PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas - The start of the 2017-18 Prairie View A&M women's basketball season is here, as fans will see new faces on the roster as well as some new teams on the schedule, starting with its home opener Friday against the University of Texas-Tyler Patriots.
Friday night's 6 p.m. tipoff at the William J. Nicks Baby Dome will mark the first time that the Lady Panthers and the Patriots have crossed paths. Fans who can't make it to the game can watch live at pvpanthers.com/SportsNetwork.
"I think our kids are more excited than I am," said second-year head women's basketball coach Ravon Justice. "As a coach, you want to just keep practicing and practicing until you have your roots up under your belt. I know our girls are ready to play especially since they have been playing each other since the start of preseason."
The Patriots already has one game in the books, as they have played Centenary in an exhibition match last Saturday winning 91-69. Last season, UT Tyler went 20-7 overall and 11-5 in the American Soutwest Conference, where they made in appearance in the elite eight Division III.
"I think that we have a good opponent in UT-Tyler," said Justice. "They won over 20 games last season and they are a veteran team. They are going to come in and compete. It's literally going to be an interesting, a fun and close game."
The Lady Panthers enter the season ranked sixth in the Southwestern Athletic preseason poll after recording 13 wins last season, including eight in SWAC play. Of the four returning players from last season's squad, senior La'Sha Haynes garnered SWAC accolades (All-SWAC 2nd Team).
Haynes was PVAMU's top rebounder averaging 8.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore Dominique Newman posted a solid rookie year as she finished fourth on the team averaging 9.3 ppg and led the team in 3-Pt field goals (48), shooting nearly 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Joining the four returnees are eight newcomers including Bernesha Peters, Jordyn Penniman, Erin Willis, Amber Driver, Chelsea Tieuel, La'Neique Nealey, and Jhyrah Cobb, some of which will make their Lady Panther debut Friday.
"I am excited about the season and about our newcomers," Justice said. . "I think that was part of the issue last season, having newcomers and just trying to get everybody to jell. The chemistry is really good right now, and being at home is always a plus."
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