AAC Preview: Get to Know the Players and Coaches Who Will Lead the League This Season
Last Go Around for SMU Seniors Means Hard Work and a Keen Sense of Urgency
Discussion about SMU’s team starts with Alicia Froling, a senior post player who was the only AAC player last season to average a double-double. This season she is on the AAC preseason 2nd team. “Alicia is the type of player that practices as hard as she plays,”said SMU Head Coach Travis Mays. “She is a young lady that hates to take reps off. She does not even like to be subbed out in practice let alone games. She comes to work like a professional. You can always expect her to work extremely hard.”
Six of SMU’s 12 players are seniors. “We have a lot of experience coming back. I think the seniors understand what my expectations are as a coach and have a sense of urgency knowing this is their last go around. Hopefully that will spark us not taking any game, any possession anything for granted and propel us to a positive result to the season,” Mays said.
Mays says his freshman have been playing extremely well in practice. “Johnasia Cash and Ariana Whitfield have created a little separation in the mix of things but when the lights come on, freshman will be freshman.”
Players to Watch
Alicia Froling — Post, Senior, All-AAC preseason 2nd team, 1st in league rebounding, 13th in scoring, 4th in field goal percentage, 3rd in blocked shots, 1st in defensive rebounding last season
Kiarra Perry — Guard, Senior, started all 34 games last season, 3rd on the team with 7.3 points per game, shooting 37.8 percent from the field
Stephanie Collins — Forward, Senior, played in 31 games with 19 starts, averaging 17.5 minutes…Shot a team-high 52.0 percent from the field
First Regular Season Game: November 10 versus Nicholls