Women’s Basketball Back On The Court Monday Afternoon At Stephen F. Austin

• Texas Southern women’s basketball is back in action for the first time since Dec. 5 as they’ll head northeast to face off against Stephen F. Austin on Monday afternoon.

• Third-year head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is back on the TSU sidelines for the second straight season. She led TSU to the SWAC Regular Season Championship for the first time in school history in 2012-13 in addition to a second-place finish last season. The team made it to the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed but the season was cut short due to COVID-19.

• Head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is 36-39 all-time in the month of December and 5-6 at TSU.

• Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is 1-1 all-time against SFA while serving as head coach at Prairie View A&M as she played them during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns.

• Texas Southern women’s basketball was picked to finish second in the annual Southwestern Athletic Conference poll while the duo of Niya Mitchell and Ataiya Bridges earned preseason All-SWAC honors as the league announced its annual preseason poll and all-conference teams. Mitchell will be tasked with leading TSU as the Bay City, Texas native had a career season with 16.1 points and 11.8 rebounds while recording 17 double-doubles. The Preseason All-SWAC First Teamer also ranked sixth nationally in rebounding (5th offensive rebounding) and 14th in steals. Mitchell shot 60 percent from the field as she shot 50 percent or better in 23 games. Senior guard Ataiya Bridges also returns and will have an expanded role after averaging 12.9 points and 2.8 rebounds off the bench as the Lanett, Ala. native earned second team All-SWAC honors and after her first season at TSU.

• SFA is off to a hot start as the Ladyjacks enter Monday’s game with a 7-2 record. SFA is coming off a an 85-43 win over UT-Tyler Saturday afternoon.

• TSU returns eight letterwinners and adds four newcomers in 2020-21. However, TSU has to replace four starters as only Niya Mitchell returns.