Lady Bear Hoops Hit Court
10/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2004
WACO, Texas - The Baylor women's basketball team will hold its first practice of the 2004-2005 season on Saturday, Oct. 16, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Ferrell Center. The practice is open to the public.
The Baylor faithful got its first glimpse of the 2004-2005 Lady Bears on Tuesday evening when over 450 fans attended the annual Welcome Back Supper, hosted by the Tip Off Club in the Ferrell Center. Fifth-year head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson introduced her team and staff and the attendees were entertained by video presentations featuring the Lady Bears.
Mulkey-Robertson and her staff will welcome 14 players, including 10 returnees and four newcomers, to the court on Saturday morning. Four starters return off last season's NCAA Sweet 16 squad that finished the 2003-2004 campaign at 26-9. Starters returning for Baylor include senior guard Chelsea Whitaker, sophomore forward Abiola Wabara and posts Sophia Young, a junior, and senior Steffanie Blackmon. Also returning for Baylor are sophomores Emily Niemann and Monique Jones, junior Chameka Scott and senior Melanie Hamerly.
The Lady Bears will also gain the services of two players who sat out last season as medical redshirts, junior guards Chanelle Fox and Jordan Davis. In addition, four newcomers will take to the floor on Saturday for the first time as Lady Bears. Sophomore guard LaToya Wyatt is a transfer from McLennan CC (Texas) and guards Victoria Jones, Chisa Ononiwu and Angela Tisdale all come in from the high school ranks.
Baylor will suit up for its first exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m. when the Houston Jaguars come to the Ferrell Center. The Lady Bears follow that game with another exhibition contest on Tuesday, Nov. 9 versus the Basketball Travelers (7 p.m.).
Baylor will open its regular season at the prestigious State Farm Tip Off Classic in Austin, Texas, Nov. 14. The Lady Bears, ranked in the top 10 of numerous preseason publications, will take on LSU at 12:30 p.m. in the Frank Erwin Center. The LSU Tigers, an NCAA Tournament Final Four team last season, are ranked among the top three in preseason polls. The Tigers also return four starters off last season's 27-8 squad.
