After last season’s disappointing finish, Coach Mona Martin and the ULM women’s basketball team are excited to begin this season with a fresh start.
The Warhawks plan on building upon last year’s 10-19 record with nine returning players, including seniors Sannisha Williams and Priscilla Mbiandja.
”It was really disappointing, it was probably the most frustrating year I’ve had here,” Coach Martin said. “We had a lot of key injuries that really hurt us.We played about six or seven close games last season that we loss because we ended up running out of steam at the end.”
The injuries left massive hole in the roster which were left to be filled by players like Elizabeth Torres, who played almost 40 minutes per game.
“I knew it wasn’t the best thing but it was the only thing” said Coach Martin “I felt like I was throwing them to the wolves but, I’m glad I did, now there’re tougher and more experienced.”
She expects big things from Larrie and Sannisha Williams, Kassie Courtney, who is back this season after an injury to her Achilles tendon and Priscilla Mbiandja,who played for her national team over the summer where she was named MVP. “I’m really excited about our post play and depth” said Martin.
The Warhawks are at least three deep at any position. The junior class should standout after the knowledge and experience they all gained last year. This year’s youth will be a big part of the teams success. Their speed, quickness, work ethic and passionate play will help the overall team’s gamelan.
“This year were still going to press and get after people defensively and that’s where these girls are going to excel” said Martin “this is probably the best recruiting class we’ve had in a long time, they can all score, they play fast and up tempo”
The phenomenal freshmen include the Tugler twins, from Monroe’s Carroll High , Jasime Shaw, Shantrell Pierson and 6’1 Forward Ashleigh Simmons from Texas.
They’ll have to prove themselves early playing team like Texas A&M, at the beginning of the season. They’ll be prepared for it, with the great coaching staff that they have in place. All ULM graduates; LaJeanna Howard and Gerline Guillaume pervious captions and part of the 2004-05 conference winning team and Eun Jung Ok, a pervious Kodak All-American. “I love my coaching staff, they each bring something special to our program, I‘m really comfortable and confident in everything they do.” said Coach Martin.
“ Like every school we all write down our goals at the beginning of the season” said Martin “we plan on at least a top-three finish, win the Sunbelt Conference tournament, and earn a NCAA tournament bid.”
The Sunbelt was full of parody last season and the Warhawks can expect the same this season. The Warhawks open up with an exhibition game with Henderson State on Nov. 8 and the season starts here in Fant-Ewing Coliseum with UNO on Nov.12.
