Women coming together in preseason practice
10/12/2015 4:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
After a little more than a week of preseason practice, three things stand out to Sam Houston women's basketball head coach Brenda Nichols about her team for 2015-16.
“We're excited about our depth at the post position, our team speed and the way is team is meshing together as a close-knit group,” the Bearkats' ninth-year head coach said. “The team togetherness is going to be big for us.”
Southland Conference champions in 2013, the Sam Houston women look to bounce back from a 6-22 season in 2015 in which injuries played a key factor. Eight letter-winners return including four starters, one of whom led the Southland in scoring last year.
Shernise Robertson, a 5-6 senior guard, averaged 22.1 points a game last year to earn All-Southland Conference honors.
Angela Beadle also brings All-Southland credentials to the floor. The 6-3 senior ranked second in the league in rebounding in 2014 but missed the 2015 season with an injury.
Beadle is joined at the post position by returning players 6-2 Shadijah Moore and 6-1 Saundra Guillory. Two newcomers strengthen the mix with 6-0 Jasmine McCants from Alabama Southland Community College, 6-1 Ashleigh Cooper from Pflugerville Hendrickson and 5-10 Lydia Baxter from Austin Bowie.
“We have a lot of depth especially at the post, which is something we haven't had in a while,” Nichols said. “Our post play will be improved not just because Beadle is back but also because of the other players we have. The seniors have come into camp and done an excellent job leading that group. And what's more exciting is the way the youngsters are listening to what the seniors are telling them.”
The head coach sees improved team speed as a positive as well. In the Bearkat backcourt 5-5 Berniezha Tidwell from Hot Springs, Arkansas; 5-8 Kamry Orr from Little Rock Central and 5-8 Laurynn McGowen from Arlington Seguin join Robertson and veterans 5-7 Jasmin Anderson, 5-5 Amanda Barnes, 5-6 Morghen Day and 5-8 Angela Delaney.
“We would like to be more up-tempo this year,” Nichols said. “Our guards coming in are lightning fast. You mix them in with Shernise and we have track team. A little more quickness changes the dimensions of the team. It's a nice little mesh.”
Sam Houston will play another challenging non-conference schedule in November and December, facing TCU, Arkansas, Florida State, Kansas State and Texas on the road. The Bearkats open the season with an exhibition game against Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday, November 7.
Nichols points to her veterans as a team strength as well.
“We're getting great leadership in practice,” Nichols said. “The veterans are stepping up and leading both on the court and off. We're really looking forward to seeing the group come together even more in the next two weeks of practice.”
