Drury women ready to defend Heartland Conference title

The Drury Lady Panthers, who finished 20-6 last season, are back and ready to defend their title as champions of the Heartland Conference.

The conference, which is only a year old, is comprised of three teams from Missouri and three from Texas. "The teams are ones that had been independent or were looking for a conference," coach Nyla Milleson said. "We're hoping to add others to it."

According to Milleson, the Lady Panthers' biggest rivals this year are the University of the Incarnate Word out of San Antonio, Texas, and Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

"Incarnate Word is a rival because they're the most improved team in the Heartland Conference," she said. "Rock-hurst is another rival simply because they're in the state."

While the starting five isn't set in stone yet, Milleson said Stacy West and Jill Curry are definitely two of the starters. West is a 6-foot-1 senior forward from Cross Timbers. Curry is a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward from Jefferson City. She's also been named the pre-season Conference Player of the Year and is a pre-season Honorable Mention All-American.

Curry was a first team all-conference pick, averaging 12.3 points per game. She played in 21 games and started 12, shooting 56.3 percent from the floor for the season.

Callie Newton, a sophomore from Republic, will have plenty of opportunity to play this year, according to Mil-leson. Newton was unable to play last year due to a knee injury.

Other team members include Sara Stratton, a sophomore from Springfield; Carrie Colwell, junior from Springfield; Briana Fields, sophomore from Colum-bia; Hope Hunt, sophomore from Nixa; Kim Lenahan, senior from Springfield; Magen Brunson, sophomore from Re-public; Courtney Brent, sophomore from Nixa; Lauren Holtkamp, junior from Jefferson City; and Katie Handley, senior from Springfield.

This year's season starts Nov. 16 when the Lady Panthers go up against Fort Hays State University in the Central Missouri State University Tip-Off Tour-nament in Warrensburg.

"I think we have a great chance of winning the Heartland Conference again this year," Milleson said. "I hope the team will continue to get better. The key is to stay healthy."

Milleson moved to Springfield seven years ago to take the position of girls' coach at Glendale High School. Prior to that she was a high school coach in Junction City, Kan. She made the move to Drury two years ago and spent her first year recruiting and putting the women's basketball program together.

Milleson said she enjoys coaching at Drury. "It's a great place to be," she said. "We can attract a high quality of athlete to this school. I enjoy coaching at the college level. The media and the community have been very supportive."

Milleson said she doesn't begrudge any attention the Lady Bears at South-west Missouri State University have received because of star players like Jackie Stiles.

"We benefit from the publicity and success of the Lady Bears," she said. "It draws attention to the sport in general. It has a trickle down effect. When girls watch Jackie and become interested in playing basketball, it has a positive effect on the sport."