Basketball fans of Memphis, if you love teams that fight to buzzer, the LeMoyne-Owen Lady Magicians have a message fo you: Don’t sleep on them.
“We play an exciting brand of basketball, so you will not be disappointed,” said head coach Anthony Partee. “We like to play fast, get out and transition, score a lot of points and have amazing defense.
“So if you’re a real basketball fan, this is the place to be,” he added.
Partee, a Chicago native, is in his sixth year at LeMoyne-Owen. He has implemented a different strategy for success on the court.
“We are focusing on building character, developing a whole person through team bonding,” Partee said. “That energy will spill over on the court.”
The team is coming off a successful 2018- 2019 season, finishing second in the SIAC Western Division with a conference record of 11-6. Last year, the Lady Magicians had key wins against Tuskegee University, Kentucky State University and Central State University.
“We are ready for this and that means anyone who comes our way,” said junior guard Lamontazia Blair, of Nashville.
The team consists of diverse talent, including Tya Freeman, a freshman from Orlando who is eager to get the season started.
“I’m bringing heart, my talent, and 100 percent effort to the table,” she said. “College basketball is a higher level but I’m making the adjustment from high school. You just have to pick it up and get in there.”
Freeman made her decision to come to the Bluff City for a couple of reasons.
“I have family here, plus I like the school environment since it’s so tight-knit,” Freeman said.
Blair knows other college teams are getting headlines in Memphis, but she urges Memphis to get behind the only Historically Black College in town.
“They should come out and support because we are looking to do big things this season and put Memphis on the map,” Blair said.
The Lemoyne-Owen Lady Magicians play their first official game on Saturday, Oct. 26. Against Blue Mountain College at the Bruce Johnson Hall at 5:30 p.m.
