Solid Tune-Up Awaits Lady Lions

SAGU to Scale Ozark Mountains

Basketball Tourney Pits Top-Flight Coaches

GOAL FOCUSED: Gabby Bruner takes aim at the basket over John Brown's 6'2 Chelsea Garrison during last year's game. Bruner led SAGU in rebounds in 2010-11 with an average of 6.9 caroms per game.WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  The Southwestern Assemblies of God University women’s basketball team has finalized the details of their 30-game regular season.

The Lady Lions have clarified their opposition during the John Brown Classic, set for November 18-19 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. And the four-team field includes two demanding tests prior to the start of the Red River Athletic Conference season.

SAGU, who posted a 23-13 won-lost record last year, are slated to face teams that both qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Each are perennial powers who are no strangers to post-season play.

The Purple Pride will begin the JBU Classic on Friday, Nov. 18, when they take on College of the Ozarks. Their Lady Bobcats went 28-6 and won the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 13-1 mark.

Behind George Wilson, the head coach of 13 years, College of the Ozarks defeated Wisconsin’s Cardinal Stritch before falling to Cedarville College (Ohio). Wilson has racked up over 900 wins in his career, 341-73 with the Bobcats, whose campus is located in Point Lookout, Missouri. They have advanced to the NAIA Division II tourney the past four seasons.

Southwestern tangles with the tourney host, John Brown University, the next afternoon. The Golden Eagles had another excellent team a year ago, registering a 20-12 ledger. They were 14-8 in the 12-team Sooner Athletic Conference, which is regarded as one of, if not the best in the nation. Five teams from the SAC received bids for the NAIA tourney, where the Eagles lost to Campbellsville University (Ky) in the first round.

The Eagles are coached by veteran Jeff Soderquist, who starts his 15th campaign this fall.
These teams tipped off the regular season in 2010 in Waxahachie, with John Brown rolling to a 50-40 triumph. A quick 34-18 start propelled the Eagles, who kept SAGU at bay by controlling the boards.

SAGU will be rebuilding this season under veteran head coach Arlon Beadles. His team has two starters coming back. Senior forward Gabby Bruner (Peaster, Tx / Peaster HS) led the team in rebounds while sophomore forward Jirah Rodriguez (Georgetown, Tx / Georgetown HS) is the top returning scorer.

Lady Lions have six games in November

Coach Beadles plans to use six games in November to help prepare the Lady Lions for their 24-game RRAC season. They open on Nov. 3rd in start in Moore, Oklahoma against Hillsdale College. SAGU’s home debut is slated for Nov. 5 when they tangle with Dallas Christian College.

Team Lioness hosts the annual SAGU Classic the following weekend, Nov. 11-12, in the Sheaffer Center. Their opponents will be Crowley’s Ridge College (Ark) and Oklahoma Christian University.

Southwestern begins their conference schedule on December 3rd when they travel to Muskogee, Oklahoma to meet Bacone College (19-10).

New Assistant Coach to be Announced

Southwestern will officially introduce their new Assistant Coach for the women’s basketball team next week. Coach Beadles had five superb seasons supported by former SAGU basketball player, Jacob Rodriguez. He is seeking other vocational directives and will remain a backer of SAGU Athletics.

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 469-658-2847.