W-Basketball team names captains

Bruner, Roberts selected by players

Team to play a home scrimmage on Thursday

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The sound of sneakers squeaking and the recognizable shrill of whistles can mean only two things. There is a sale at Foot Locker and the start of basketball is just around the corner.

The women’s basketball team at Southwestern Assemblies of God University will have a new look this winter. Beyond new uniforms and a roster filled with a number of impressive recruits, the team announced their captains for the 2011-2012 season.

Forward Gabby Bruner  (Peaster, Tx / Peaster HS) and junior center Shaquita Roberts (San Antonio, Tx / Byron Steele HS) were chosen by the team to represent the Lady Lions as well as serving them in a leadership capacity.

"Both bring real leadership skills to our team, on and off the floor," said head coach Arlon Beadles. "They are a pleasure to coach! Their example is most important as we have a very young team."

Bruner (BREW-nur) is a three-year starter at forward. The 5-foot-9 senior played high school basketball for the Peaster Greyhounds. The small town is west of Fort Worth and northwest of Weatherford. She led the team in rebounds last winter.

Tough inside and out, Bruner has played both the small and power forward positions. She also has ice water running through her veins in the clutch.

In one of her more memorable career moments, she stroked a pair of free throws with less than five seconds remaining, on the road, to give SAGU the lead and the win at Texas Wesleyan last November. Her baseline jumper is sweet and her fundamentals in boxing out are true.

Known as “Baby Shaq” to many, Roberts has missed most of the past two seasons with a leg injury. She was given a medical redshirt for last winter during which she underwent surgery. Now fully recovered, the 6-foot-1 Roberts was #2 in the NAIA in blocked shots as a freshman.

Roberts swatted 99 shots while coming off the bench in her freshman campaign. Her athleticism and ability to run the floor could be the X-factor for Team Purp this year.

She played prep ball for the Steele Knights in Cibolo, a suburb between San Antonio and New Braunfels.

A complete preview of the Lady Lions will be released soon.

Under veteran coach Beadles, they went 23-13 last year, their third consecutive 20+ win season. They finished third in the nation at the NCCAA* nationals in Indiana. 

The 'Cats posted a 23-8 mark in 2009-10 when they made their inaugural berth in the NAIA Division I national tournament. They were eliminated by Union University (Tenn), the eventual champion. In 2008-09, when Roberts was a freshman, SAGU assembled a best-ever 24-8 ledger.

Court preview on Thursday vs. Hill College

Fans can judge for themselves this Thursday night, October 20, when they scrimmage the Hill College “Lady Rebels” in the Sheaffer Center. Admission is free to the general public. The junior college is located in Hillsboro, 33 miles west of Waxahachie.

SAGU plays a 30-game regular season, with ten contests on tap prior to Christmas.

Five-time defending champion Langston University figures to be the team to beat again this season in the Red River Athletic Conference, with the Wesleyan Women predicted to contend for the crown as well.

Season starts on November 3

They will be in Moore, Oklahoma on Thursday, November 3, to face Hillsdale College in their season debut. Team Lioness hosts Dallas Christian College on November 7. The 7:00pm Monday night game will tip-off the first of four home contests this semester.

Eye On Lions

SAGU Sports Live will begin broadcasting home dates in January. The high definition livestream is believed to be the finest in the NAIA. It is produced by the Media Services Department at Southwestern, featuring a full cast of students in front and behind the camera.

*National Christian College Athletic Association, Division I

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.