January 19, 2006
Former Texas A&M women?â„¢s basketball players and coaches will reunite this weekend as part of a two day event surrounding the team?â„¢s Big 12 Conference game with Missouri on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Reed Arena.
?They are the backbone of our program for what they?â„¢ve accomplished for Texas A&M over the past 30 years,? A&M coach Gary Blair said. ?There are a lot of success stories out there in the every day lives of these ladies. We want our current players and coaches to hear those stories and learn from them. At the same time, we want the former players and coaches to know they are needed and welcome in this program.?
Players from nearly every season will be in attendance and they will be joined by the winningest coach in school history Lynn Hickey who was at the helm from 1984-94.
Hickey led the Aggies to their only NCAA Sweet 16 appearances to date in 1994. She tallied a 154-128 record at A&M. She is now the Athletic Director at Texas-San Antonio.
Hickey will be joined by two of her longtime assistant coaches Cathy McDonald and Eileen Feeney.
Some of the former players that are scheduled to attend are Trigg Crawford Bracewell, Prissy Sharpe Fricke, Wendy Jennings Hines, Lisa Langston, Martha McClelland, Beth Burket McIntrye, LaToya Rose, Dena Russo, Marianne Sevin, Susan Kimbro Sides, Angel Spinks, Traci Thomas, and Amy Yates.
The players and coaches will participate in a reception on Friday night before attending several team activities leading to the game. The entire group will be introduced at halftime.
?As we get older, some of us tend to live in the past,? Blair said. ?You can relish the past, but I want them to know that this coaching staff and team are here for them because we are all a part of the Aggie Network.?
Blair said he likes to hold reunions like this at least every three years.
Tickets for the game can be purchased at AggieAthletics.com or via the Athletic Ticket Office at 979-845-2311.
The Aggies hold a 12-game home winning streak and are tied for the most wins overall in the Big 12 at 14. A&M is 14-4 overall and 3-2 in the league. Missouri enters the game with a 14-3 record and 4-1 showing in the Big 12.