JONESBORO, Ark. (10/17/08) ? Arkansas State head women's
basketball coach Brian Boyer and his staff welcomed 14 scholarship players to
the ASU Convocation Center court Friday night as preseason practices began in
preparation for the 2008-09 season.
Arkansas State goes into the season as the co-favorite in the Sun
Belt Conference West Division along with Arkansas Little Rock. Both teams received 83 points in the
preseason poll released earlier this week at the SBC Preseason Basketball
Tipoff in Hot Springs, with ASU picking up eight first place votes and UALR
receiving five.
All five starters, seven of the top eight scorers, the top five rebounders
return from last year's 20-win team, including preseason All-Sun Belt
selections Veronica Smith and Shay Scott.
Smith led ASU in scoring a year ago, averaging 9.6 points per game and
12.1 points per game in SBC play. As a
true freshman, Scott finished the 2007-08 regular season averaging a
double-double in SBC play, putting up 10.6 points and 10 rebounds per
game. Scott led the league in offensive
rebounding in SBC play, pulling down 4.33 offensive rebounds per game. and was
second overall in rebounding at 9.7 per game.
The team went through a
two and one-half hour workout on the main floor of the Convocation Center
Friday night and will open the regular season Nov. 14 at home against
Creighton.
“We are glad to finally
get on the court,” said Boyer. “The team
has done such a great job during the off-season with their weights and
conditioning, but this is that next phase of getting into practice. I know the team was anxious to get on the
floor and they did a great job on the first night.”
Practices will continue
leading up to ASU's Nov. 1 exhibition game against Arkansas-Monticello. The Red Wolves will also host Henderson State
in a Nov. 11 exhibition game before getting the season underway against
Creighton.
Season tickets for 2008-09
ASU Red Wolves women's basketball are now on sale at the ASU Box Office. Arkansas State's schedule features 16 home
games, and lower-level seating is just $85.
In celebration of 35 years
of ASU women's basketball, a special two-for-one upper-level seating package is
being offered. Two upper level seats are
available for just $70, providing admission to all 16 home games for only $35
per ticket.
Tickets for ASU Red Wolves
home games may be purchased by calling the ASU Box Office at 870-972-ASU1 or
888-ASU-FANS.
