McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

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Freshman Dorothy Briscoe’s ex- pression of tiredness was represen- tative of the entire team during the 1984-85 season. With only eight girls on the roster many played the full 40 - minutes. (Photo by G. Little) ‘ om ie aes : Pee igor pe : A 5 IE see AI Me Playing in all twenty-eight games during the season, starter Cathy Griffen pumps in two against the Buc-Kettes of UNO. (Photo by G. Lit- tle) Six-foot junior college transfer, Don- na Barrett, obtains good inside posi- tion against a Lamar Cardinal for a short jump shot. (Photo by T. Mari- cle) Basketball 135

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With only one returning starter and and inexperienced squad, the 1985 team did their best in There were many new be- ginnings for the McNeese Cowgirls prior to the 1984-85 basketball season. First came the hiring of a new coach. Early in August Mike Fountain from Hardin-Jef- ferson High School in Sour Lake, TX, was named. A 12-year veteran of the prep ranks, Fountain’s task was to build and mold the Cowgirl program back to con- tender status. There were obstacles to overcome: the departure of four starters from the previous year, and the lack of opportu- nities for recruiting. What seemed an impossible task was turned into a rallying point. Each member of the Squad was determined to make 1984-85 a successful season. “No one was giving us a chance for a good season,”’ Fountain said. ‘‘They said we 134 Sports had lost too much the previous year to do anything. Our girls took that as a challenge to prove everybody wrong. There was only one return- ing starter, but she was a good One around which to build the foundation. Pam Booker, a ju- nior from Beaumont, TX, was the team’s second leading scorer a year ago with a 13.0 average. She was considered a scoring machine, lacking only in playing experience. Fountain sent 6-0 junior col- lege transfer Donna Berrett into the middle with freshmen, Kim Turner (6-0) at forward and Dorothy Briscoe (5-6) at point guard. The fifth starter, junior Cathy Griffen (5-10), came back after a year’s layoff from knee sur- gery. Those five formed the nucle- us for the season. Bench strength came from guards Pam LaFosse and Lucretia Simpson and inside help froin Kris LeDoux (5-10) and Keri Weston (6-1). What awaited the Cowgirls was a 28-game slate including nationally-ranked South Ala- bama and Northeast Louisi- ana. (The latter would climb to No. 2 in the national rankings by season's end.) ‘It's going to take us time to develop as a team since none of the five have played togeth- er before,’’ Fountain said. ‘‘We also have to worry about our depth because we are thin at every position.” Fountain’s concern over depth became a reality when LeDoux went down with a knee injury the fourth game of the season, and was out for the remainder of the year. The Cowgirls played the re- mainder of the season with just eight players on the roster. Before it ended McNeese continued

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After knee surgery and a year’s lay- off, junior Cathy Griffen still has what it takes as she gets the re- bound against the Cardinals of La- mar. (Photo by T. Maricle) Front row, left to right: Cathy Huey, Coach Mike Raissa Prince. Back row: Donna Barrett, Jenniff Fountain, Assistant Coach Ann Robique. Second row: Cormier, Keri Weston, Kris LeDoux, Kim Turner, Pi) Cathy Griffen, Cathy Deshotel, Cathy Thurmon, Booker. (Photo by G. Little) BY | Lucrecia Simpson, Dorothy Briscoe, Pam Lafosse, : a | q 136 Sports