Date: 10/23
Position: Centers
Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Antoinette Lewis, So. (9.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 43 blocks, 23 steals, 49.4 FG%,51.8 FT%); India Hall, Sr. (1.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 8 blocks, 44.4 FG%, 42.9 FT%).
Returning from redshirt: None.
Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Chyna Ellis, Sr. (13.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 107 blocks, 45.3 FG%, 39.3 3FG%, 75.3 FT%)
Newcomers (Yr., Hometown/Previous school): None
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Jags lose and have to replace Chyna Ellis, a 1,000-point scorer, who had 985 career rebounds and was the career leader in Sun Belt Conference history in blocks with 338.
- Lewis came off the bench the first 27 games of the season, before earning a starting role in the final seven contests.
- The then-freshman had 12 games of 10 or more points, including eight in the final 11 games of the season.
- During that 11 game stretch, Lewis also recorded three double-doubles and two games of 20 or more points, 23 at home against Louisiana (Feb. 24) and 20 against ULM (Mar. 6) in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
- Hall played in 18 games for the Jags last season.
- The then-junior tied a career-high with 10 points at home against Georgia State (Mar. 29).
Head Coach Terry Fowler
- On Antoinette Lewis taking another step forward this season: "From a standpoint of continuing to grow and mature, her role changes this year. Last year she was backing up and playing beside Chyna. Now she's stepping into a leadership type role. We need her to play smart. We can't have her get into foul trouble. We also want to see her improve her game as the season goes on."
- On what he wants to see from India Hall: "India has to make sure she remains consistent. The one thing with India is she's played with some really good players here. Going into your senior year what else could you want. It's an opportunity for her to get out on the floor and show what she's capable of. We know she's capable of things. She just needs to have more consistency moving forward."
- On what the centers need to do this season: "They have to be smart, stay out of foul trouble and we need them to control the paint. They also have to show a physical presence, which they both have the ability to do."
Antoinette Lewis
- On taking last season's success into her sophomore season: "Last season I fought a lot for the seniors because I knew it was their last season and I wanted to send them out with a bang. I knew I had to step up and be a freshman that could help and make some valuable efforts for the team and not be wasting minutes on the court. For this year, I plan on keeping it up, becoming more intense and being more of a leader. I need to do what I did, but increase it more and be able to produce for a longer period of time. I know how important it is to play and feel like I know what's required and needed for us to be successful. I need to keep working hard at everything."
- On developing into more of a leader: "The coaches have already talked to me about needing to develop into more of a leadership role. I feel like I'm a physical leader and they want me to focus on becoming more of a vocal leader and get out of my comfort zone. Each and every day I'm trying to talk more, work hard and motivate myself and my teammates. I believe if I can be the best version of myself, I can help the team and my teammates."
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