Lady Frogs to play Oklahoma Flyers
The injury depleted Lady Frogs expect to welcome back some teammates in the last exhibition game of the season.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

The last time the Lady Frogs stepped on the court was Nov. 10, when the team easily ran away from RTU-Klondaika in a 95-59 exhibition win.

However, head coach Jeff Mittie warned that the team’s 7 p.m. matchup tonight with the Oklahoma Flyers at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum will not be as easy.

Judging by the traveling squad’s recent performances, Mittie seems to be correct.

The Flyers stayed with Southwest Missouri State on Nov. 2, before eventually bowing out 76-72. Then on Nov. 10, they defeated Arkansas-Little Rock 69-59.

One thing that should help the Lady Frogs is the expected return of two, possibly three players, to the lineup.

The team used nine of the 10 available players in its last exhibition win. True freshman forward Ashley Davis was held out, because the staff is deciding whether or not to redshirt her.

Mittie said that junior forward Tiffany Evans and sophomore forward Niki Newton should play. Senior forward Grace Gantt is questionable, but could receive time on the floor.

“I think getting just 10 minutes for some of them will help, to get that first game out of the way,” Mittie said. “We’re certainly not where we need to be with continuity, but it will certainly get us a step closer.”

While the players know the Flyers will give them a game, Mittie said that with any exhibition, the Lady Frogs are looking to work on the little things.

“I think you want to win anytime you step on the floor, but I think you want to also have some challenges,” Mittie said. “Winning the (exhibition) games is not the most important thing, I think doing things that will make your team better in the long run is the most important thing.”

Junior guard Ebony Shaw said the exhibition helps the team build up for its schedule ahead.

“You can go in and work on some things that you probably would normally just do in between the games,” Shaw said. “We switch defenses and things like that, to see what we can do against different teams.”

Mittie was clear in what he wanted to see against the Flyers: “I’d like to see us continue take care of the ball, I’d like to see us push the basketball, and change ends of the floor offensively and defensively much quicker.”

Danny Gillham