The MSU women’s basketball team prepare for their upcoming game against Southeastern Oklahoma, Nov. 16. (Stephanie Garcia)
After a rough 2022-2023 campaign for MSU women’s basketball, which saw the team win only two of the first 10 games and two of the last 10 games of the season and finish with a 6-22 overall record, and in last place in the Lone Star Conference, the Mustangs are ready to enter this season with a new leader at the helm.
Brenita Jackson takes over as the new head coach of the Mustangs after a stellar last season at Texas Wesleyan University in which she led the Rams to a 27-6 record and a tournament run into the 3rd round of the NAIA national tournament. Jackson was also a WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year finalist last year and earned Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Zarria Carter (0), practices her shooting, Nov. 16. (Stephanie Garcia)
With this being Jackson’s first year leading a Division 2 program, Jackson faces a new ruleset and a higher talent pool in D2, but Jackson did not come alone. Jackson brings along 5 of her players from Texas Wesleyan including NAIA All-Americans Kertisa Amos and Makayla Coy, Zarria Carter, Zionna Barbee and Keara Felix to MSU. Jackson also adds freshmen and transfers Jaida Gomez, Catalina Cortez, Kyla Speights and Nikki Green. In addition, Jackson has her husband Kevin as assistant coach in his first year with the program as well. Eternity Jackson, Maya Kendall, Markayla Johnson, Paris Miller, Macy Flowers and graduate assistant Madelyne Denslow all return from last year’s team.
Jackson shared early praise of her players for adjusting to the new style of play and competitive nature.
“They’re very competitive and tough. So I think my group is working, they’re learning and they are really figuring out what our new identity is gonna be. So I think it’s looks pretty good right now,” Jackson said.
The MSU women’s basketball practice their plays, Nov. 16. (Stephanie Garcia)
The Mustangs kicked off the 2023-2024 campaign in Austin against the University of Texas in an exhibition game. Jackson was able to view some positives after the 11th-ranked Longhorns comfortably defeated the Mustangs 124-52. The Mustangs forced nine Longhorn turnovers in the 1st quarter.
“If we can play that well against that big of a school. We should be able to carry that momentum over Division 2 teams that we’ll come up against,” Jackson said.
The Mustangs were also able to score on the Longhorns defense late.
“Twenty-two points in the 4th quarter is pretty good. We starting to figure where our shots are gonna come from within our system and we’ll continue to build on that momentum and get better and have four quarters put together,” Jackson said, adding, “I mean the bright spots were that we were tough and we didn’t come out scared and we played with a lot of energy.”
Kyla Speights (13) and Eternity Jackson(1) practice passing between each other, Nov. 16. (Stephanie Garcia)
Midwestern State women’s basketball kicks off their first road trip of the season on Saturday when they face off against Southeastern Oklahoma, followed by Oklahoma Baptist on Tuesday before ending their road trip with a back-to-back in San Angelo against Tampa next Friday and Missouri Southern. The team returns to D.L Ligon coliseum to begin conference play next Saturday.
