With the amount of depth in the LSC this year, finishing conference play with a 13-1 record is tough enough.         

      But doing it without a host of star players is another thing.

      The Tarleton State women’s team definitely prides itself with consistent balance from top to bottom, with only one leading scorer. But that leading scorer - junior Shelby Adamson might be testing that theory here in Bartlesville at the LSC Championships.

      If Wednesday’s quarterfinal game in which Tarleton edged out Southeastern Oklahoma State is any indication, Adamson plays the role of superstar quite well.

      The junior from Rockwall, Texas led all scorers with 19 points in a 63-61 win over the Savage Storm. Adamson hit 11 of 12 free-throw attempts and also added four rebounds.

      It’s not always scoring for Adamson, who finished the season ninth in the LSC in scoring at 16.0 points per game. But it’s her all-around game that not only led the TexAnns to a South Division championship, but has TSU in position to contend for a tournament title in Bartlesville.

       In her 85 career games, Adamson has started every one of them. That alone makes her a leader on a team she considers to be full of leadership.

      “It’s a huge honor to be considered a leader on this team,” Adamson said. “Every girl on this team has that ability to be a leader and that’s what makes our team so special. There are a lot of girls that lead this team in different ways. Each one of us take a lot of pride in it. It’s fun to lead a team like this one when we’re expected to go so far.”

      It’s pretty clear what TSU head coach Ronnie Hearne thinks about Adamson’s game.

      “Shelby is just a special player who loves to compete,” Hearne said earlier this year. “She’s the best I’ve ever seen at taking the ball and driving to the basket.”

      While her own coach has nothing but love and respect for Adamson, that wasn’t exactly the case for the rest of the LSC coaches when it came down to individual awards, not only was Adamson left out for either LSC South Offensive or Defensive Player of the Year, but none of the TexAnns were honored.

      “Considering that we went 13-1 in conference and didn’t get a single superlative award, it just goes to show that we’re a team,” Adamson said. “We don’t have a single standout on our team. We win every game as a team, we lose our games as a team. It’s all about Tarleton as a whole. Although we might have been a little surprised, I would say it’s done nothing but motivate us.”

      And nothing would excite the TexAnns more than to have the last laugh, which would include cutting down the nets on Saturday night in the LSC Championship final. 

      “It’s all about our team,” Adamson said. “I would easily sacrifice an individual award for our team.”