Women's hoops energized as practice begins
10/18/2016 3:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Purchase Season Tickets Today
2016-17 Schedule • @BearkatsWBB on Twitter
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Sam Houston State women's basketball team is underway in its fall practices, focusing on fundamentals early on as a new-look group looks to replicate and build on last year's postseason run.
Sam Houston advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament finals a season ago, besting Nicholls, Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State before falling to Central Arkansas in the championship game.
In Southland Conference games, the Kats ranked first in assists (15.11), third in free throw percentage (.729), third in blocked shots (3.28), fourth in field goal percentage (.426) and fourth in rebounding (37.9 per game).
“I think we all believe we made an amazing run at the end,” head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols said. “We definitely won't forget that. At the same time, this is a brand new team and attitude. The have come together well. We talked about anchoring down to the positives and what we can accomplish. Our main goal is to get to Katy. We say it every day before and after practice.”
Looking to build on that success, this year's new-look squad features seven incoming freshmen and four transfers. Among those includes fall signees Trinity Baptiste from Hillsborough High School (Tampa, Fla.) and Rachel Harrell from Brock High School (Weatherford, Texas).
The duo was nominated to participate in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Games with Baptiste being one of 27 girls' basketball players from Florida on the list and Harrell among 78 from Texas.
“There is enthusiasm, emotion and effort,” Welch Nichols said. “Their attitudes are amazing. They have worked hard and are eager to learn every day. Whatever I throw at them, they are willing to do it. This team just has that work ethic. That can go a long away.”
Senior center Jasmine McCants leads all returners, finishing her junior year ranked as Sam Houston's fifth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. The Pensacola, Fla., native is joined by senior guard Morghen Day, junior guard Angela Delaney, sophomore forward Lydia Baxter and sophomore center Ashleigh Cooper.
“Jasmine McCants and Morghen Day, our two seniors, have done a great job coming in and leading on the court,” Welch-Nichols said. “I look forward to seeing Jasmine do a lot of things this year. We had a great run in the conference helped by their leadership a season ago.
“Ashleigh Cooper has stepped into a nice role and has really gotten stronger. She is probably the most improved player I have seen in the last year. Lydia Baxter right now is still on the injured squad but she has been working hard. Ann Nwosah is coming back slowly but she is getting touches and is a very physical player and Angela Delaney can be a guard or a post for us.”
With ongoing construction at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum, the program has spent its fall practices splitting time between the Health & Kinesiology (HKC) on campus and Huntsville High School.
When they return to the Coliseum, the team will play 11 regular-season home games and an exhibition game on Nov. 5 at 11:00 a.m. against Our Lady of the Lake. A season ago, the Kats found their groove at home, starting 4-1 at the venue and anxiously awaits the new amenities in store during 2016-17.
“Just from being a former player and knowing the old building, before we had all this, I am excited about the new looks,” Welch-Nichols said. “I think the team is really excited about it. We've kept it all a secret in terms of what they can expect specifically. I think that excitement when they see it all will carry over as we start the season.”
Season ticket pages for the 2016-17 Sam Houston men's and women's basketball season are now on sale by calling the Bearkat ticket office at (936) 294-1729. Ticket packages include games at Johnson Coliseum for 20 events as well as Southland Conference doubleheaders.
Bearkat Champion Lower Reserved (Section E and F) are on sale for $200 with a $100 donation to the Bearkat Champions Fund included in the cost. Lower Corner Reserved (Section J and K) are available for $99 while General Admission seats are priced at $75.
