Q & A with women's basketball coach Brenda Nichols
11/8/2009 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Q&A WITH SAM HOUSTON
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH BRENDA NICHOLS
Question:
Despite posting Sam Houston's best Southland Conference finish since 1999 last year, your team has been picked to finish last the Southland Conference West Division. How do you and the team react to that?
Brenda Nichols:
We've been picked to finish sixth in the Southland West, but that is going off of last year when we lost out on the playoffs on a three-way tiebreaker.
We went into our last game on the road at Texas State knowing we were done and played a heck of a game to win.
Before that game, I pulled my juniors aside and said we can either come in here and play like this game means nothing or we can play like this is the first game of next season. The kids really responded. Coming back on the bus we all talked about how we had some unfinished business. It doesn't matter where we're ranked. These kids are on a mission. They are excited and they are ready prove some things.
Question:
You have three seniors in their fourth season at Sam Houston back with you in 2009-10. What do they bring to your team?
Brenda Nichols:
It's very important to have the experience. When we came in four years ago, these girls were the babies that we took over. We've all been through a lot of ups and downs together. This is their last year and they are ready to show the Southland that we are here to play and to raise this program to another level.
Question:
In 2009, it appears you had another very successful recruiting year. What areas of your team do you thing you improved with your recruiting:
Brenda Nichols:
During the off-season we felt we needed help most at the post position and we think we're really going to be stronger there.
LaTisha Morgan, a 6-2 post player from Moberly Area Community College in Georgia, played on a state championship team in high school. Terrah Austin, a 6-0 forward from Blinn College, ranked third in her NJCAA region in rebounding with 9.0 boards per contest. Two freshmen who'll help us are 6-0 forward Sequeena Thomas and 6-0 forward Clarke Davis.
Our fourth senior who joined us as a transfer last year, Therese Hager, has really stepped up her defense and her rebounding.
Recruiting the new strong post players allowed us to move some of our veterans.
Bre Agnew, our starting center last year as a freshman, is moving to the outside as a three player. She has a nice outside shot and has improved her ball handling. She can be a big force for us outside and come inside and post you up.
Whitney Smith will move to the three position, giving us much more athletic guard play and we'll have bigger posts on the inside.
Question:
What do you want to improve upon this year:
Brenda Nichols:
We want to improve in all areas of our game. We dedicated a lot of our preseason work to fundamentals and keeping it simple. Our assistant coaches have done a great job with the conditioning.
Final Question:
What is your team goal this year?
Brenda Nichols:
We are learning basketball all over again this year. We are going to learn from each game. These girls have a burning desire to achieve success from top to bottom. Our goal is to get to the conference tournament ... and win it.
Don't forget the $1 Basketball Ticket On-Line Sale
$1 general admission and $5 reserved tickets for all men's and women's basketball games in November and December will be made available in a special promotional offer for just 72 hours beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday November 11.
Area fans may purchase tickets online only via www.gobearkats.com for this one-time only opportunity to see any or all of those six contests for just $1 a game.
Use this link to learn more about the $1 Basketball Ticket Sale for 72-Hours for November and December basketball home games.
For more information on tickets to all Bearkat home athletic events, go to www.gobearkats.com or contact the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
