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The Lady Buffs on the Road to Victory

[ 0 ] March 4, 2010 | Megan Gerber

“I just talked with the team about how they may have a winning record, but they haven’t won anything yet.” – Krista Gerlich

The West Texas A&M Lady Buff basketball team ended their regular season last Saturday. They are ranked number six in the nation by the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll. The team will enter post-season play with a staggering overall record of 26-3

“I just talked with the team about how they may have a winning record, but they haven’t won anything yet,” said head coach Krista Gerlich. “We still have a lot of games to play and a lot of championships to win.”

The Lady Buffs wrapped up their regular season with a 75.6 scoring average. WT scored a percentage of .479 in field goals, .359 from outside the circle and .715 from the free-throw line. They currently average 37.0 in rebounds.

“We have proven ourselves throughout the season, especially in conference, that we are the team to beat and that is a big accomplishment for us,” said Junior guard Joni Unruh. “I am really excited about the games still to come.”

Unruh leads the Lady Buffs in steals (84), assists (97) and offensive rebounds (69). With 394 points for the season, averaging 13.6 points a game, Unruh tails closely behind Sophomore forward Jamie Simmons for the most points on the season.

Simmons has scored 427 points for the Lady Buffs this season, averaging 14.7 points a game. Simmons also holds the top seat of the leader board in rebounds, totaling 220 in her 29 games played.

“I think Jamie and Joni have had a great year and have really stepped into those leading roles for us, and I hope they continue to do that,” said Gerlich. “I hope they will be able to be in even more of a leadership role with Holly and Ceciley being gone.”

Senior guard Holly Isaacs scored 252 points over the season and led the Lady Buffs from the three-point line, dropping 65 baskets. She tallied 62 assists, 32 steals and 60 rebounds for her team.

“Holly is instrumental in everything we do,” said Gerlich. “She is our heart and soul, our emotional leader. She gives us that fire that we need.”

Also leaving the Lady Buffs is 6’2 Senior center Ceciley Johnson and Senior guard/forward Maddy Brown.

“It’s going to be hard to lose those three girls, but it’s unavoidable,” said Gerlich. “It’s just something that is going to happen, so you just prepare the next class to come in and take over.”

The Lady Buffs will enter the Lone Star Conference Championship tournament this weekend with a 1st place standing in the South Division. The Lady Buffs hold a 10-2 mark in conference play this season.

“I think the post-season will be hard-fought,” said Gerlich. “Going into the conference tournament, being the defending two-time conference champions, we have a huge target on our backs. I think everyone in that place will be after us, so our girls have to rise up and combat that and combat that mentality.”

The LSC Women’s Basketball Championship game will be held in Bartlesville at the Bruin Field House Mar. 7 at 1 p.m.

Lone Star Conference South Division Season Standings – Division

School	Record	Win %	PF	PA
West Texas A&M University	10 – 2	0.833	920	749
Tarleton State	9 – 3	0.750	804	677
Abilene Christian	7 – 5	0.583	811	771
Texas A&M-Kingsville	6 – 6	0.500	801	849
Angelo State	5 – 7	0.417	693	751
Eastern New Mexico	3 – 9	0.250	685	800
Midwestern State	2 – 10	0.167	718	835

Lone Star Conference South Division Season Standings – Overall

School	Record	Win %	PF	PA	Record	Streak
West Texas A&M University	26 – 3	0.897	2193	1738	9 – 1	Lost 1
Tarleton State	22 – 5	0.815	1999	1474	7 – 3	Won 3
Abilene Christian	17 – 10	0.630	1865	1779	5 – 5	Won 2
Texas A&M-Kingsville	18 – 9	0.667	2057	1821	4 – 6	Lost 3
Angelo State	12 – 14	0.462	1651	1672	12 – 14	Lost 2
Eastern New Mexico	8 – 19	0.296	1704	1937	3 – 7	Won 1
Midwestern State	9 – 17	0.346	1613	1760	3 – 7	Won 3