Cape Girardeau, Mo. (November 7, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Otahkian Basketball team will open up its season Friday night as they play an exhibition game against the St. Louis Goldstar basketball team, a group of college all-stars.

The game marks the beginning of the B.J. Smith era at Southeast. Smith and the Otahkians will open the exhibition season as they were picked fifth in the preseason poll for the Ohio Valley Conference.

This year's version of the Otahkians should be very competitive and a strong combatant in the fight for the OVC title and battle in the NCAA Tournament.

The Otahkians have three returning players including seniors Lori Chase and LaShelle Porter. Chase was the team's leading scorer last season averaging 16.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. She is the 13th Otahkian to reach the 1,000 point plateau. Porter chipped in with eight points per game and averaged 3.4 assists per contest as well as 3.7 rebounds per game. Freshman reserve Tanya Guell, who missed the entire season with a knee injury will be the other returnee.

The team boasts a highly talented recruiting class that consists of nine players, including five foreign players. Most are transferring junior college athletes, and all have come from winning programs and are looking to continue those ways. Sarah Costello is a 5'4 junior guard from Australia that played for a talented Seminole State team and was an NJCAA Region II All-Tournament team member. Louise McGoldrick is a 6'1 forward from Scotland that played for Marshalltown J.C. She was a first team NJCAA All-Region selection a year ago.

Miah Shellford is a 5'11 sophomore forward from New Zealand. Carina Souza is a 6'1 junior forward from Brazil. She was a 2002 NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American and an All-Region selection both years at NEO, as well as being the Region Tournament MVP last season. Yashika Sidbury is a 5'11 junior forward from Trinity Valley C.C. She was an All-Conference performer and helped her team to a seventh-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament. Natasha Starkes is a 5'7 junior guard from Trinity Valley who helped her team to a Region Championship last season. Kenja White is a 5'8 sophomore guard from NEO. Shannon Proffit is a 5-10 freshman guard from New Zealand and Tiffanne Ryan is a 5'8 freshman guard from Oklahoma City, Ok.

The Otahks will play another exhibition game next Friday against Southern Illinois Unversity -Edwardsville. Tip off will be at 5:30 p.m.