Bulldogs Hoping to Build on Basketball Momentum

November 15, 2005

Weatherford, OK - The Southwestern Oklahoma State women’s basketball program enjoyed its best season since joining NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference, eight years ago. SWOSU finished last year on a tear winning seven of its last nine games and advancing to the LSC post season tournament before ending the year with a 16-12 record.

Sixth-year coach Shelly Pond has seen the excitement and expectations grow surrounding her basketball team. The Bulldogs are picked second in the LSC’s annual pre-season poll and are thought to have the best chance of knocking Northeastern State from its three-year hold on the division.

“I think we realized just what we are capable of doing last season when we concentrate on execution and doing things the right way,” Pond said. “We gained a lot of confidence, but on the same hand we know that we haven’t done anything yet. The intensity and desire has been there in practice. We have to work and find ways to continue and carry it over to games.”

A quick reality check on just how good this SWOSU team will come in the form of one of the most difficult first semester schedules in recent years. The Bulldogs will face Missouri Southern twice, Pittsburg State, Oral Roberts and defending NCAA Division II champion Washburn in five of the first six games. Those non-league foes had a combined record of 92-32, a staggering .741 winning percentage.

“We’ll learn a lot early about how we react to pressure and tough situations,” Pond said. “We feel we can step on the floor and play with anybody if we play with confidence and stick to our game plan.”

While there are obviously plenty of obstacles, Pond thinks her team is ready to take the next step and compete alongside league heavyweights and challenge for SWOSU’s first-ever division title.

“We’ve got a lot of experience coming back and they all have a strong desire to get us over the hump,” Pond said. “If our newcomers develop, like I think they will, we certainly should be in the mix at season’s end.”

On the court the Bulldogs are expected to have a little bit of everything – a point guard who can handle the ball under pressure, a high-scoring small forward who makes things happen inside or outside and an athletic power forward who can score, defend and rebound.

Forward Julie Dawson (6-0, Sr., Arnett) will likely be the primary concern again for opponents with her smooth all-around game. Earlier this month, she was picked as the LSC North Division Preseason Player-of-the-Year. Dawson has averaged more than 17 points in each of the last two years and owns a wide range of moves and shots. She has scored 30 or more three times with her best a 38-point effort in a double-overtime win against St. Mary’s.

The perfect complement to Dawson in the frontcourt will be forward Kayla Horn (5-11, Jr., Hydro), who returns to the squad after missing the entire 2004-05 season with shoulder problems. Horn was an honorable mention LSC North pick two years ago, when she averaged 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds. Horn’s slender frame makes her a tough match up in the post with her quickness and speed. She made over 54% of her shots as a sophomore.

Also inside SWOSU will have two players who are likely to share time at the pivot position. Newcomers Andrea Oldham (5-11, Jr., Stigler) and Briana Harris (6-0, Jr., Fowler, Kan.) will give the Bulldogs a solid rotation at center. Both have spent two years at junior colleges where they have played against some of the nation’s most heavily recruited players.

In the backcourt guard Grace Anne Jones (5-9, So., Little Rock, Ark.) was inserted into the starting lineup during the season’s final month, and all she did was lead the Bulldogs to a 7-2 record the rest of the way. The flashy speedster had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio as a starter and ranked among the team’s top clutch performers. As Jones continues to become accustomed to the rugged style of the college game, she will have a settling influence on the Bulldog backcourt.

Out on the wing is another returning starter in Niki Sloan (5-7, Sr., Stigler). Sloan can play both the point and shooting guard positions and is coming off a junior year in which she averaged 5.5 points a game and made over 40% of her shots.

Starting guard consideration could also be given to returner Dru Tomaszewski (5-9, Jr., San Antonio, Texas). Tomaszewski could probably be listed at any number position of the floor, gives the Bulldogs versatility and athleticism. She is one of the team’s top defenders and is expected to have a major impact again on this year’s team.

Opportunities will also be given to a talented crop of newcomers and some returning letterman who should make the Bulldogs one of the deepest teams in the league.

SWOSU opens the season with six straight road games beginning Nov. 15 at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ark. The Bulldogs first home game will be against LSC South Division opponent Eastern New Mexico on Thursday, Dec. 1.