Lions host Livin’ the Dream in exhibition, ready for regular season

Junior guard Tatianna Washington, of Gary, Ind., goes for a layup in Wednesday’s exhibition matchup against Livin’ The Dream. Washington is a transfer from State Fair Community College. She scored 13 points along with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Lions won the game, 85-45. Southern’s regular season opens next Friday.

 

Wednesday, the women’s basketball team played its first game of 2011, an exhibition against Livin’ the Dream, winning by a score of 85-45.

Southern’s regular season will get underway next Friday as it hosts Harding University in a non-conference matchup.

Head Coach MaryAnn Mitts, entering her 11th season at the helm of Southern’s women’s basketball program, says she is excited about the athleticism of this year’s team.

The 2011-12 roster features six new players, but two of those were already on the Lions’ bench last season. Shatara Stone missed last year with an injury, and Tatianna Washington was a mid-season transfer, rendering her ineligible for last season.

“And then we went out and we got two junior college players and we got two freshmen,” Mitts said. “I’m really trying to balance the roster out that way. Our two freshmen, one is Haley Weathers from Luther, Okla. She tore her ACL in January but before doing so was one of the leading scorers in the state.”

Tomorrow, the Lions will take on the Missouri State University Bears in another exhibition matchup, this time for the purpose of raising money for tornado relief funds in Joplin.