Around Campus

Countdown to the Texas Women's Basketball Season:
The Seniors on Leadership

(l to r) Coco Reed, Nina Norman, Tamra Cobbins, and
Daria Mieloszynska are the four seniors expected to lead
Jody Conradt’s squad to national prominence.

As practice begins for their final season, it is up to the four Texas women’s basketball seniors to lead the team on and off the court. Though their experiences range from one to four years in the Longhorn program, these four senior guards - Tamra Cobbins, Daria Mieloszynska, Nina Norman and Coco Reed - are ready to make up for the loss of six key players, three of them starters who graduated from last year’s team.

The first mission of the four guards is to serve as leaders to a relatively young team with seven freshman and help the team get ready for a long, demanding season. The talent and potential are there, since this freshman class was ranked as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country entering the season.

“Because we lost [so many] seniors last year, everyone has become more responsible for the team,” notes Mieloszynska. “[The youthfulness of our team] is a good thing because there is a new positive energy and attitude, and everyone is excited. But, because it is such a young team, we seniors have to really step up and lead.”

Reed, a fifth year senior who took a medical redshirt her true freshman year, understands her role as the most experienced senior.

“I’m definitely going to have to be THE leader of this team and get everybody going, day in and day out, by motivating my teammates to be the best they can be because I’ve been here longer than anyone,” says Reed. “I have more experience and I know what it takes to get the job done, so I’m going to try to give those seven newcomers the best knowledge and advice I have to offer.”

Aside from goals to win the Big 12 Conference title and national championship, the seniors also have their own plans for their final year on the Forty Acres. For some, it’s about finishing their career strong.“I want to go out this year knowing that I gave it everything that I had and leave it all out on the floor. I’m hoping to go out with a bang, while at the same time have fun, work hard, and not having any regrets when it all ends,” says Cobbins.

With an upcoming schedule that includes such powerhouses as Tennessee, Duke, Rutgers and Connecticut, and two meetings with national champion Baylor, the seniors are determined to learn from last year’s mistakes.

“We can’t turn our games on and off like last year,” notes Norman. “We played really hard at some points, and then we didn’t play hard at other times when we didn’t push ourselves. That’s the lesson I want to pass down. If we are going to be successful, we have to always play like we want it.”

Cobbins, Norman and Reed are the only players left from the Longhorns team that made a run to the 2003 NCAA Final Four semifinals; that accomplishment took place their freshman year.

“Once you win a championship and have experienced much success, it’s in your blood,” says Cobbins. “We’re hungry for another Big 12 title and making a deep run into the NCAA Tournament.”

For the full 2005-05 Texas women’s basketball schedule and special game promotions, go to TexasSports.com. For ticket information, to TexasBoxOffice.com or call 1-512-471-3333.