Ladyjacks Set to Open Practice
10/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 12, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - With the first exhibition game only three weeks away, the 2007-08 version of the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team will take to the court at 7 p.m. for its first official team workout.
"The first practice is always exciting," said Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley. "I've been real pleased with their preseason individual workouts, and their conditioning in the weight room. We have a lot of new freshmen, and they might be a little nervous, but we're looking forward to the start of practice."
The Ladyjacks welcome a ton of new faces to the program this season with only five returnees, and six newcomers to the roster. Among the Ladyjacks returning talent is 5-6 senior, and 2007 third-team All-Southland Conference selection Nikki Carr.
Carr returns as the team's leading scorer averaging nearly 11 points per game as a junior. She enters her final season needing only 199 points to become the 23rd Ladyjack to score 1,000 points in her career. Carr is also on the bubble in terms of moving into the school's all-time top 10 in steals and assists, and is already one of the school's most prolific three-point shooters.
The current version of the Ladyjacks will be top heavy at the guard spot this season with all of its returning talent coming at that position. Coach Riley's other returning athletes include juniors Jessica Gaines and Natashia Green, and sophomores Whitney Cormier and Martina Holloway.
"I'm proud of how our new kids have progressed," said Riley. "I believe that is a testament to our returnees showing the younger players how hard you have to work and their accountability."
The Ladyjacks will open regular-season play Sunday, Nov. 11, at New Orleans. The squad's first home contest will be Tuesday, Nov. 13 against Grambling State.
Ladyjack fans can get their first look at the team in action Thursday, Nov. 1, when hosts St. Mary's (Texas) in an exhibition. The Ladyjacks will also host Huston-Tillotson Tuesday, Nov. 6 in an exhibition game.
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