Women open basketball practice with Orange-White game Friday
10/14/2009 2:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The 40th season of women's basketball at Sam Houston begins Friday when the Bearkats tip off the 2009-10 schedule with an Orange-White intra-squad scrimmage at 6:15 p.m. in Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Head Coach Brenda Nichols will put a squad on the floor that consists of four senior letter-winners, three junior college transfers, three sophomores who played last year and three new freshmen.
"We're really excited about the athleticism of this year's team," Nicholls said. "These girls are ready to get started and show what they can do."
The Kats jumped from the league cellar in 2008 to tie for fourth in the Southland West Division in 2009. Sam Houston just missed a Southland Conference post-season berth due to a tie-breaker as the odd team out in a three-way tie for the tournament's last two spots.
SHSU finished tie for seventh place in final overall 2009 Southland standings, the Bearkats' highest conference ranking since the 2000 Sam Houston squad was fourth in the Southland.
The top five scorers return from last year's squad, giving Nichols a solid base of experienced players for a foundation.
"Getting knocked out of the tournament by the tiebreaker last year hurt," Nichols said. "Sam Houston State hasn't been to the post season tournament since 2004 and we're determined to get there this year. We return 51.6 of our 67.5 points per game plus we've brought in another big recruiting class. Once you get to the tournament, anything can happen."
The Sam Houston women look to have strong leadership from four seniors who all were starters last year. Three -Whitney Smith, Brittany Brooks and Ray Alexander -- have been with the program for four years.
"Brittany, Ray and Whitney are the heart and soul of this program," Nichols said. "Their leadership is vital to our success this year."
The fourth senior is 6-0 Therese Hager who was a defensive standout for the Bearkats.
Returning as sophomores are 6-2 Bre Agnew, 5-5 Khamra Echols and 5-11 Britni Martin.
To further strengthen the Bearkats for the 2010 campaign, Nichols and her staff have recruited three junior college transfers and three high school seniors. The juco transfers are 6-2 LaTisha Morgan, 6-0 Terrah Austin and 5-7 Lauren Tippet.
The new freshmen include 6-0 forward Sequeena Thomas, 5-9 guard Chanice Smith and 6-0 forward Clarke Davis.
"We're much more athletic this year and look to be improved in all phases of the game," Nichols said. "The girls have demonstrated a great work ethic during the off-season and everyone is determined to continue to raise our stature in the Southland Conference."
Admission to the Orange-White women's basketball scrimmage Friday is free. To order tickets for all Bearkat athletic events, go to www.gobearkats.com or contact the Sam Houston State athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
