Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

St. Mary's University Athletics

Official Athletics Site of St. Mary's University

Scoreboard

Jason Martens
Antonio Morano Photography
The Rattlers open their season against Angelo State at Noon Friday at the Tarleton Classic. (File Photo)

Women's Basketball RattlerAthletics.com

Women's hoops ready for season start at Tarleton Classic

By Robin Johnson | St. Mary's Athletics Communications 

SAN ANTONIO — The wait is nearly over for Rattler fans and the Heartland Conference to see what St. Mary's Women's Basketball's head coach Jason Martens and his Rattlers will do this year.
 
St. Mary's opens its season at the Tarleton Classic, facing Angelo State at Noon in Stephenville, Texas for its first game on the season.
 
Martens and the Rattlers have had ascending success over the past three seasons that hopes to build again this season.
 
Through it all, now senior Morgan Pullins (Franklin, Mich.) has been instrumental in the Rattlers' success as she is striving for her second Heartland Conference Championship title and third straight regional appearance in her tenure while individually she hopes for her fourth straight All-Conference selection.
 
As a freshman, Pullins was named the Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year en route to seeing the Rattlers earn a No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The Rattlers were eliminated in the first round of Pullins' freshman year, going on to take sweet vengeance by winning the title the very next season.
 
Last season, backed by Pullins' third All-Conference Second Team selection on her career that saw a career-high 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest, the Rattlers made a statement in program history, becoming just the second team to advance to the Round of 32 that gave Martens his first regional win as head coach.
 
Now in her final season, Pullins and the Rattlers will be bidding to go even further this season.
 
The Rattlers' potential is apparent in the league as they were ranked No. 2 in this season's conference preseason poll under provisional conference member Lubbock Christian which last year went 25-1, ending the season on a 23-game winning streak.
 
But Pullins isn't the Rattlers' only weapon by far.
 
Fellow seniors Kyra Littlejohn (Southfield, Mich.) and Danielle Vargas (Edinburg, Texas) complete the Rattlers' strong senior class. Both Littlejohn and Vargas have seen tremendous improvement from their first season and are expected to be at their prime in their final year.
 
Also returning are the star-studded Dezirae Elias (Jr., Chandler, Ariz.) and Kiara Etheridge (So., San Antonio), who both saw stellar seasons last year.
 
Elias stepped up big as the Rattlers' main point last season, averaging 10.7 points and 3.9 assists per game while leading the conference in steals.
 
Etheridge quickly became an asset for the Rattlers last season, setting the program's single-game record for rebounds (20) and leading the Rattlers with 8.5 rebounds per contest.
 
Injury-ridden in their first seasons as Rattlers, Emily Troell (Jr., Destin, Fla.) and Julia Ewalefo (RS-So., Las Vegas) are expected for strong returns.
 
In addition to a strong returning core, the Rattlers have added a promising recruiting class including Kealani Marquez (Fr., San Antonio), Sierra LaGrande (Fr., Southfield, Mich.), Carlie Akina (Fr., El Paso, Texas) and Jade Brady (Fr., Cibolo, Texas).
 
The Rattlers have also picked up teammate transfers from Our Lady of the Lake Ciaira Briseno (So., McAllen, Texas) and Briana Bustamante (So., San Antonio).
 
The Rattlers will look to put it all together in bidding for Martens' sixth season with 20 or more wins and his third straight South Central Regional Tournament.
 
StMU will get its first look at their season at Noon Friday against Angelo State in Stephenville, Texas at the Tarleton Classic. 


 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Dezirae Elias

#3 Dezirae Elias

G
5' 3"
Junior
Kiara Etheridge

#13 Kiara Etheridge

G/F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Julia Ewalefo

#25 Julia Ewalefo

F
6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
Kyra Littlejohn

#20 Kyra Littlejohn

G
5' 6"
Senior
Morgan Pullins

#24 Morgan Pullins

F
6' 0"
Senior
Emily Troell

#11 Emily Troell

G/F
5' 11"
Junior
Danielle Vargas

#21 Danielle Vargas

G
5' 5"
Senior
Carlie Akina

#23 Carlie Akina

F
6' 0"
Freshman
Jade Brady

#44 Jade Brady

G
5' 8"
Freshman
Kealani Marquez

#5 Kealani Marquez

G
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Dezirae Elias

#3 Dezirae Elias

5' 3"
Junior
G
Kiara Etheridge

#13 Kiara Etheridge

5' 11"
Sophomore
G/F
Julia Ewalefo

#25 Julia Ewalefo

6' 0"
Redshirt Sophomore
F
Kyra Littlejohn

#20 Kyra Littlejohn

5' 6"
Senior
G
Morgan Pullins

#24 Morgan Pullins

6' 0"
Senior
F
Emily Troell

#11 Emily Troell

5' 11"
Junior
G/F
Danielle Vargas

#21 Danielle Vargas

5' 5"
Senior
G
Carlie Akina

#23 Carlie Akina

6' 0"
Freshman
F
Jade Brady

#44 Jade Brady

5' 8"
Freshman
G
Kealani Marquez

#5 Kealani Marquez

5' 9"
Freshman
G

Sponsors