FORT WORTH, Texas - The Texas Wesleyan women's basketball team will open its 2003-04 campaign Tuesday evening at the Sid Richardson Gymnasium, when they host 20th-ranked Oklahoma Christian at 5:30 p.m.

     This year's squad returns all five starters from a team that finished 13-19 last season and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Red River Conference Tournament.

     "We are working through some injuries right now," head coach Stacy Francis said. "One of the big things we need to work on, that I have noticed in the pre-season is, capitalizing on the other teams' mistakes. One good thing we have been doing is approaching the game well. I feel like we can go strong the entire game."

     The Lady Rams return three members, who were selected as honorable-mention all-conference, in junior Shayla Coleman, sophomore Shawndrika Courtney and senior Ashley Walker.

     Coleman led the Lady Rams in scoring last season averaging 14.2 per contest and steals with 54. Courtney was the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 13.5 points a game and second in rebounding with 6.5 rebounds per game, while Walker led the team in rebounding with 7.3 rebounds a game, before getting hurt midway through the season.

     The two other returning starters will be sophomore Kori Yates and sophomore Stephanie Reder. Yates led the team in assists last season with 96 and chipped in with 4.6 points per game from the point guard position. Reder was second on the team in assists with 59 and averaged 6.8 points per contest.

     There are eight new faces on the team this season, which include four true freshmen, three transfers and a redshirt from last season.

     Three of the freshmen are forwards Natassia Brown, Lacie Curry and Shamona Hollingsworth.
Brown, a Fort Worth native, should see starting time right off the bat. She was chosen as District 7-4A offensive player of the year her junior and senior seasons at FW Arlington Heights.
Curry, a Fort Worth native, and Hollingsworth, a Arlington native, both will provide depth in the paint.

     Stephanie Sewell rounds out the freshman recruiting class for this season. Sewell, a native of Arlington, is one of the team's top outside threats. She shot a combined 50 percent from behind the arc in her junior and senior seasons.

     The Lady Rams' three transfers include guards LaRhonda Hunter and Amanda Williams, and forward Kashae Townsend.

     Hunter, a junior-transfer from Jacksonville Baptist JC will provide back up for Yates at point guard.

     Williams, a sophomore-transfer from LeTourneau, will provide depth at the shooting guard position, while Townsend, a junior-transfer from McClennnan County CC, will see some starting time at one of the post positions.

     Sophomore Alisa Williams, who red-shirted last season, will provide depth at both guard and forward.

     Oklahoma Christian leads the all-time series 3-1, winning the last three games.

     "Oklahoma Christian is a great team and a traditional power," Francis said. "We are looking at this game as a measuring stick to see where we are as a program. It is a great chance for our young players to see what makes a great team."