Lee Lady Flames Making Splash as Full Fledged Division Two Team

    Leaving the NAIA ranks for Division two had some risks, but Lady Flames coach Marty Rowe says the risk was worth taking. 

Said Rowe-"To go out and have to explain what NAIA means to recruits. You don’t have to do that with the NCAA logo. There’s instant respect with the logo, and so it has helped us with recruiting."

    After a three year transition period, Lee was finally eligible to compete for post-season play this year.

Said guard Erin Walsh-"The school has ‘This Year It Counts’ as a slogan for transitioning into D-two."

    And the Lady Flames are making it count. 

They’re currently tied for third in the Gulf South Conference, just one game out of first. But Coach Rowe admits winning a D-two league title will be tough.

Said Rowe-"What ends up happening is your middle teams in the conference and the teams at the end are good enough to beat you. That’s not always the case in NAIA. We had to adjust to it. The physicality is different too. You’re playing against night-in and night-out better athletes, who are bigger, stronger, and tougher."

Said Walsh-"I think all-around we have a bunch of good, three-point shooters, but then also, our post players do well. I think when we play well on the defensive end, then that’s when we do best."

    While winning in Division two will be harder, the Flames are embracing the challenge.

Said guard Haris Price-"I think everybody here at Lee works hard. That’s just part of what we do. We work hard every day, and we just come to work."

Reporter-"Just the fact this program is Division two now."

Said Rowe-"Well, I think it’s something the school is proud of.  If the school is proud of it, and we’re proud of it, I hope the community is too."