ARKADELPHIA- Ouachita Baptist University’s Director of Athletics David Sharp and Head Women’s Basketball Coach Garry Crowder announced Sept. 17 the release of the upcoming 2010-2011 women’s basketball schedule.
“We have a good core in returning players and are excited about the start of the season,” Ouachita Head Coach Garry Crowder said. “Our junior class has been strong since their arrival and the upperclassmen are experienced and know how to play at a high level.”
The Lady Tigers kick off the season against Gulf South Conference East Division opponent Alabama-Huntsville on Nov. 18, followed by another contest against a second GSC East opponent in North Alabama a day later on Sept. 19.
After a non-conference matchup with Southeastern Oklahoma on Nov. 23, Ouachita will compete in back-to-back tournament classics at Arkansas-Monticello beginning on Nov. 26 and at Henderson State on Dec. 3.
Ouachita will face West Georgia and West Alabama on consecutive nights in the GSC Crossover series on Dec. 30-31, followed by a final non-conference matchup against University of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Jan. 3 for School Kids Day at Bill Vining Arena in Arkadelphia.
The GSC schedule begins with a pair of games on the road, as the Lady Tigers travel to face Harding on Jan. 8 and Delta State on Jan. 13.
“I can’t imagine that there is a division in any one conference in the nation that’s stronger than the GSC West Division,” Crowder stated. “Delta State and Arkansas Tech have great resources and are tremendously talented. After that, you’ve got schools like Henderson State, UAM and Harding who believe that they have their best team in years on campus and you look around and say ‘where is there going to be an easy game’?”. This year there won’t be one.”
Southern Arkansas and Christian Brothers will be the first GSC home series matchups on Jan. 15 and 20. The first of the Battle of the Ravine series games will be Jan. 27 on the campus of Henderson State, followed by the final home series of the season against the Lady Reddies on Feb. 24.
Among the returners for Ouachita, include a pair of guards from central Arkansas who both averaged 16 points per game in senior Gabby Coleman (5’7, guard) of North Little Rock and junior A’Laeshia Adams (5’8, guard) of Little Rock. Junior Domino Miller (5’6, guard) of Mountain Home led the team in three-point field goal percentage and averaged 9.4 points/game.
When it came to post play, juniors Tamara Robinson (5’10, forward) of Mabelvale and Beulah Oseuke (5’10, forward) of Houston, Texas, combined for 16.6 points and 10.3 rebounds as the primary starters for the Lady Tigers. Oseuke averaged a team-high 5.6 rebounds last season, while Robinson battled through injuries during conference season.
Ouachita will benefit greatly from a talented incoming recruiting class, which includes three post players in Mallory Clutts (6’0, forward) of Conway (Conway Christian High School), Elise Holman (5′10) of Berryville (Berryville High School) and Erica Sharp (6’0, forward) of Jonesboro (Nettleton High School). Among the incoming guards, are Na’Shia James (5′8, guard) of Pine Bluff (Watson Chapel High School), Allie Brown (5′8, guard) of Rosston (Nevada Co. High School) and Gabrielle Grady (5′6, guard) of Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff High School).
“We like the players that we’ve brought in,” Crowder said. “The incoming recruits have added a strong presence to the core we already possess and we’re excited to see their progression throughout the season.”
The Lady Tigers finished 13-14 last season, including a 5-9 GSC mark, a season after advancing to the 2009 NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen.
“We feel like we’re certainly capable of being a tournament team, and not just a conference tournament team, but ultimately making the NCAA Tournament. It’s our goal to reach the NCAAs. This group has a business-like approach to their offseason work and I think our veterans have learned their lesson in the importance of preparation. This is a determined group and we hope it will pay off when the season begins.”
