BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne Lady Jacket basketball program feel the key to their success will be defense and rebounding in the 2009-2010 season.
Over the past six plus seasons the Howard Payne women’s basketball team has dominated defensively both the American Southwest Conference and the national scene. That seems to be still the aim for the 2009-2010 Lady Jackets.
“We believe the way you win games and play the right way is to defend and rebound,” said head basketball coach Joshua Prock. “It doesn’t matter what level of basketball you look at men or women, the teams that defend and rebound really well, usually are left standing in the end.”
Just like any program recruiting is a major key to success on the college level. The Howard Payne coaching staff has secured another great recruiting class.
Along with the eight returners, HPU was six new players in the program. Three junior college transfers lead the new class - Jasmin Thomas (5-3, SO, G, Tyler JC), Roshonda Gayden (5-11, JR, F, North Platte CC), and Clarissa Krum (6-0, JR, F, Howard JC).
The freshman include Kayla Scott (5-5, G, Azle), Keslie Satterwhite (5-9, G, Panhandle), and coming back after a first year medical redshirt Abby Parmelly (5-9, G, Prosper).
“We felt like we needed to get more athletic on our frontline and more versatile and I believe we have done that. The young ladies we have in there now are competing hard and should be fun to watch them develop this year,” said coach Prock.
The Lady Jackets return eight headed by Hope Hohertz (6-0, SR, F), Katy Sarem (5-7, JR, G), and Elaine Hobbs (5-8, SR, F). Hohertz was First Team All-West Division and on the ASC West Division Defensive Team averaging a team high 12.2 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game. Elaine Hobbs was also named Honorable Mention All-West Division last season.
Along with Katy Sarem’s 10.4 points per game in the backcourt is West Division All-Freshman Team member Brittany Zamora (5-6, SO, G)
Howard Payne finished 23-6 overall last season and won their third straight American Southwest Conference title.
The Lady Jackets open their season at the Fred Jacoby Classic at the University of Texas at Dallas on November 20-21. They will have their season home opener on Thursday, December 3rd against the University of the Ozarks at 5:30 pm.