Progression has to be the only thing on the women’s basketball team’s mind.
Previous losing seasons only strive the Lady Bearkats to surprise fans on a learning experience that these ladies went up against for a few years now.
Last season, SHSU’s women’s basketball team went 6-22 (5-13) being at the bottom three of the pack within the Southland’s Conference race.
The only way to improve would be adding talent to this team that was not there last year by having better recruitment.
“We are going to be a faster team,” freshman guard Kamry Orr said. “We have more depth this year.”
What makes a great team is leadership of course. But the development that these ladies take in from last year is accountability.
“Things that we do to train for this upcoming season is really go hard every day,” sophomore guard Angela Delaney said. “We make each other be competitive at all times and we hold each other accountable for everything.”
Leadership and holding oneself accountable is one thing but having the team to contribute to these factors as a whole turns good teams to great teams.
“Right now in practice really focused on our team ball and our chemistry,” senior center Angela Beadle said.
These ladies fought in three battles this season including an exhibition game against Mary Hardin-Baylor on November 7th.
The first two games of the season are the toughest opponents these women will go against all season long outside of conference play.
“Playing these bigger schools are definitely preparing us for conference,” junior center Jasmine McCants said.
Playing teams like TCU and Arkansas will definitely help prepare these girls get better mentally and physically.
SHSU women’s basketball lost their first matchup against the TCU Lady Horned Frogs 59-85 on November 13th. The Horned Frogs went 18-14 in the Big 12 conference and defeated the Bearkats last season also.
Following that lost, the Bearkats were also defeated by the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks 47-67.
“These games were learning experiences,” Orr said.
Playing tougher opponents only makes teams better for consistent competition night in and out.
“The games went smooth,” Delaney said. “They definitely made us better.”
The Lady Bearkats will play in a couple matchups before the LIU-Brooklyn Tournament in New York from Nov 28-29th.
With conference play starting the month of January, these women are fully prepared for a good season ahead.
The next game is scheduled for Friday November 20th against Our Lady of the Lake at 11:00 a.m.
