Oct. 13, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford women's basketball team consisting of six freshman and seven returning players went through their first practice of the 2001-02 season at Seibert Hall Saturday afternoon.

Head coach Janet Cone did a lot of teaching in her first practice of the season. She taught the freshmen players the difference in playing defense in high school and in college. "In high school your coach says to guard your man. In college you have to stop the ball. You can leave your man to stop the ball because if you don't stop the ball they are going to score."

"Most our season will be spent teaching," said Cone. "We have 10 underclassmen who are trying to learn a new system and we have to get everyone on the same page."

The defense seemed to be ahead of the offense on the first day. Cone is known for having a scrappy "in your face" defense. Intensity was the tone of the first half of the two and a quarter hour practice. Even in the scrimmage, defensive intensity was the order of the day.

The Bulldogs, who finished 8-21 last season, are looking to a youthful team to provide better results in 2002. Samford has only two seniors and one junior on its 13 player roster. Sophomore Giovanni Price was a TAAC All-Freshman Team member last season and is the top returning scorer and rebounder. Cone feels that although the team is young the upperclassmen have a role to play. "We need to be patient. Clarissa Clark, Tara Enoch and Noot Pittman did a good job of being leaders today. They are going to be the glue that holds this team together all season."

The six freshmen had a lot to soak on the first day. Candace Jones came off the floor during the scrimmage and said, "I feel like such a freshman." That sentiment was probably felt by all six newcomers who took the floor on Saturday. "Skill wise, our freshmen have the ability to be very good," said Cone. "This is a building process we do not want to peak in November."

Sophomore Sarah Clement sat out the first practice with a knee injury. Senior Clarissa Clark who missed the 2000-01 season with a torn ACL said, "It is a blessing to be out here. I am taking advantage of every second."

The only down side to the practice was that Coach Cone did not feel like her team was in the kind of shape they needed to be but she felt that was a part of the process in teaching the younger players what it takes to succeed in college basketball.

The Bulldogs begin the regular season on November 16, against Alabama. Their first home game will be on Nov. 20, against Chattanooga.