Prairie View A&M women's basketball team among the most improved in NCAA Division I
SWAC.org
Prairie View A&M women's basketball team can boast one more honor this year. The Lady Panthers were ranked as one of the Most Improved Teams in Division I, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Under the leadership of second-year coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Prairie View A&M experienced their first-ever winning season. The Lady Panthers shared its first regular season title and went on to win the 2007 SWAC basketball tournament, another first for the program. PVAMU made school history yet again, by earning an automatic bid and representing the SWAC in the 2007 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. This is in stark contrast to 2005-06, which was Cooper-Dyke's first season. PVAMU finished 8th in the conference, with a 7-21 overall record, 6-12 in the SWAC.
Cooper-Dyke, former head coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and two-time WNBA most valuable player, was officially named the head women's basketball coach at Prairie View A&M in July 2005. She was named the 2007 SWAC Coach of the Year in women's basketball.
Several Lady Panthers also reaped post season and tournament honors. Gaati Werema was named SWAC women's basketball freshman of the year and to the all-conference first team. Junior guard Shavonne Smith earned second team All-SWAC honors. Candice Thomas, a true freshman, was named the 2007 SWAC tournament MVP and to the all-tournament team and Werema was selected to the all-tournament team. Senior guard Angel Smith's hard work in the classroom has paid off with her selection to the 2007 SWAC All-Academic basketball team.
Prairie View A&M University's women's basketball team was also recognized before the floor of the Texas House of Representatives for their outstanding 2007 winning season.The special recognition was sponsored by Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. (Houston) and held on the floor of the House of Representatives in the Texas State Capitol Building.
Prairie View A&M ranked 9th among the most improved women's basketball teams in Division I. The Lady Panthers were the only SWAC member to be represented on the list.
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Division I
|
2005-06
|
2006-07
|
|
|
|
Team
|
Won
|
Lost
|
Won
|
Lost
|
*Imp.
|
Coach
|
|
Oklahoma
State
|
6
|
22
|
20
|
11
|
12.5
|
Kurt Budke
|
|
Western Carolina
|
9
|
20
|
24
|
10
|
12.5
|
Kellie Harper
|
|
Morgan
State
|
5
|
23
|
18
|
13
|
11.5
|
Donald Beasley
|
|
San Diego
|
9
|
19
|
21
|
9
|
11.0
|
Cindy Fisher
|
|
Seton Hall
|
6
|
21
|
19
|
12
|
11.0
|
Phyllis Mangina
|
|
Jacksonville
|
10
|
18
|
21
|
9
|
10.0
|
Jill Dunn
|
|
Mississippi
State
|
6
|
22
|
18
|
14
|
10.0
|
Sharon Fanning
|
|
Niagara
|
4
|
25
|
14
|
16
|
9.5
|
Bill Agronin
|
|
Prairie View A&M
|
7
|
21
|
19
|
14
|
9.5
|
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke
|
|
Southern Illinois
|
10
|
18
|
21
|
11
|
9.0
|
Dana Eikenberg
|
|
Hampton
|
7
|
22
|
15
|
13
|
8.5
|
Walter Mebane
|
* To determine games improved, add the difference in victories between the two seasons to the
difference in losses, then divide by two. (Includes postseason)