The women’s basketball team entered the season strong with their first win, 56 – 32 over the Huston–Tillotson Rams in the homecoming game.
Afternoon festivities attracted a crowd of 690 people for the 5 p.m. game against the Rams. By the end of the first period, the Comets gained a large lead of 10 points. This marks a strong opening for the Comets. Head coach Polly Thomason, who led the team for 12 seasons, was excited to see the game turn out so well.
“This was our first step on our journey as a team this season,” Thomason said. “I think they really took that to heart.”
The Comets managed to keep a constant lead, and the Rams were unable to keep up. The opposing team attempted to gain the advantage, but was kept below five points each period by the Comets. Thomason credited the flexibility of the team to constant rotations.
“I think that’s a strength of ours this season, is the ability to share the ball and read the defense and that’s what we teach every day in practice,” Thomason said.
Last season, the Comets won both the ASC East Division and the ASC Tournament title, earning them the right to host the opening rounds of the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in the program’s history.
Thomason hopes the team will pull off the same this season with new transfer juniors and freshmen joining the team. Key players to watch this season include senior guard Mckenzie Petty, sophomore guard Victoria Pena, and senior guard Ja’Lee Carver, named by the preseason poll. All three put points on the board during the game by being all over the court.
The last score was made by junior guard Tyra Banks with seconds to spare, and had spectators on their feet in applause.
The Comets will face off in a home game against Austin College on Nov. 15. This will be the first of two times they will face off against Austin College this month with their second game scheduled for Nov. 25. Coach Thomason said she remains cautiously optimistic.
“I’m still a little nervous as we’re still really young, and we have a lot of unanswered questions,” Thomason said. “One game doesn’t fix it but I’m excited to see where we go.”