Nov. 2, 2006

ABILENE, Texas - What happens when you think your once promising season has come to a screeching halt with losses in three of your last four games? Of course the answer is you get a reprieve from the NCAA and advance to the first Final Four in school history.

That is what the Hardin-Simmons basketball team faced at the end of last year, but the page has turned to a new season and that Final Four run should carry over some momentum for the Cowgirls as they head into the 2006-07 with a bigger target than usual on their back.

HSU returns four starters from the Final Four team and with the addition of Jeni Hobbs a Division I transfer the Cowgirls have their sights set on a return visit to the "Birthplace of Basketball".

"Obviously last year was a rewarding time for our girls," said fifth-year head coach Shanna Briggs. "We got hot at the right time, believed in ourselves and good things happened. Each step was a learning process for our team.

"How that relates to this team I don't know. We have enough players back from that team that they should have learned what it takes to win at the highest level. We saw the best of the best and strive to be right there with them."

The thing that made the Cowgirls run so rewarding last year is that it was unexpected. After a 20-2 start, HSU lost starting point guard Sarah Hauk two weeks before the season and limped down the stretch with losses to Howard Payne, Mary Hardin-Baylor and a first-round ASC Tournament loss to East Texas Baptist. They did not expect to be in the NCAA tournament with a 20-5 record.

"We definitely had some eye-opening experiences last season. Our girls had never lost back-to-back games since we have been here. We have never had an extended run where we honestly didn't play well. I think all of those things opened our kids' eyes up for the offeseason. I know this they busted it in the offseason, came in to practice in great shape and we are practicing with great intensity that is coming from them, not the coaching staff prodding them."

The Cowgirls do not have what anyone would consider a super star. In fact they did not have a first-team All-ASC player for the first time in league history last year. What they do have is a collection of talented players that can hurt you in different ways.

Seniors Lyssa Dennard and Melissa (Henley) Contrucci have played in a lot of games for the Cowgirls in their career. Contrucci has started since about eight games into her freshman year and Dennard will be a three-year starter and has always been in the roatation. They have played in a Final Four, two Elite Eights and they along with seniors Sarah Hauk, Laci Walker and Lindsay Steinberger set the bar in practice each day.

"We have a great collection of seniors that have varying roles," said Briggs. "I have not had to get on them to pick it up this year. They have come in with that urgency. They want to first win an American Southwest Conference title and then try to make another deep run in the NCAA playoffs."

Dennard is one of the top defenders in the nation. She had an incredible run in the NCAA Tournament that saw her shut down some prolific scorers. She held National Player of the Year Megan Silva to 5-for-22 shooting in the Sectional Finals. She also led the team with 12.2 points a game. Her height and versatility on the wing give the Cowgirls a lot of options.

One question for the Cowgirls is who will be the point guard. Sarah Hauk was having a solid season until she tore her anterior cruciate ligament late in the year. Rachel Cisneroz replaced her in the lineup in the NCAA Tournament and averaged eight points, six assists and 4.2 rebounds per game in the tournament. Both bring different things to the table.

The Cowgirls have plenty of options at the two and three positions. Dennard will start at the two and Shelby Hodges returns at the three. Hodges is expected to play some more on the inside at the four and Rachael Singletary had a strong stretch drive for the Cowgirls and will be in the mix. Steinberger and the crowd favorite Walker will battle for playing time on the wings.

Mollie Brawner and freshman Lauren Davis are two other players that bring some things to the table on the perimeter. Brawner is the best shooter on the team and Davis has strong leadership skills.

"We have a lot of players on the perimeter that can put the basketball in the basket," said Briggs. "We defend out there pretty well and they have played together for the most part. They understand each other on the court."

HSU lost only one starter from the Final Four team, Sonya West, but she will leave some big holes to fill on the inside. She averaged 13.5 rebounds per game in the postseason and was a second-team All-ASC selection.

Jeni Hobbs a transfer from Division I Stetson has the potential to make a big contribution in the post. She is 6-2 and is a good rebounder and shot blocker with good touch.

Melissa Contrucci got married in the offseason, but the 1,000-point career scorer is back for her senior campaign. She averaged 11.7 and 5.8 rebounds last season and gives the Cowgirls a big post threat.

Junior Jamie Jones, a much-improved Kristen Harris, Kara Martin and freshman Erin Hohmann will fight for playing time in the post.

"We think we have some talent in the post. We had players work hard in the offseason. Obviously, when you can add a Division I transfer to the roster that helps you. Jeni will really help and we expect the biggest year yet from Melissa. She has shown some signs of having a really big year for us. She is a lot stronger this year."

If the Cowgirls are to get back to the NCAA Tournament they will have to go through one of the toughest conferences in the country, especially at the top end. Three teams made the NCAA Tournament last season.

McMurry returns almost everyone from its ASC Championship team, Howard Payne returns all five players from a NCAA Tournament team and Texas-Tyler, East Texas Baptist, Mississippi College and Mary Hardin-Baylor all return the cores of teams that were very good at the end of last year.

"There is no doubt our conference is as good as there is, especially the top end. It is a battle every night, even the teams that have traditionally been weaker are getting stronger and stronger every year. There are no weak teams in the ASC. We also are playing Trinity and Southwestern and they both should be tournament-type teams this year as well."