BASKETBALL -Lady Bisons strive _to reach full potential Coming off of a run for the national title in 1996-97, the Lady Bisons looked to make another trip to the tournament New to the Lone Star Conference eLSC) and to the NCAA, the young Lady Bison team and new head coach Brad Francis proved to their school and to the LSC that they were not to be ove rl ooked . The Lady Bisons finished their season second in the conference after being defeated by number one seed Abilene Christian. "Overa ll , I was real pleased with our first season in the conference," Francis said. "ACUwas a good team and we would have had to 'play a perfect game to defeat them, but we got down early. " Throughout the season, the team looked for leadership from thei r lone senior, Mandy Cox, who twice almost broke the LSC record of nine three-point shots in one game .Junior guard Emily Prysock shared the commands with Cox. Prysock was a strong force, with her experience and abiliry to see the court. Working for position under the basket were juniors Susan Re iss and Moll yMcPherson.Junior forwards Stephanie Barron and Karie Foutscarried the team through lulls, with Barron hitting key three-pOinters and Fouts crashing the boards. Sophomores Rachel Raglin, Jami e Pate and Mindy Baker helped ease the load for the Lady Bisons. The future of Harding basketball, the freshmen, included Krista Anderson, Jamie Garner, Stephanie Davis, Hannah Fouts and Kelli Fager. Players were spurred on by the enthusiasti c cheering of Harding's fans. "The studen t body rea lly helped us by cheering, and the new building was great, " Cox said. "The new Lone Star Conference was tough, but I think we proved ou rselves this year," Fouts said. "I know teams are going to be a little leery of playing us because of our talent and [the atmosphere of] the new field house. " The strength of the Lady Bisons' focus showed when, on a road trip to Mexico, food poisoning disrup ted the starting line-up and allowed several of the freshmen to play. "On the Mexico trip , half of us got s ick," Reiss said . "We played well with the group we had, but I still th ink we could have done a lot better if we had all been well. " Prysock said, "Coach Francis makes sure that we don't slack offbecause he knows what we're capable of. He knows that we can win." Francis was named head coach afte r former head coach Greg Harnden was.-"ppointed athletic director. Francis coaclied high school basketball at Harding Academy before moving to the University as an assistant coach in 19961997. He was joined this year by Assistant Coach Stephen Burks, who was once a graduate assistant under Francis at the Academy. "We were real excited to get imo the conference fina ls with this being our first year and we hope to do it again next season," Francis said. Since the Lady Bisons are losing only one senior, Francis' hope has great potential for becoming a rea li ty. - Bryan Burleson Basket.ball. First Row: Assistant Coach Stephen Burks, Kar; FoUlS, Hannah FOllts, Kelli Faget~ Susau Reiss, Molly McPherson, Mindy Baker, Coach Brad Francis. Second Row: Glenna Wright (manager), Mandy Cox, Rachel Raglin, Jamie Pate, Stephtlnie Davis, Jamie Garner, Stephanie Barron, Krista Anderson, Emily Prysock. Photo by jeffMOll/gomely. f1'iII 222 Sports Sterling 78-62 Park 85-63 ACU 72-98 Angelo 81-72 East Texas 73-72 Lyon 71-64 \'(lest Texas A & M 75-79 Christian Brothers 76-57 UCA 75-90 Lyon 63-61 Central Okla. 64-84 Cameron 81-67 Southwestern Okla. Southeastern Okla. East Central 93-75 OBU 63-78 Southeastern Okla. 73-100 East Central 82-96 Central Okla. 85-75 Northeastern State 85-77 OBU 80-69 Cameron 75-80 Southwestern Okla . OBU 102-63 ACU 76-54
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