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In 2003, LSUS added women’s basketball back to the Athletics Department after shutting the program down in 1997 due to a lack of funds necessary to operate a successful program.
On November 11, 2003, the Lady Pilots, led by head coach Ronnie Howell took the floor for the first time in half of a decade, as Lady Pilots basketball was officially back at LSUS. One week later, the Lady Pilots recorded their first win of the season (82-64) in the home opener versus Texas College. Strapped with mostly underclassmen, the Lady Pilots struggled to just eight wins over the 2003-04 season. However, one of the lone bright spots, freshman Renalda Stafford was named to the All-Conference team.
The 2004-05 season began with promise, as LSUS returned its’ top five scorers off of the 2003-04 squad, including Stafford, an All-GCAC Preseason selection. The Lady Pilots improved on their win total from the season before, totaling 13 wins on the year. The Lady Pilots also picked up their first-ever postseason tournament win in 2005, as they defeated Tougaloo College, 57-52, in the first round of the GCAC Tournament. Following the season, Stafford was once again named to the All-GCAC team for the second consecutive year.
In 2005-06, the Lady Pilots began the season winning eight out of their first ten games and found themselves ranked in the NAIA Top 30 for the first time in school history. The Lady Pilots posted an 8-3 mark at home in ’05-’06, but struggled in GCAC play, finishing the season with a 13-12 overall record, the highest single-season winning percentage in program history. LSUS guard Jessica Kelly, a junior transfer from Southern Arkansas, was named the GCAC Newcomer of the Year in 2006 after scoring nearly 16 points per game to lead the Lady Pilots.
The 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons for the Lady Pilots were basically mirror images of each other. The up-and-down years for the Lady Pilots resulted in two 13-win seasons, but also provided a lot of excitement for the future of LSUS basketball. Edie Leonards was named the 2007 GCAC Newcomer of the Year and recorded the first-ever triple-double in LSUS basketball history. The Lady Pilots also continued to stockpile their roster with young talent, giving promise to the upcoming seasons for the program.
The 2008-2009 was a record setting year as the Lady Pilots set a school record for most wins in a season with 27. The Lady Pilots finished the year 27-6 and 15-3 in the GCAC and a 2nd place finish in the regular season and the GCAC Conference Tournament. The Lady Pilots record setting year also included a 14-game winning streak and winning 16 out of their first 17 games. The Lady Pilots clinched their National Tournament appearance by winning the semi-finals of the conference tournament but unfortunately had a tough draw in Jackson, Tennessee, Oklahoma Baptist University, the 4th ranked team in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Head Coach Ronnie Howell received the Coach of the Year Award on the 2009 All-Louisiana Women’s Basketball Team. Valerie Huizar was named to the All GCAC, GCAC New Comer of the Year, NAIA 3rd Team, and also was a member of the All Louisiana 3rd Team. In addition to these awards Huizar led the Lady Pilots in scoring, shooting 34% averaging 11.7 P/G and led the team in assists with 171. Whitney Hollins and Janai Sells were named to the All GCAC Team. Sells led the team in rebounding with 203 (7.52 R/G). Tish Flowers also had a big year leading the Lady Pilots in steals (58) and blocks (22).
The Lady Pilots play all of their home games at the “The Dock,” which is located on the east side of the LSUS campus.
LSUS competes in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
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