Ladyjack Basketball 2000-01 Outlook
10/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 24, 2000
When the final buzzer sounded on the 1999-2000 season, SFA could look back and boast its 13th consecutive and 15th overall NCAA appearance, 12th SLC Tournament title and 11th regular season crown. But for head coach Royce Chadwick and the new Ladyjacks he and his staff have assembled, the hunger for conference and national prominence is stronger than ever going into the new season.
It's a new season that will feed off the program's first win over a Top 25 team since 1997, in the 2000 NCAA playoffs. SFA edged 24th ranked Xaiver 73-72 at the Mideast Regional in Baton Rouge with 8.2 seconds remaining to earn a second round date with host LSU. The Ladyjacks came out firing and held a 31-22 advantage over the 9th ranked Lady Tigers going into halftime, but cold shooting took its toll in the second half and the Sweet Sixteen celebration was put on hold, 57-45.
High hopes again abound in Ladyjack Country as the coaching staff has put together a tough non-conference schedule that features UC-Santa Barbara, Maine, SMU and Alcorn State. SFA will also participate in the Hawaii Tournament against top teams such as North Carolina State, Arizona State, Michigan, South Florida and Arkansas.
Chadwick, who picked up victory 350 en route to leading the Ladyjacks to a 28-4 overall mark and 19-1 conference record last season, welcomes back three pivotal players from the 2000 team and has added five new members to put SFA back in another championship run.
Heading the list of returnees are "Freshman of the Year" Nathesia Wright, all-conference post Tami Rater and junior LaShinda Winters. One senior, five transfers, one sophomore and one freshman will join the three all-star candidates and help fill the void left by last season's seniors: "Player of the Year" Stephanie Whitmore, all-conference selection Shawanta Johnson and Tekeniesha Henry.
Wright, a guard from Arlington Bowie, exploded onto the scene at SFA as a freshman and averaged 9.0 ppg and 3.8 rpg. Against conference opponents the newcomer upped her scoring average to 10.2 ppg and took control of the glass with four boards per contest. Chadwick believes Wright has the potential to be one of the all-time best guards to wear a Ladyjack uniform.
Joining Wright as a returning all-conference selection will be senior post Rater from Mesquite. According to Chadwick, Rater's presence in the paint has become an anchor for the team, and she has developed into one of the premier post players in the league. Rater wrapped her junior campaign averaging 9.7 ppg and 5.4 rpg. while leading the league in field goal percentage (.624).
Winters returns for her junior season after rehabilitating two knee injuries and being a reserve off the Ladyjack bench. The Houston guard led the SLC in assist/turnover ratio (1.85) last year while starting only two games and hit clutch shots throughout the season. In the second meeting with Sam Houston, Winters hit a last second trey that allowed the Ladyjacks to hit the century mark (100-60) for the first time since 1998 and came up with the game-winning lay-up in the first round of the NCAAs against Xaiver (73-72). Chadwick believes his 5'3 guard can pass it, can shoot it, knows when to push it and knows when to set it up.
Chaquita Dilworth, a junior forward who transferred from Colorado, was ineligible to suit up for SFA due to NCAA requirements last season, but will add another punch to the Ladyjacks' high octane offense. Chadwick said the 1998-99 Big 12 Honorable Mention has All-American potential and will be a focal point for the new season. Dilworth played in 29 games for the Lady Buffs and averaged 22 minutes. The forward accumulated 227 points and pulled down 214 rebounds.
Patricia Brown joins Rater as the other senior on the team. The Houston foward enters her final year with SFA after appearing in all 32 games last season, including six as a starter. Chadwick said Brown's versatility on the floor makes her indispensable to the team, and she truly leads by example. "She epitomizes the heart and soul of Ladyjack basketball." Brown poured in 5.9 ppg and added 4.3 rpg last season.
The sophomore class will be made up of 6'0 forward Amy Collins. According to Chadwick, Collins' shooting touch is incredible and her range is outstanding. He expects her to be a tremendous player in the up tempo system. The San Antonio forward played in 29 games for SFA as a freshman.
Adding to the mix of talent Chadwick returns will be five new players that come to East Texas after wrapping up successful prep and junior college careers. It's a recruiting class that features twin guards Jessica and Nicole Guild. The heavily sought after duo hail from the 2000 National Champion Tyler JC squad. Both Jessica and Nicole were named co-MVPs of the national tournament and have garnered several accolades throughout their careers.
"Anytime you add a Kodak All-American to the team, you are brimming with excitement," Chadwick said of Jessica. "Her heart and desire may be the most desirable of all her attributes."
Jessica averaged 16 ppg and shot 55% from the field and 53% from behind the arc at Tyler while sister Nicole ended her Apache career averaging 11.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
"She is an extremely versatile player who possesses the talent to play point guard or shooting guard," the head coach said of Nicole. "She is, quite simply put, a basketball player."
Other new members of the Ladyjack family will be Yolanda Grant, Latisha Prater and Adrienne Baxter.
Grant is a transfer from Howard JC where she put 20 ppg and shot 52% from the field and 48% behind the three-point line. The 5'11 forward also grabbed nine boards and averaged three steals per contest. "She has only scratched the surface of her game potential, and I anticipate a big contribution from Yo at the forward position," Chadwick said. Prater comes to SFA after a successful career at Pensacola JC where the 5'10 guard averaged 18.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg last year. "She has a complete all-around game, and she has the ability to take over a game with her offense," the head coach said. "When she picks up our run and jump system, she is going to be unbelievable."
SFA's lone freshman will be Louisiana standout Adrienne Baxter. "Adrienne brings a scorers mentality to our program. She played in one of the most successful high school programs in Louisiana and I fully expect her to bring that winning disposition to Ladyjack basketball." The 5'10 guard exploded for 20.6 ppg and pulled down 9.2 rpg to end her prep career, along with being named to the Louisiana All-Star team.
For Chadwick and the Ladyjacks, the new 2000-01 season has all the ingredients needed for SFA to make another championship run through the SLC and into March glory.
