Pat Pickens, a second-team all-conference selection last season and the Lady Hawks' third all-time leading scorer, returns as a key leader this season. (Photo by Wesley Lyle)

Posted: Nov 16, 2014

Lady Hawks looking to take next step in USA South this season

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Intern

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon women's basketball team is looking to make great strides in its second year in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Head coach Buzz Phillips said the team has continued to progress since the opening day of preseason. The Lady Hawks, who were seventh in the USA South preseason poll, open the season on Monday at Pensacola Christian.

Phillips said the Lady Hawks don't have to look far for motivation this season. He pointed to the end of last season and a five-game losing streak that kept the Lady Hawks from reaching the conference tournament.

"We were sitting at 15-5 and everything was going great," Phillips said. "We were given three chances to make the conference tournament, and then the fourth chance came down to a win and get in game versus LaGrange and we dropped that one. That is something that has stuck with me all year and has stuck with the older players."

The Lady Hawks have to replace two starters (Raven Prater and Jodie Thomas) who both played key roles as seniors last season. But Huntingdon has two key leaders returning in seniors Pat Pickens and Tan Munford.

Pickens was a second team all-conference selection as a junior and set the Lady Hawks' single-game and single-season scoring records. She finished fourth in the conference with 17 points per game, fourth in field goal percentage at 52.1 percent and fifth in rebounds with 8.5 per game. Pickens enters her senior season as the Lady Hawks' third all-time leading scorer and fourth all-time leading rebounder.

Munford led the conference with 10.7 rebounds per game last year and set Huntingdon's season record for rebounds. Entering this season, she is the Lady Hawks' third all-time leading rebounder and ranks 13th on the career scoring list.

"Pat and Tan are two very unique ladies," Phillips said. "They know the good and the bad. They know what it feels like to make the second round of the NCAA tournament and they know what it feels like to miss the conference tournament. They have higher expectations now for the team and we will use them to keep us in line."

Phillips is also looking for sophomore Mackenzie Garmany to be the Lady Hawks' long-range threat. As a freshman, Garmany was second on the team behind Prater with 33 3-pointers. Phillips also mentioned junior college transfer Savannah Ward as an early impact player and potential starter because of her experience and consistency.

Juliette Harp and Courtlynne Parnell are two freshmen who have caught Phillips' eye.

"They are both six-footers who will give us an opportunity to sub post-player for post-player. That is something we haven't been able to do the past few years," Phillips said.