Nov. 2, 2001

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State Otahkian basketball team opened its exhibition season by defeating Goldstar Basketball out of St. Louis 93-60 at the Show Me Center on Friday night. The Otahkians used a 38-10 second half surge to pull away from the pesky Goldstar team and get the victory.

In the first half both teams felt each other out and the Southeast team got through the jitters of opening night. The lead changed hands nine times in the first half with Southeast gaining a five-point advantage, the biggest by either team in the first frame. The score was 42-38 in favor of Southeast at the break thanks in part to eight first half points from senior guard Veronica Benson.

The first few minutes of the second frame saw the teams deadlocked until the 14:00 minute mark when Southeast would take command after Nikki Bunner hit a jumper to pull Goldstar within five at 55-50. Baskets by Tisa Thomas, Tanya Guell, Andrea Koeper and two free-throws by Candice Coffey extended the Southeast lead to 64-51. Following a Lynette Mund free-throw, Southeast rolled off 12 unanswered points to break open the game and lead 76-52 with only 6:24 to play.

Sophomore guard Christine Rathke had a sensational night for the Otahks, netting 10 points, six rebounds and dishing out six assists, several of which were highlight roll caliber. Southeast was lead in scoring by the freshman center Guell, who had 14 points on 5-8 shooting from the field and who was a perfect 4-4 from the line. Thomas and Coffey added 11 points each for Southeast. Junior Lori Chase, a preseason All-OVC selection, grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

Yen Quach led Goldstar with 17 points while Mund and Nancy Hesemann added 11 apiece. Former Southeast Missouri standout Renee Rogliardi-Reed chipped in seven points.

Southeast will close its exhibition season with a 7:00 p.m. game against SIU-Edwardsville next Friday night, the 9th, at the Show Me Center.