WASHINGTON, D.C --- The Women's Softball team enters the 2016 season looking to capitalize off of a successful season last year that consisted of a breakout player in Al'Asia Davis and a trip to the MEAC Tournament since 2011. The Bison finished last season with an overall record of 14-29 and 8-10 in conference play.

Head coach Lauren McCoy sees this season as an opportunity for the team to raise the bar and win the MEAC conference.

"We've added some players to our roster that I believe who are going to be huge in helping us turn that corner such as true freshman Alannah Baiyina and redshirt freshman Tiyanna Stewart." 

McCoy will lean heavily on her seniors to lead this team not only on the field but off it as well. "It's all about legacy, we focus in on the impression they want to leave on the program and how are they going to contribute to the foundation of Howard Softball."

Al'Asia Davis and Jasmine Gammons are two seniors who McCoy relies on to lead the team. In 2015, Davis lead the team in batting average (.449), on-base percentage (.548), and hits (57) while Gammons lead the team in home runs (4) and runs batted in (32). "I think our strongest attribute is our experience, all of the high points and low points we've had over the years will come into play this season." 

Though McCoy has 6 seniors leaving her after this season, she's seen improvement over the past few years in her players developing the trust and camaraderie it takes to become a winning program. "I've enjoyed the players bonding as a team, becoming a family, that was really the most important thing to me." 

Coming from a one conference win season in 2013, McCoy states that the team is "determined" in describing the mentality going into this season. "We're determined to show people what we are truly capable of." 

The Lady Bison begin their season on the road heading down to Alabama State for a tournament starting on February 26th.