Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team will tip-off the 2009-2010 season at home with a 3:00 PM start against Southwestern University on Saturday at the Mayborn Campus Center. The Cru will build around a nucleus of 12 returning players and a deep and talented recruiting class as UMHB looks to extend its streak of four straight American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament appearances.
The Cru will rely on an experienced frontcourt this season. P Landie Thompson (Jr., Austin) is a two-time ASC All-West Division selection and she led the Cru in scoring and rebounding for the second straight year last season. Thompson averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and also blocked a team-best 46 shots. F/C Kellie Thomas (Sr., New Braunfels) joined Thompson on the All-West Division Team last season after averaging 7.8 points and 5.4 boards a contest. G/F Kallie White (Sr., Kingsland) is another talented veteran who posted 8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. F Stacie Stephens (Jr., Pflugerville) started six early games before suffering a season-ending injury. She is healthy again and looking to regain the form that helped her average 6.1 points and 4.1 rebounds a game before her injury. F Bailee Pender (So., Houston) also played well in a reserve role last season and she will challenge for a larger role this year. F Lindsay Eaton (Jr., Austin) is a transfer from U.T.-Tyler and she is a two-time ASC All-East Division selection. Eaton will have a chance to make an immediate impact as will F Brandy Dittert (Fr., Katy). A pair of freshmen posts will also be counted on to contribute. Madi Wilkins (Fr., Austin) and Ayla Adams (Fr., Katy) will both battle for playing time behind Thompson and Thomas this season.
The backcourt also features a deep class of returning players. PG Mallory McAdams (Gr., Robinson) returns after leading the Cru with 81 assists and 51 steals last season. McAdams also averaged 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. G Jenny Black (Jr., Wylie) was an All-West Division selection after scoring 7.6 points a game and G Caitlin Barganier (Jr., Academy) played her way into the starting line-up and averaged 6.1 points per game. G Jessica Kelly (Sr., Hewitt) is an athletic player who started for much of the season last year. Kelly averaged 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and added 34 steals. G Lauren Reece (So., Flower Mound) and G/W Miranda Shorter (So., Axtell) both played well in reserve roles and seem poised to step into larger roles this season. PG Courtney Wolfe (Jr., Richardson) missed all of last season with an injury, but she should provide depth and experience at point guard this season. Newcomers Cortney Poncik (Fr., Academy) and LaKesha Taylor (Fr., Chilton) will also compete for playing time in the backcourt for the Cru women this season.
After facing Southwestern in the season opener, the Cru women will travel to San Antonio to take on Trinity University in a 6:00 PM non-conference game next Tuesday, November 24th. The Cru women will open American Southwest Conference play with a 1:00 PM tip-off at defending ASC East Division champion U.T.-Dallas next Saturday in Richardson. The Cru women will return to home action with ASC games against LeTourneau University and East Texas Baptist on December 3rd and 5th.
The UMHB women went 14-13 overall last season and finished fourth in the ASC West Division with a 12-9 league record. The Cru women advanced to the ASC Championship Tournament for the fourth straight year and knocked off #1 seed U.T.-Dallas in the first round. UMHB then fell to Hardin-Simmons in the tournament semifinals.
