DRC..Lady Eagle vets accept challenge

[OldTimer]

Lady Eagle vets accept challenge

11/22/2002

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

The class that put the North Texas women?s basketball program on the map is gone. That doesn?t mean the expectations are.

At least not from coach Tina Slinker, who isn?t scared by the fact that the Lady Eagles? roster includes more freshmen (eight) than returning players (six).

"At some point, you should quit being young and try to get there as quickly as possible," said Slinker, who won 20 games five seasons ago while starting two freshmen. "You can use that as an excuse for too long. I don?t want to do that."

Forward Jamie Armstrong of Duncanville is the most highly regarded recruit in the program?s history, but point guard is the only position where a freshman will start.

Instead of relying on the rookies, Slinker is expecting veterans such as Heather Trout and Angel Lewis to carry the load for the Lady Eagles, allowing the coaching staff to bring the younger players along as the season progresses.

"I?ve never questioned that we signed a very talented group," Slinker said. "What we?ve got to find out as a coaching staff is how we?re going to implement them into our system. We graduated a lot of leadership and a lot of character. The ones that are coming back are going to have to take the heat and be the ones that step up."

That?s a challenge the veterans eagerly accept.

It?s not that they minded being the supporting cast for Rosalyn Reades and Jalie Mitchell the last couple of seasons, when the Lady Eagles made consecutive appearances in the WNIT. They just think they?re ready to have more responsibility rest on their shoulders.

"We paid our dues," Lewis said. "We were the role players. Now it?s our turn. We?ve got to get the job done."

Added Trout: "I don?t necessarily think of it as a transition. I look at it as a fun opportunity. We basically hope to not look back and keep going and take the next step."

Nevertheless, UNT will need several freshmen to immediately step in and contribute to avoid taking a step back. Erika Bobo will start at point guard and will be backed up by classmates Natalie Mireles and Nahogany Brown. Armstrong will begin the season coming off the bench, but she is expected to make an immediate impact.

"I could sit back and say, ?Our expectations are a little less. We?re young, we?re rebuilding,?" Slinker said. "But on the other side of that, great programs don?t rebuild."

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-381-9572.

UT-San Antonio at North Texas, 7 p.m., Super Pit

Radio: KNTU-FM 88.1

The Lady Eagles have won a school-record 14 straight games at the Super Pit, the fifth-longest home winning streak in Division I. ... UNT leads the all-time series with UTSA, 12-6. The teams are former Southland Conference rivals. ... UNT won a school-record 21 games last season. ... UTSA junior forward Nikki Hendrix, a 6-0 Texas Tech transfer, was the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year last season and led the Roadrunners in scoring (12.0 ppg).

PROJECTED STARTERS

Erika Bobo; PG; 5-8; Fr.

Will split time with two classmates

Heather Trout; SG; 5-10; Jr.

Toughest player on the team

Angel Lewis; SF; 5-10; Sr.

Excellent rebounder and defender

Kim Blanton; PF; 6-1; Jr.

Time for promise to become production

Vilma Grismanauskaite; C; 6-4; Sr.

Health concerns will keep minutes down

Jamie Armstrong; SF; 5-11; Fr.

Nahogany Brown; PG; 5-6; Fr.

Emily Britt; F; 6-0; Jr.

Marquita Carter; SF; 5-11; Fr.

Karolyn Haskin; C; 6-3; Jr.

Natalie Mireles; PG; 5-6; Fr.

Jasmine Williams; PF; 6-0; Fr.

Mian Williams; SG; 5-8; Fr.

Kennethia Wilson; PF; 5-10; Fr.

SCHEDULE

Nov. 22; UTSA; 7 p.m.

Nov. 29; vs. Alcorn State*; 6 p.m.

Nov. 30; vs. UMKC*; 4 p.m.

Dec. 3; at Texas A&M-Corpus Chrisit; 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 7; vs. Illinois#; noon

Dec. 8; vs. Arizona/UC Riverside#; TBA

Dec. 11; Indiana; 7 p.m.

Dec. 16; at SMU; 7 p.m.

Dec. 30; at Baylor; 6 p.m.

Jan. 2; LSU; 7 p.m.

Jan. 4; Florida International; 2 p.m.

Jan. 7; Weber State; 7 p.m.

Jan. 11; Denver; 5 p.m.

Jan. 16; at Arkansas-Little Rock; 7 p.m.

Jan. 18; at Arkansas State; 1 p.m.

Jan. 23; New Orleans; 7 p.m.

Jan. 25; South Alabama; 7 p.m.

Jan. 30; at Louisiana-Lafayette; 7 p.m.

Feb. 1; at New Mexico State; 8:05 p.m.

Feb. 6; Middle Tennessee; 7 p.m.

Feb. 8; at Western Kentucky; 7 p.m.

Feb. 13; at Denver; 7 p.m.

Feb. 20; at New Orleans; 7 p.m.

Feb. 22; at South Alabama; 7 p.m.

Feb. 27; Louisiana-Lafayette; 7 p.m.

March 1; New Mexico State; 7 p.m.

March 6-11; Sun Belt tournament; TBA

*Southwest Texas Classic

#Fiesta Bowl Women?s Basketball Classic

[CMJ]

Good stuff... Well, I know I'll be listening online.