Women's Basketball 11/6/2012 11:09:00 AM

2012 Women's Basketball Season Preview

After a lackluster 2011 campaign, the 2012 TAMIU women’s basketball team comes into the season with a new head coach and a brand new attitude.

Newly appointed Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson hopes to right the ship, after the Dustdevils turned in a program worst 3-9 conference record last season. Coach Bento brings 15 years of coaching experience to the program, all of which were at the Division I level.

“The transition from Division I to II has not been difficult at all,” said Coach Bento. “When I step on the floor I’m the exact same coach no matter where I am. We are going to scout the same way, prepare the same way, and our girls will be ready to play.”

Coach Bento enlisted the services of one of her former standout players, Elizabeth Doran, to take the assistant coaching position and help bring about a much needed culture change.

“I feel blessed that Liz is here,” said Coach Bento, “She’s familiar with my coaching style, with our system, with my expectations, and she knows what it takes to be on a championship team. From the moment we set foot on campus in August, we were going in the same direction.”

“One of our main objectives is to change the mentality of this group… we must create a winning attitude with everything we do. We haven’t been regarded very highly in the past and we want to change that. The bar has been raised in every area – from how we study, to how we practice, to what kind of teammates we are, to how we prepare for opponents… and I’m a firm believer in accountability. It’s a lot of change to go through, but these girls have been extremely receptive. They have been coachable, they have given great effort, and they are accepting of the changes with the understanding that this is what is required to build a winning team. A few things people can expect from our team … we’re going to work hard, we’re going to compete, and we will be disciplined. I’m not sure how this will all equate out to wins but I do know our opponents will know that when they face the Dustdevils they are in for a fight.”

Ten players return from last year’s roster including three starters and All-Conference selections Samantha Chacon and Amanda Mangan. Chacon was ranked fourth in the conference last season averaging 11.9 points per game, while Mangan finished twelfth averaging 10.6. Senior Alexandria Dews will also see her first action in a TAMIU uniform. The highly touted junior college transfer was expected to do big things last season, but was lost to a season ending injury in the preseason.

Coach Bento has brought in four new players, Tina Dang, Malika Jackson, Angelica Sahagun, and Faatimah A, all junior college transfers from California who should give TAMIU depth at nearly every position on the floor.

OFFENSIVELY:

“We call it an equal opportunity offense,” said Coach Bento, “I don’t expect us to have one player averaging 20 points; we will share the ball. We want to push the tempo of the game and put the pressure on our opponents. Our goal is to get as many fast break opportunities as we can before we set up in our secondary offense.”

DEFENSIVELY:

“On defense we’re going to get after it,” said Coach Bento, “We’ll be able to show some different looks but we want to take teams out of their comfort zone as individuals and also to disrupt their offensive plan as much as possible. High intensity, high energy. “

GUARDS

The guard position should be one of the team’s biggest assets. Coach Bento opts for a fluid guard-dominant style that allows for interchangeable parts at the one, two, and three positions.

Re’Nikia Meshack returns for TAMIU and is a candidate to once again start at the point. Meshack was one of the team’s top scorers last season and was tied for the team lead averaging 3.19 assists/game. The feisty sophomore also grabbed 4.7 rebounds/game and led the team with 52 steals.

“Right now the point guard position is by committee and we’re finding out who is going to step up and take ownership of the position,” said Coach Bento. “It has been a pleasant surprise to have Nika back on the floor; however, we also have Faatimah A, Alexandria Dews, and Tina Dang competing for the position. We want an established point guard but a lot of things go into the equation… not just learning the position, but leadership as well. Who is going to be an extension of me?”

At shooting guard and small forward, Chacon and Mangan are once again solid options. Returners Kim Brown, Linda Banuelos, and Alexis Thomas alongside newcomers Angelica Sahagun, and Tina Dang can also step in and provide solid minutes.

“In our system the 2-3 position is interchangeable and we feel like we have three or four players that can step in and contribute,” said Coach Bento. “Players such as Amanda and Kim can play multiple positions for us and that’s part of our offensive scheme. I like versatile players who can step in and cause matchup problems and we have players who can do that for us.”

POSTS

With the departure of seniors Nikkiti Scott and Jennifer Johnson, the Dustdevils will look to seniors Rosebud Guthrie and Valencia Roy alongside junior transfer Malika Jackson and freshman Carolina Gonzalez to lead the team’s interior. Kim Brown will also provide quality minutes at the post postions.

“The four and five positions are also interchangeable,” said Coach Bento. “All of our posts can play with their backs to the basket and they are also comfortable in facing up to the basket. We have plenty of options based on the situation and that’s a real luxury.”

SCHEDULE:

The Dustdevils open their 2012 season with a road exhibition versus Division I opponent UT-Pan American on November 3. They follow up with their regular season opener against Lone Star Conference foe Abilene Christian, before heading to the Texas Women’s tournament in Denton, Texas. The ladies then host Western New Mexico in Laredo on November 20, before their final tune up before conference play with a trip to the Texas A&M Kingsville tournament. League play begins December 1 on the road versus rival St. Mary’s University.

“We hope our preseason prepares us for conference,” said Coach Bento. “Right now it’s about getting ourselves playing the way we’re capable of playing and to accomplish that there has to be improvement every day.”

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