Gardner pleased with opening practice for Lady'Backs

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Lady Razorback basketball team opened the 2004-05 season with a pair of practices at Bud Walton Arena, and second-year head coach Susie Gardner was pleased with the first day on the floor. Returning four starters from a 16-12 team and welcoming six newcomers to the roster of 14 players, Arkansas went through an early defense-oriented practice in the morning, followed by another two-hour session in the afternoon. After the opening practice, Gardner said she was very pleased with the start of her second season. “It was a great first practice,” Gardner said. “We had a lot of intensity and a lot of focus on our new defensive drills.” Gardner indicated in her preseason press conference this week that the team would run more this year, and that defense would be a priority in the early practice sessons. One of the best parts of today’s first practice was having players experienced in Gardner’s style. “We had our veterans stepping up and helping out the new players in drills,” Gardner said. The Lady’Backs plan a four-hour single practice on Sunday before moving into their 1 p.m. regular practice time at Walton Arena on Monday. The first event for the team is Oct. 28 as Gardner and her staff host a Red-White Game at Walton Arena. Tickets for the 2004-05 season are now on sale through the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 877-LADYBACK or 479-57-LBACK, and on the internet at LADYBACKS.COM.