In his third year with the Nicholls State Lady Colonel basketball team, Head Coach Mark Cook said he hopes to improve his team’s record of 4-23 from a year ago and make it back to the conference tournament for the first time since 2003. There will be a much different feel conference-wise with the additions of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Central Arkansas to the roster of teams, along with divisional play among the distinct changes in the Southland Conference this season.

“The first goal our players have set for themselves is to play well enough to win our division,” Cook said. “Instead of focusing on winning the regular season title, we want to focus on what we need to do in our division and go from there.”

The Colonels will compete in the east division along with the three state schools, Southeastern University, Northwestern St., McNeese St., Lamar and conference newcomer, Central Arkansas.

“One of the good things about playing in the east is that we get to play the teams that are not only close but are at the same level we are competition wise,” he said. “We’ll be able to recover much quicker as we won’t be on the road so much.”

Before the conference schedule starts Jan. 4 at home against Stephen F. Austin, the Lady Colonels will face teams such as Arizona and 11th ranked Arizona State, Indiana and 22nd ranked St. John’s, with only two games at home against New Orleans and Tennessee St.

“I think we did a good job of balancing out our schedule with teams that will make us better and can give us some wins early in the season,” Cook said.

This year’s squad boasts only two seniors, guards Claire Barry and second team all-conference selection Jamie Octave.

Barry played in all 27 games for the Lady Colonels last season and started in 18, averaging 7.1 points per game and 2.2 rebounds, along with shooting 80 percent from the free throw line.

Octave, a third team all-conference player at the end of last season, led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg.

“Now that both Jamie and Claire are seniors, they have both taken on the role of teaching the younger players what it takes to win in this league,” Cook said. “As coaches we do what we can to motivate the players, but sometimes it takes the veterans for it to resonate.”

With only the top four teams in each division making it to the tournament this year, Cook said playing the late games of the season against the east teams is where his team needs to be at its strongest.

“Even if you don’t do as well during the stretch runs against the Texas teams, you can make up most of that ground later in the season,” Cook said. “We want to be playing our best basketball when the conference starts, but especially towards the end of the year.