Mississippi University for Women Owls Prepare for New Season
The women’s basketball team at the Mississippi University for Women is gearing up for an exciting season following a challenging year. Under the leadership of head coach Eric Vaughn, who took the helm last season, the Owls fell just short of qualifying for their first St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) tournament, concluding the year with an 8-17 record. This season, the team’s goal is to break through and secure a spot in the postseason.
With practices underway since October 15, the Owls have been diligently working to create chemistry among their roster, which includes five returning players, six freshmen, and four transfers. Vaughn has emphasized a fast-paced style of play that he believes will be crucial for the team’s success when they face Belhaven University in their season opener tomorrow.
“We’ve just been going since the 15th, five days a week,” Vaughn noted regarding his team’s rigorous training regimen. “It was a lot to put in.”
Key Players and New Faces
The Owls will rely on the experience of junior Jessica Hughes, who started five games last season, in addition to the program’s all-time leading scorer, Conley Langford. As a senior, Langford has the opportunity to further extend her record of 1,144 career points, along with other notable achievements including:
- Made field goals: 370
- Attempted field goals: 937
- 3-pointers made: 137
- 3-pointers attempted: 417
- Free throw percentage: 79.2%
- Total rebounds: 392
- Double-doubles: 16
Vaughn praised Langford, stating, “I’ve been coaching for 30 years and she is probably in my top 5 as a player I’ve ever coached. Just the total package. An unbelievable work ethic, major integrity, leader on and off the court, phenomenal grades.”
Another pivotal player is senior Calysia Phillips, an All-SLIAC Second Team guard. Last season, Phillips averaged impressive stats with 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 steals per game before suffering a torn ACL injury. Vaughn expects her to make a comeback around January. The returning roster also includes sophomores Kymani Smith, who started eight games last year, and Kate Wilkins, who played in six games.
The squad welcomes new talent, including Mia Bowen, a 6-foot-2 transfer guard from Arkansas-Little Rock, who Vaughn believes has great potential. Additionally, junior transfer Fantasia Wilson from Mississippi Delta Community College is set to receive significant playing time this season.
Adapting to a Fast-Paced System
The Owls have already engaged in several exhibition games to test their preparedness. They faced Alcorn State yesterday, following a challenging 117-40 loss at Jackson State earlier this week. Vaughn sees value in these early, tough matchups as a means to fine-tune the team’s performance in his “organized chaos” style of basketball, characterized by full-court pressure and quick passing aimed at creating open shot opportunities.
“We want to create a chaotic environment because most people don’t play that way,” Vaughn explained. “When you see us play, we try to practice like that. The challenge is; it’s taking a little longer than I would like. Getting kids to buy in can be challenging because to play that way, you really have to give up your body.”
Looking Ahead
As the season kicks off tomorrow, the team’s focus remains on fostering strong team dynamics, which Vaughn believes will be critical for their success. “How do we get along and all of that – just sticking with it,” he remarked. “Well, if we do that, then we’ll be fine.” The Owls are poised for a long journey toward the conference tournament set to begin on February 25, as they strive for their inaugural postseason appearance.
