DRC..Todays article..no sense looking back

OldTimer · January 4, 2003

Non-conference play didn’t go the way North Texas coach Tina Slinker wanted, but there is no sense looking back.

Slinker, whose squad is 4-6 after losing six of its last seven, just hopes her team takes the same approach.

DRC/Stacey Cooper

North Texas forward Kennethia Wilson, rigth, shoots the ball over LSU center Crystal White during the Lady Eagles’ loss Thursday to the Lady Tigers. UNTopens Sun Belt action Saturday when they host Florida International at 2 p.m.

"I think winning is what gives kids confidence, so we need to take leadership as a staff," Lady Eagles coach Tina Slinker said. "We need to make sure our kids aren’t real down. I’m a little concerned about that."

UNT won its division and advanced to the tournament title game last season, but this isn’t the same team. The Lady Eagles, who lost several seniors who played key roles in the program’s recent success, are still looking for consistent scoring options and trying to develop chemistry while relying heavily on the freshman class.

The Lady Eagles’ growing pains hit a low point in the last two games, when UNT lost to Baylor and No. 2 Louisiana State by a total of 65 points.

"We need to get into conference and get winning as soon as possible," Slinker said.

Unfortunately for UNT, it won’t get much easier in Saturday’s conference opener against defending Sun Belt champion Florida International. The Golden Panthers, who lost only one league game last season and are off to a 9-4 start, are heavily favored to repeat.

UNT isn’t the only perennial contender in the women’s West Division that is struggling this season. Denver (6-7), which won the division title two years ago and finished second last season, has yet to win a road game. South Alabama (8-4), which finished a distant third in the division a year ago, is entering league play on the strongest note, winning six straight games.

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

A look at the Sun Belt’s women’s basketball teams entering league play, in Staff Writer Tim MacMahon’s predicted order of finish:

EAST DIVISION

Florida International

Record: 9-4

Outlook: FIU is heavily favored to repeat as Sun Belt champions after cruising through the conference last season. Forward Cormisha Cotton (12.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg) was the league’s preseason player of the year, but guard Mandy Shafer (15.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg) might be a better player.

Middle Tennessee

Record: 6-5

Outlook: This is one of the league’s up-and-coming programs. Wing Patrice Holmes (15.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.9 spg), the Sun Belt’s freshman of the year last season, might already be the best player in the conference.

Western Kentucky

Record: 5-6

Outlook: The Lady Toppers’ recent woes are making their season-opening win over perennial power Louisiana Tech look like a fluke. WKU has lost its last three games and five of its last six. Forward Shala Reese (15.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg) is a force inside.

Arkansas State

Record: 3-8

Outlook: The Lady Indians, who have lost their last six games, are going to be hard pressed to improve on last season’s fourth-place finish in the East Division. Jolie McKeirnan (12.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg) is one of the top post players in the league, but ASU doesn’t have a perimeter scoring threat to complement her.

Arkansas-Little Rock

Record: 3-7

Outlook: It was a bad sign when the Lady Trojans got swept in two exhibition games to start the season. This program will continue its role as the Sun Belt’s bottom feeder.

WEST DIVISION

Denver

Record: 6-7

Outlook: The Pioneers have struggled to replace their All-Sun Belt backcourt tandem of Melissa Garcia and Nikki Weddle. They are still tough to beat at home — as their win over Southwest Missouri State attests — and will contend for the division title.

South Alabama

Record: 8-4

Outlook: The Jaguars are riding a six-game winning streak into Sun Belt play, including a convincing victory over Alabama. But they had similar success in non-conference play last season, only to finish in the middle of the pack. Forward Taneisha Russell (14.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg) is USA’s standout.

North Texas

Record: 4-6

Outlook: The Lady Eagles have gone through growing pains early this season after replacing six seniors off of last season’s division champion. Tough non-conference schedule or not, though, this team has to play much better to be a factor in the division race.

New Mexico State

Record: 5-6

Outlook: It will be interesting to see how the Aggies fare without coach Nikita Lowry, who was placed on administrative leave for "coaching management issues." Sinnamon Garrett has emerged as NMSU’s go-to player under interim coach Marlene Stollings, averaging 21.3 points in three games.

New Orleans

Record: 2-7

Outlook: The Privateers aren’t as bad as their record indicates, suffering their seven losses by an average of just over seven points. That’s also an indicator of a team that doesn’t know how to win.

Louisiana-Lafayette

Record: 3-6

Outlook: Don’t expect much from the Ragin’ Cajuns in coach J. Kelley Hall’s first season. Anything above the cellar is a vast improvement for a team that won one league game a year ago.

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