Oct. 17, 2009

Photo Gallery | | Preseason Media Day Quotes

WACO, Texas - Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey welcomed six newcomers and eight returnees to the floor on Friday night when the Lady Bears began their first practice of the season in the Ferrell Center.

An estimated crowd of 1,000, mainly comprised of the Tip Off Club, was on hand to watch to view the 2009-10 squad go through its paces.

Baylor returns one starter and eight letterwinners from its 2009 NCAA Sweet 16 team which finished the season 29-6 last year. Junior point guard Kelli Griffin is the program's lone returning starter with 26 starts last season but senior forward Morghan Medlock (5), junior guard Melissa Jones (10) and sophomore post Ashley Field (7) saw considerable court time in 2008-09, combining for 48 starts on the year.

Five newcomers, who comprised the nation's No. 1-rated recruiting class, will don the green and gold for the first time this season - Mariah Chandler, Brittney Griner, Kimetria Hayden, Jordan Madden and Shanay Washington. This group brings talent and excitement to the court but will have to adjust to the collegiate game.

With six newcomers, who include the five freshmen and Rutgers transfer Brooklyn Pope, instruction takes up a large part of practice. "We are teaching all phases of the game. We are teaching defense, offense, inbounds, terminology--we are teaching everything. It has been a long time since we have had this much youth. I don't know that I really like practices that go over two hours but it is necessary as long as they are listening, understanding and learning," said Mulkey who begins her 10th season at the program's helm.

Despite a roster that features nine underclassmen, the Lady Bears have already seen recognition come their way. They are ranked among the top 10 in three preseason national polls, 6-8 post Brittney Griner, the nation's top recruit, was named Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches and the Lady Bears were picked by the Big 12 coaches to win the regular season.