Exhibition Game Vs MHB Saturday Night
11/1/2013 12:26:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols is eager to see what will happen Saturday when her Sam Houston women take the floor Saturday night for a preseason basketball exhibition game against Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Tipoff is at 6 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
“Our coaching staff is really looking forward to seeing what kind of personality this year's team takes,” Nichols said. “We lost 65 percent of our scoring, so we're anxious to see who is going to step up.”
Sam Houston earned its first Southland Conference women's basketball title in 26 seasons in the league in 2013. All three All-Conference players from that squad – Britni Martin, Sequeena Thomas and Chanice Smith – graduated. The trio each totaled more than 1,000 points during their careers.
“Last year, the other players always relied on those three to be the leaders,” Nichols said. “Now, we're eager to see what kind of personality this year's squad will have.”
Senior point guard Jasmine Johnson and junior forward Angela Beadle are the team's only returning starters. Johnson has started in the backcourt for three years. Beadle earned all-tournament honors at last year's Southland event in Katy where the Kats reached the finals for the first time.
“Jasmine and Angela have stepped forward in preseason practice ,” Nichols said. “It's fun to be able to see them carry over and be the leaders. Getting the newcomers into our system has been the challenge but it's a fun challenge.”
Other top veterans back include Nyha Carter, Jasmin Anderson, Amanda Barnes, Clarke Davis and Jazmin Wiley.
Following the Saturday exhibition, the Bearkat women will open the 2013-14 regular season campaign on Friday, Nov. 8, with a non-conference game at the University of Arkansas.
The home opener for the Kats is Friday, Nov. 15 against Louisiana-Lafayette at 11:30 a.m.
Season tickets for Sam Houston women's basketball are available online now at www.gobearkats.com or at the SHSU athletic ticket office. For more information call the ticket office at 936 294-1729.
