

3-point field goal percentage .600 at Tennessee Tech 1/09/99

Free throws made 38 vs. Eastern Kentucky 1/02/99

Free throw attempts 54 vs. Eastern Kentucky 1/02/99

Free throw percentage .909 at Murray State 2/11/99

Rebounds 55 vs. Christian Brothers 11/14/98

Assists 25 at Morehead State 1/30/99

Steals 15 vs. Texas-Pan American 11/28/98

Blocked shots 9 vs. Christian Brothers 11/14/98

Turnovers 30 at Tennessee Tech 1/09/99

Fouls 25 at Middle Tennessee 1/07/99