By Jim O'Hara
 
ROME, Ga. – There's nothing better than bringing a win streak into the first conference game of the season, one that will be the program's first as a full league member.

The Shorter Lady Hawks, however, won't be the only team bringing those traits to the floor at the Winthrop-King Centre on Thursday when they tip off their Gulf South Conference campaign at 6 p.m. getting an immediate test by facing the Union Lady Bulldogs, who also makes its conference debut boasting an even longer victory streak and fresh from knocking off the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division II team.

"We are excited about the win streak," said Shorter head coach Vic Mitchell, who has seen his team shake off a pair of losses in its first two outings of the season by sweeping its last four games to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 4-2 record. 

"We also know that things are about to get a little more difficult," he added about the rugged GSC road ahead, "with not only the quality of competition but playing against teams that all know each other pretty well."

"It is a very good conference from top to bottom with no nights off anywhere on the schedule.  We have a tremendous challenge to start conference play against arguably the hottest team in the conference."

Union underscored Mitchell's thoughts last weekend in a huge way when the Lady Bulldogs, off to a 4-0 start and riding a 11-game win streak that dates back to the final three weeks of last season, upset of No. 1 ranked Nova Southeastern on Nova's home court last Saturday, 83-78.

Picked to finish second in the GSC coaches' preseason poll, Union's offensive attack is a powerful and balanced one. Averaging 85 points a game, the Lady Bulldogs have a triple threat in their lineup as Kelsey Risner leads the team averaging 20 points an outing, Amy Philamlee contributes 19 points a game and DeAnna Thompson has chipped in an average of 18 points.

Yet Shorter, despite battling injuries, has found the right chemistry to put together the consecutive win streak, a mix that has both veterans and newcomers on the same game-plan page.

The Lady Hawks' most recent win, a 71-62 victory over Point last Saturday, bore witness to that as senior guard Ieshia Alexander – she leads the team averaging 17 points and four assists – paced Shorter with a game-high 18 points, while senior Lindsey Crawford chipped in a season-high 14 points as she slowly regains the form she had two years ago before a knee injury sidelined her last season.

Joining the seasoned pair in claiming the decision was freshman forward Jackie Hudson, who held her own in the paint where she pulled down 10 rebounds, while another first-year player, freshman guard Cynara Pitt, has opened her inaugural season as a Lady Hawks averaging 10.2 points a game.

"Our team has had to battle early injuries that has knocked out a couple of starters," Mitchell said, noting the absence of Taylor Adams (broken arm) and Maggie Peeples (broken nose)," but we have had good leadership from (Alexander and Crawford) as well as good contributions from our bench. It has been imperative for everyone to be ready, and so far, everyone has accepted the challenge and stepped up."

Especially from here on out as the Lady Hawks start their GSC quest.

After hosting Union in the league opener, Shorter remains at home on Saturday for a 2 p.m. conference matchup against Christian Brothers, who have a 2-3 slate heading into their first GSC game of the season Thursday night at Lee.

The Lady Hawks then embark for a pair of conference road games at West Florida on Dec. 11 and at Valdosta State on Dec. 15, then are back at WKC to close out the 2014 segment of their schedule playing Alabama-Huntsville on Dec. 18 and North Alabama on Dec. 20.

"It's a long 22 game conference stretch coming up," Mitchell said, "and the teams that can handle injuries and take care of their home court will end up being on top come March.  We look forward to getting started on Thursday night."