| SPORTS
| NOVEMBER 30, 2005
Women’s Basketball
Mavs take on SMU tonight
Coach thinks the team may have
a slow start after its 10-day break.
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| The Shorthorn: file art |
| The Mavericks women’s
basketball team practices in the Physical Education
Building. The team will play Southern Methodist University
tonight in Dallas. |
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By Princess
McDowell
The Shorthorn staff
The Maverick women’s basketball team faces off against Southern
Methodist University at 7 tonight at Moody Coliseum in Dallas.
The game is the first for the Mavs after taking a 10-day break over
the Thanksgiving holiday and the last game in the Metroplex until
the team plays at Texas Christian University on Dec. 30.
Head coach Donna Capps said the time off has been great for the
team because it has allowed players to get some rest and let body
aches subside.
“We’ve had a little more energy in practices,”
she said.
Capps expects the team to have a sluggish start against SMU because
of the break.
“It’s going to be tough when we start off,” she
said.
The Mavericks want to avoid lapses in intensity similar to the kind
that plagued the team during the Image Depot Shootout on Nov. 19
and 20. Capps described the team’s play in its first game
against South Florida as a bad overall effort in the 24-point loss.
But, she said the team drastically turned its play around in the
victory over La Salle.
After two season games, the Maverick freshmen are slowly making
an impact on the court. Forward Erin Dixon and guard Jamie Buxkemper
have stepped to the front of the eight-person freshman class. Dixon
averages eight points and three rebounds in this short season while
Buxkemper has already gained her first collegiate start against
La Salle by playing with poise and stingy defense.
Capps said the possibility of lapses in play would remain until
the entire team gains experience together.
“All we can do is keep rotating people until we get a combination
that works well together,” she said.
SMU is 2-3 this season with a victory over the Mavericks’
Southland Conference foe, Louisiana-Monroe. The Mustangs are led
by sophomore post Janielle Dodds. The Fairfax, Va., native averages
16.2 points and nine rebounds per game.
Although UTA has an all-time record of 20-14 against SMU, the Mustangs
hold a distinct height advantage over the Mavs. The Mustangs have
12 players taller than 5 feet 10 inches compared to the Mavs’
seven. With six guards taller than guard Terra Wallace, UTA’s
shortest player, the matchup at the guard position will be critical.
Capps expects the disadvantage to be a concern.
“If we play the defense we’re capable of, size won’t
matter,” she said.
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