Lady Texans looking forward to 2013-14 season

As low as that sounds for a team that won a share of the championship a year ago, there seems to be some uncertainty amongst the head coaches in the conference as only six points separated league favorite Midland and the Lady Texans.  Coming in at fourth, the Lady Texans even received a first place vote.

"We are fine with it," Lady Texan head coach Michelle Wyatt said about the recent poll.  "They kind of rank us fourth every year and we just see what we can get done."

South Plains College has a strong core of returners from last year's championship team that finished 25-6 overall and 11-3 in the league, including all-conference and all-region guardsAlexius Dawn and Tasheena Moore.

Dawn started in each of the Lady Texans 31 games last season, averaging 7.7 points and just over five rebounds and five assists per game.  Moore led the team in scoring and rebounding with 13 points and six rebounds per contest.

Jasmine Brainard and Briana Brigham also return for the Lady Texans who also have a solid set of newcomers to complement their team. 

"We are really excited to have four quality sophomores back," Wyatt said to KLVT radio's Michael Wiiest.  "It makes a huge difference from that freshman to sophomore season, just knowing what it's like and having that experience and so they are coming back with some maturity."

Fans may notice a bit more height on this year's squad, led by 6-footers Rafeegah Fataar andRayvon Christian.  Ijeoma Nzekwe and Brainard are just under the 6-foot mark at 5-feet, 10 inches.

"We can match up with these people," Wyatt said referring to the height and size other teams in the conference usually have.  "Our post players will be some of the best athletes in the league."

South Plains will begin their schedule with games in Thatcher, Ariz. against host Eastern Arizona on Nov. 1 and Chandler-Gilbert Nov. 2.  Other tough non-conference road trips include going to Liberal, Kan. Nov. 15-16 and Plano, Texas Nov. 29-30.

In Liberal, the Lady Texans will face tough competition from Seward County and Hutchinson.  The Collin County Thanksgiving Classic will include matchups with Tyler and Collin County.

"Our league is tough and that's what we want to play," the ninth-year head coach said.  "We want to play teams that are going to be comparable to the teams we will see in conference."

The Lady Texans will begin their quest to another league championship when they open conference play Saturday, Dec. 7 against Western Texas College