University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Women's Basketball Team Begins 2016-2017 Season
10/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. â€" The Southern Miss Women's Basketball Team kicked off their first practice of the 2016-2017 season Tuesday.
Early in practice head coach Joye McNelis set a fast paced tempo running right into five-on-five drills.
"Today's practice was a learning process," McNelis said. "It's the first period we've been able to go an extended period of time. We did a lot of five-on-five today because we worked really hard on the fundamental aspects of the game when we only had two hours a week. It was fun to be able to see players apply things that we've done in our skill development training and other workouts.
"We've still got so far to go since we just got started, but the defining moment of the day was the sprint work at the end. The team stepped up to help each other have success and cross the finish line."
Junior transfer Molly Brown, along with freshmen Shonte Hailes and Respect Leaphart, got their first taste of Lady Eagle Basketball.
"My first practice was a gut check. I'm looking forward to getting tougher and learning new things on and off the court because everything learned on the court can be applied to life," Leaphart said.
Assistant coach Lauren Pittman said the practice went well and the team worked well together.
"A lot of learning going on. I think they were excited to get back on the floor. It was nice to see our individual concepts come together in more of a team setting."
Southern Miss' season opens at home in Reed Green Coliseum November 8 against Mississippi College.
