Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's basketball team will tip off the 2011-2012 season with an afternoon game at Division I Sam Houston State University this afternoon in Huntsville. That game will tip off at noon and you can follow UMHB's season opener through live stats with the link available on the Cru athletic department web site at www.cruathletics.com.
UMHB welcomes back seven letter winners and two starters this year from a team that finished 16-10 overall and went 13-8 in American Southwest Conference play last season. Head coach Kim Kirkpatrick-Thornton is in her sixth year with the Cru and has a career record of 93-68 during her tenure in Belton. UMHB will also put a streak of six consecutive ASC Championship Tournament berths on the line this year.
Guard
Brittany Zamora (Sr., Cedar Park) is the leading returner for the Cru. Zamora was a Second Team ASC All-West Division selection last season and is the team's leading returning scorer at 10.2 points per game. Forward
Brandy Dittert (Jr., Katy) is the other returning starter for UMHB. Dittert averaged 5.0 points per game, but missed the last half of the season after suffering an injury. She is healthy again and should be one of the team's leaders on and off the court.
Miranda Shorter (Sr., Axtell),
Lauren Reece (Sr., Flower Mound),
Cortney Poncik (Jr., Academy) and
Katelyn Smith (So., Boerne) are all talented and experienced players who will be counted on to contribute in the backcourt this season. Center
Jovana Miles (So., Luling) developed into a front-court presence as a freshman last season and will be counted on to provide depth and experience in the post this year.
The Cru will also count on a pair of junior college transfers to provide scoring punch. Andre'a Davis (Jr., Wichita Falls) and
Gabby Guzman (Jr., Belton) will both have a chance to play their way into the starting backcourt this season. Davis comes to UMHB from Weatherford College and Guzman played at McLennan Community College last year. UMHB should also get guard help from a deep freshman class that includes: Kayla Prescott (Fr., Lampasas),
Macy Moore (Fr., Houston),
Samara Williams (Fr., San Antonio) and
Meagan Woodall (Fr., Joshua).
The frontcourt will be bolstered by the additions of
Shelby Simonton (Fr., Mineral Wells),
Taylor Creamer (Fr., Comstock), Avery McQueen (Fr., Austin),
Ashlee Adams (Fr., Spring) and
Carmen Maciel (Fr., Castroville). Center
Simone Moreno (Fr., Victoria) will push Miles in the post and could also provide another rebounding threat for the Cru.
Following Friday's game, The Cru will return to action with a 5:30 PM start at Southwestern University in Georgetown next Tuesday, November 22
nd. UMHB will then return home to host Centenary College in the 2011-12 home opener on Saturday, November 26
th. Start time for that game will be determined this weekend. The Cru will open ASC play with a 5:30 PM start against East Texas Baptist on Monday, November 28
th, at the Mayborn Campus Center.
