Ladyjack Basketball Set to Tip Off 2005-06 Season
11/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2005
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team will open the 2005-06 season Friday night in an exhibition game against NCAA Division II opponent Texas A&M-Commerce. The Lions compete in the Lone Star Conference. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m., in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
The Seniors: The Ladyjacks return a talented senior class this season with two guards Kirby Killingsworth and Britany Vinson, forward LaToya Mills and post Kendria Smith. Mills is the team's top returning scorer and rebounder from last year, and has the opportunity to be the first Ladyjack to receive All-SLC honors in all four seasons. Vinson and Killingsworth return as two of the top three-point shooters in school history. A 2004 All-SLC selection, Smith returns as one of school all-time shot blockers.
Other Veterans: Along with the seniors, the Ladyjacks return three other letterwinners. Junior Jennifer Simpson returns after a season that saw her average 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds off the bench for Ladyjacks. Reserve forward Evelyn Edwards also returns for her junior season. Last season, Edwards averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. The Ladyjacks also return point guard Nikki Carr. Carr redshirted last season after a freshman season that saw her earn league freshman of the year consideration.
The Newcomers: The Ladyjacks have added a strong freshman class to the 2005-06 squad. The class consists of three guards, one forward and a post player. The guards are Jessica Gaines (Rockdale, Texas), Natashia Green (Lancaster, Texas) and Anitria Mosley (Shreveport, La.). The forward is Jamie Ansley (Hooker, Okla.) and the post player is Malorie Fowler (Rio Vista, Texas). Memphis transfer Charity Egenti will also join the Ladyjacks lineup this season. Egenti was a member of the team in 2004-05, but had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules. Egenti is a 6-3 post player from Lagos, Nigeria.
The Coaching Staff: Lee Ann Riley returns for her fifth season in Nacogdoches. She is 60-54 (.526) in her four seasons with the Ladyjacks. Assistant coaches Taqueta Braxton and Amanda Went are back for their second season with the Ladyjacks. Tennille O'Neal also joins the Ladyjack coaching staff for this season.
A Look Back: The Ladyjacks are coming off a tough 2004-05 season that saw them finish 12-16 overall and finish seventh in the conference. The Ladyjacks suffered through a heartbreaking season that saw leading scorer and rebounder LaToya Mills miss the final six weeks of the season with an injury.
The Regular Season: The Ladyjacks will tip off the 2005-06 regular season on Friday Nov. 18, when SFA travels to Denton, Texas to take on North Texas. The game against the Mean Green is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
-SFA-
