2010-2011 Team

With the addition of nine more victories for the women‘s basketball team in 2010, the Lady Westerners are looking for another increase in 2011. Coach Tammy Davis will have a host of new faces to help fuel another upsurge in wins this season.

The Lady Westerners lost key players in Teisha King and Katarina Powdrell. Coach Davis will have to find some scoring to replace the seventeen points per game vacated when freshman guard Teisha King transferred to the University of Texas at Permian Base (UTPB). Powdrell, a sophomore post player who averaged 5.2 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game is now at Metro State in Denver, Colorado. “We will miss her defense in particular, and her sophomore leadership,” assessed the WTC skipper, Tammy Davis.

The cupboard isn’t bare for the lady hoopsters from WTC as they return a core of players with experience from last year. Sophomore Nastashia Atkins (Lubbock, TX), also known as NaNa, is a 5’10” forward who averaged 8.1 points per game last year while pulling down 5.2 boards per contest. Coach Davis looks for a strong year out of Atkins, “We expect NaNa to provide leadership for the team, she is very unselfish, hates to lose, and puts her teammates in a position to be successful.” Also back is returning starter, Wykeia Sanders, a 6’2” post player from Minden, Louisiana. Sanders averaged 5.6 points per game in 2010, while pulling down 4.7 caroms per game, and should exert her presence in the post. A key returner in the guard court, Aniya Qualls (Minden, LA), is out for the 2010-2011 season with an ACL tear. “We will definitely lose some experience in guard play with Aniya out for the year,” accorded WTC assistant coach, Darryl Davis. While Qualls is out, sophomore Audry Sheffield (Lubbock, TX), who was lost for most of the season last year due to an ACL injury will be returning. The coaching staff looks for Sheffield to return to the floor sometime in November, but the timeline is still a question for her return. Jamie Wilson(San Angelo, TX), a six foot, rangy guard returns and should contribute as well. Wilson averaged 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest, and continues to develop consistency in her all around performance.

“Big things” are expected from a number of recruits, including 6’2” Shaylese Shofner (Lynwood, CA), and 6’3” Sarah Lain (Lubbock, TX). Shofner originally signed with NCAA Division I, University of California at Riverside, but didn’t play, transferring to Western Texas at semester last year. Coach Davis looks for some major contributions from Shofner, “Shaylese is very athletic, and while she is working to improve her defense, we believe she will be a rebounding maniac for us.” Lain, a product of Roosevelt High School, in Lubbock, is fundamentally sound, rebounds well, and has an excellent touch around the basket. The Lady Westerners will also feature some height in the form of 6’3” twin sisters, DeAnna and Knichelle Moore of Houston, Texas. Both are athletic, will have to focus on strengthening their offensive skills, and should bring a big upside as they develop. In the guard court, WTC will feature several candidates for the guard positions. Coach Davis looks for Lindsey Palmer (Lubbock, TX) to be an impact player as a freshman. Palmer is a combo guard who can play the  point or wing, is heady, tough defensively, and has great hands, matched with an excellent basketball I.Q. The Lady Westerners also hop to get some help from Presley Gann (Iowa Park, TX), a 5/11” guard sho shoots well, is solid defensively, and is a quality passer. Gann can also possesses the ability to score off the dribble, or in the post.  Elissa Betts (Amarillo, TX) is a 5’9” guard who can shoot, and understands the game.”Elissa comes out of a great program at Amarillo High School, she is always around the ball,” commented Davis.  Another Texas product, Tiffani Jones (Farwell, TX), is a solid shooter with great range and a quick release, and will make the opponents defend the perimeter. Midland High School product Avain Brown (Midland, TX), also comes out of a strong high school program with an aggressive, pressing defense, and should contribute in the guard court. Brown looks to be a solid scorer, an excellent passer, and has shown sound defensive ability in the early going. Kulia Wilson (South Jordon, UT) sees the floor well, and possesses quickness that allows her to get her hands on the ball on defense. Wilson continues to make adjustments to the college game, and should contribute. Tenisha Palmer (Coushatta, LA) is athletic and quick. Palmer’s primary role in high school came in the form of scoring. At the college level, Palmer will be learning the role of point guard, as she makes adjustments to the college game. A coachable player with an excellent work ethic, Chelsea McGinnis is a 5’7” guard from Bronte, Texas. McGinnis is also the niece of the Western Texas College director of human resources, Kelly McGinnis.

Head coach Tammy Davis will place a heavy emphasis on creating a strong defensive culture on the team. She feels the Lady Westerners have strong offensive weapons and that if the team can couple that with a strong defensive effort on a consistent basis, they should have the kind of success the coaching staff expects. Assistant Coach Darryl Davis surmised, “The key will be to get the freshmen to focus and compete on every play, which is crucial in the college game.”

The Lady Westerners travel to Hobbs, New Mexico to compete in a tournament on November 2-3, hosted by New Mexico Junior College. WTC ‘s season opener will come on November 2nd in the tournament, as the take on Cochise Junior College out of Arizona.