SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State women's basketball team will open its 41st season of basketball against Arlington Baptist in its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center.
Not only will it be the season debut for the Belles it is also the debut of new head coach Kevin Baker and his staff that includes Renae Shippy and graduate assistants Meagan Henson and Cameron Wilson. The Belles were 9-18 last season under former head coach Cayla Petree and return three players from the squad.
"We are excited about playing a different opponent other than ourselves," Angelo State head women's basketball coach Kevin Baker said. "The beginning is just the start of our journey together. We are ready to get things started. I am excited about how are group is coming together. Every day we seem to get a little bit better and a little bit better prepared for the season ahead."
Baker comes to Angelo State after three seasons at the helm of UT Tyler. He went 72-16 and guided the Patriots to their first NCAA Division III Sweet 16 in school history. UT-Tyler won two American Southwest Conference Championships and won 27 games in back-to-back seasons. He was named American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year three times and was selected as the D3Hoops.com South Region Coach of the Year in 2014. Baker also has experience at the Division II level after five seasons at West Texas A&M. Baker helped lead the Lady Buffs to a 120-36 record and three LSC championships. The team has been ranked in the top 10 nationally from 2008-2012 and made four trips to the NCAA tournament, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2008-09.
ASU is 20-20 all-time in season opener's including 4-1 in its five. The Belles were 6-7 at the Junell Center last season.
"It is everything to play at home," Baker said. "Just to be in the friendly confines of our own arena and our own fans is great. Season home openers are rare and when you can get them you cherish them. We look forward to seeing a lot of fans there on Tuesday night. "
Baker is excited about his new cast that includes three returners and 11 newcomers.
"The fact that they care about each other," Baker said. "It is funny to say that in terms of basketball X's and O's and execution. This is a whole brand new team that didn't know each other a few months ago. The chemistry is really good. We are learning how to practice harder and with more intensity every day. None of it matters if the chemistry isn't there and that is what I have been impressed with most."
The three players returning this season include KeAnna Kelly, Diamalises Rivera and Lexi Murphy. Rivera scored 10.0 points per game last season and scored at least 10 points in her last 11 games for the Belles. Kelly came on strong towards the end of last season hitting 35.5-percent from the behind the arc. She averaged 8.2 points per game and scored in double figures in eight games last season. Murphy sat out last season due to an injury.
The Belles roster also includes 11 newcomers looking to make an immediate impact on the program. The newcomers include Nekeita Bailey, Natalie Quesnel, Jasmine Prophet, Taylor Dorsey, Alle Brittain, Kiahna Thompson, Lou Hawkins, Danielle Patillo, Christina Robinson, Fabrianna Dixon and Brea Mitchell. Three members of the group are freshman while the other eight are transfers.
Bailey is a guard from Houston, Texas by way of San Jacinto College. She was the 2014-15 defensive player of the year and a key member of the regional tournament team. Quesnel played at Westwood High where she was named a first team all-district selection. Prophet, a forward from Houston, Texas, played at Tyler Junior College the past two seasons. She scored 12.7 points per game while recording 8.5 rebounds and 56 blocks on the season.
Dorsey, a guard from Ft. Worth, transferred form Sam Houston State. The junior scored 12.5 points per game and 5.0 assists. Brittain is a guard from Cedar Park. She was a first team all-district selection as a senior and an honorable mention selection as a junior. Thompson, a Temple College transfer, scored 11.9 points per game in 31 games as a freshman. Hawkins came from Weatherford Junior College where she was an honorable mention all-conference performer. Patillo is a forward from Tyler Junior College. She scored 6.4 points and grabbed 6.3 rebounds as a senior at Spring High. Robinson played at Jacksonville College and dished out 4.3 assists per game while scoring 9.4 points per game as a point guard.
Dixon was named the district's offensive most valuable player and selected to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region team. Mitchell comes to ASU after spending three years at the University of New Mexico. The senior scored a career high 16 points as a junior and earned academic all-conference honors.
"I want to see how well we rotate defensively," Baker said. "That is always something early in the year you want to see where you are in the third and fourth rotations defensively. If you rotating well that is a plus for the rest of the season. Obviously, offensive execution and how well we take care of the ball and hopefully we aren't turning the ball over much. How well we are attacking the basket and doing the little things like block outs, layups and those things. I'm just excited to evaluate film and see where we are."
Arlington Baptist will be playing its fourth game of the season and is 2-1 on the season. The game will be carried live on 1260AM KKSA with Jeremy Bryant on the call.
