New Look, Same Drive for Women’s Basketball
November 16, 2007

Fresh faces and the opportunity to compete in conference and NCAA postseason events are the two things will make all the difference with this year’s University of Texas at Tyler women’s basketball team.

The 11 new Patriots and five returning letterwinners will make their 2007-2008 debut Saturday at the Herrington Patriot Center against Louisiana State-Shreveport. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

This year’s Patriots will be noticeably different than previous squads with the absence of familiar faces RaTonya Hunter, Sarah Stanley and Sha’ Shead. All three, the cornerstone of UT Tyler’s two American Southwest Conference East Division championship teams, ended their playing careers last season. On average, the three combined for more than 40 points per game during their senior seasons. Despite not being on the court the Patriots will not totally be without the services of Hunter and Stanley as both will be on the sidelines as assistant coaches.

Senior Kasey Buggs (Lake Dallas, Texas) is the only returning starter for the Patriots. Buggs, who averaged 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last year, is a two-time All-ASC East selection and will provide much-needed leadership for the young team. The rest of the team will be comprised of four returning sophomores, nine freshmen, one junior transfer and a junior playing college basketball for the first year.

Although the faces might not be the same, the one thing that has not changed about this year is the powerful presence of head coach Terri Deike on the sidelines. Deike is entering her fifth year at the helm of the Patriots and has so far enjoyed almost unprecedented success for a new program.

During her first four seasons with UT Tyler, Deike increased or matched the previous year’s number of wins. She also won two ASC East regular season titles, had three consecutive top two finishes in the ASC East, and has never finished lower than fourth place.

Had they been eligible, the Patriots would have qualified for the ASC Tournament in each of the four previous years. In October, Deike and the rest of the Patriots were picked to finish second in the ASC East by the coaches, sports information directors and media representatives in the ASC. If the prediction stands true, UT Tyler would finally get its chance at March Madness.

After Saturday’s game, the Patriots embark on a five-game road trip before returning to the Herrington Patriot Center on Dec. 15 to take on Mary Hardin-Baylor.

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