April 28, 2009

In two seasons on the court, Nikki Williams made a lasting impression on the Lamar University women's basketball record book with her individual stats. Likewise, she did everything in her power to help the Lady Cardinals win games as they recorded 19 and 20 win seasons while also producing a Southland Conference East Division title and a first ever appearance in the SLC tournament championship game.

For her outstanding efforts, Williams and fellow seniors Emily Spickler and Agnija Reke will be honored guests at the Women's Basketball banquet on Wednesday night, April 29th.

"Nikki Williams was one of the best players in the Southland Conference for two consecutive years, and the SLC is a great league," said head coach Larry Tidwell, "Nikki could hit the trey, take you off the dribble, rebound, defend, and had great court awareness. She is the total package and did everything with a first class attitude. She will be missed as she also served as our spiritual leader while being a captain in both of her years representing the Red & White."

Williams was the driving force for the success for the Lady Cards, leading the team in scoring, assists, steals, three point field goals made, free throws made and minutes played and was one of just two players to start every game over the last two years.

This past season she led the team and was fifth in the Southland Conference in scoring at 14.3 points per game, led the team and the league with 66 steals and was the team leader with 130 assists which is the seventh best single season assist mark in school history. She was named to the Southland Conference second team and was a third team selection as a junior.

"I think I accomplished a lot over the last two years," Williams said. "I came here to play the two but ended up playing more at the point because of injuries to some of my teammates, but I think I did a good job of handling the ball and helping us as a team."

Despite having just two seasons to work with, Williams' career numbers will leave a lasting impression. She finished her career ranking third in school history in three point field goals made with 123, third in assists with 249, tied for fourth in free throw shooting percentage at 79.7 percent and ninth in steals with 134.

"Having my name in the record book is special," she said. "There are some really good players that my name is in there with, and that means a lot to me."

More important to Williams than her individual achievements was the success the Lady Cardinals had as a team during her time on the floor. The Lamar women produced 39 wins over the last two seasons, 20 of which came this season. They're just the seventh team in school history to win 20 or more games, and the first since the 1991-92 season.

"It's nice to know I was able to help us be one of the few teams in school history to win 20 games," she said. "This year we had one of the best runs in the last 15 to 20 years and I'm really proud of that. Hopefully, people will remember this team as the team that set the new standard for Lamar women's basketball."