Women's basketball hosts exhibition Saturday night
11/5/2010 7:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Sam Houston women's basketball team makes its 2010-11 debut Saturday when the Bearkats play host to Howard Payne in a preseason exhibition game at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. The SHSU women are seeking to build on last year's achievements as the Bearkats produced their most successful campaign in a decade.
Last year, the Kats posted their best Southland Conference finish and record since 1999-2000, produced double digit season wins for the first time in 10 years and made their first Southland Conference post-season appearance since 2004.
With a young squad of talented players, the Bearkat women hope to continue their upward climb in the Southland race.
But to do so, Sam Houston must replace players who accounted for 48.8 of the team's 71.7 points per game during an 11-18 season.
Gone are three four-year starters who all averaged in double figures last year. Two, All-Southland guard Brittany Brooks and forward Whitney Smith, ended their careers ranked among the top 10 in women's career scoring at SHSU. Guard Ray Alexander stands No. 21 in all-time scoring and No. 6 in career assists in the Kat record book.
Head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols looks to reload with an exciting group of returning players and another quality recruiting class.
Sophomore Clarke Davis is the team's lone returning starter. The 6-0 forward earned a starting role in pre-conference play and averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in league action.
Chanice Smith, a 5-9 sophomore guard, averaged 19.5 minutes and 8.7 points off the bench in 2009-10. Other returning players from last year's squad include 5-6 junior guard Khamra Echols (4.9 points), 6-0 sophomore forward Sequeena Thomas (3.6 points), 6-0 senior forward Terrah Austin (3.8 points) and 6-2 junior post LaTisha Morgan (1.1 points).
Sophomore Britni Martin, a 6-0 guard who was a medical redshirt in 2009-10, also returns. Two years ago, Martin was the first Sam Houston freshman woman to score in double figures since Shayla Teague in 1995. Posting a 10.5 average in 2009, Martin became only the fifth freshman in Bearkat women's basketball history to score in double digits.
"We had some young players put up good numbers for us last year," Nichols said. "With those young ladies ready to provide a solid foundation plus another strong recruiting class, we can't wait to get started with the new season."
A solid group of recruits brings needed height, quickness and scoring ability. The newcomers include 5-6 junior guard Devin Wombles from Pleasant Hill, Ill. and freshmen 5-10 Nyha Carter from League City, 5-7 Jasmine Johnson from Missouri City, 6-1 Ashton Jones from Houston Cy Woods and 6-1 Zoe Tucker from Houston Cy Creek.
