Lady Lions take on Alumni All-Stars

A Breakfast of Hoops and Fruit Loops 

Chelsea Jones and Company return to the court

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  Fans of women’s college basketball with get a preview look at the Southwestern Assemblies of God University team in action this Saturday morning in a special scrimmage.

The event will be held on campus at the Sheaffer Center at 7:30 am. The public is invited to this Homecoming Weekend clash of past and present lady bucketeers.

Head Coach Arlon Beadles will put the 2012-13 Lady Lions on the hard-court for the first time. After a rebuilding season last winter, the team hopes to move higher in the Red River Athletic Conference.

Flashy guard Nia Winston (Garland, Tx / Panola JC, Lakeview Centennial HS) led last year’s team in scoring at a 13.8 points per game clip. She will be joined by two players who are coming back from surgery or injury in forwards Jirah Rodriguez (Georgetown, Tx / Georgetown HS) and Sierra Hankins (Welch, Ok / Welch HS).

Along with four returning veterans and three others who are playing on the volleyball or soccer teams this fall, SAGU has the components to improve. Couple those players with a solid recruiting class and the Lady Lions will be a team on the rise.

They will scrimmage a very talented cast of former standouts, the Alumni All-Stars, in a colorful Saturday morning contest.

Former Assistant Coach Ryan Russell will be at the helm of a group of lady hoopsters who used to light up Sheaffer Center, including former All-American forward Chelsea Jones (San Antonio, Tx / Cornerstone Christian).

Each member of the All-Stars will receive an individual introduction prior to the start of the game. (See their roster below)

Currently numbering 13, this team figures to give the new Lady Lions a serious challenge in a spirited tune-up to the season. The new campaign officially begins in early November with two games in Oklahoma City during November 2-3.

Prior to that, Team Lioness will host two scrimmages this month; October 16 against the Dallas Diesel semi-pro team and, on Oct. 22, versus Hill College.

Fans can witness a highly charged initiation of this year’s team during Midnight Madness on Thursday, October 25.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU 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.

SAGU Alumni All-Stars Roster

Lacey Box
Tina Brown
Gabby Bruner
Michelle (Michener) Grant
Rachel Harris
Stephanie Hawkins
Heather Jefferson
Everly Johnson
Chelsea Jones
Stacy Jones
MacKenzie McDowell
Nicole (Linen) Scott
Courtney Taylor

Coach Ryan Russell

Roster is subject to change