The Prairie View A&M women's basketball team begins the season off with a familiar opponent in Rice University. Friday's 7 p.m. game in the William Nicks Building (The Baby Dome) marks the third-consecutive season-opener the Lady Panthers have faced the Owls, but it will be the first time with interim head coach Dawn Brown at the helm.
"Rice is a very talented team. They return four starters," Brown said. "They are going to come in here very hungry and very experienced. We've got to focus on what we do well – playing together,distributing the ball and playing our best defense at home."Â
Brown, now in her fourth month leading a program that has established itself as the premiere women's team in the Greater Houston Area with three-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, has the luxury of returning three starters from last season's Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship team. Junior point guard Jeanette Jackson and junior forward Larissa Scott, who was voted as an All-SWAC First Team Preseason selection, will take on larger roles than in previous years as they return as the elder-statesmen of a seasoned team.
"Larissa and Jeanette have been working extremely hard in the preseason," Brown said. "Jeanette has been more of a leader. She's getting on her teammates. She's pushing them. I can actually see some fire coming from her in wanting to have a successful junior campaign as well as Larissa.
"Larissa has been working more on her mid-range shooting, so she can be effective for us 15 feet and in. She has been great in the past with her back to the basket, but we wanted to add more versatility to her offensive game."
Scott established herself as one of the premiere post players in the SWAC last season, averaging 8.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. Sharing the floor with Williams, who was a double-double machine Scott managed to put up outstanding numbers and be a game-changer on both sides of the court.
Jackson averaged 8.2 points, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals as a sophomore. She and Scott are the first and second-leading scorers that are returning from last season. Jackson and Scott were starters for the 2012 and 2013 seasons and know what it takes to win championships and how it feels to have the target on their backs the next season. Brown said the team as a whole is prepared to defend its title.
The race for the fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament starts with Rice and dominant post player Jessica Kuster, who was the 2013 Conference USA Defensive Player Of The Year. Kuster Averaged 16.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in the 2012-13Â season and put up 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 57-42 win over Prairie View A&M on Nov. 9, 2012. The Lady Panthers will do their best to slow down that attack.
