WESSON — Excited.

That’s the first response provided by members of theCopiah-Lincoln Community College women’s basketball team when askedabout their journey to Kansas. The Co-Lin team bus departed Sundaymorning at 6, heading for Salina, Kan., location of the NJCAANational Tournament.

The Lady Wolves (28-3), ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA poll, meet No.12 Jefferson (Mo.) Tuesday night at 8:15 in the BicentennialCenter. It will be the sixth of 8 opening round games in thedouble-elimination tournament.

Co-Lin sophomore point guard Nikki Williams said she was lookingforward to the trip. “I feel real good about going to thenationals. Our record is the best in years.”

Williams, a 5-foot-7 playmaker from White Castle, La., is theteam’s leading scorer (14.6 ppg). She sacked a career-high 29points in Co-Lin’s 68-60 win over Meridian in the Region 23Tournament championship game.

Asked about her team, Williams said, “We are one big family. wehave teamwork.” She averages 5.6 assists and 3.1 steals pergame.

Sophomore post Erica Trahan, a 5-10 Baton Rouge product, saidshe was excited about her first trip to the nationals. “This willbe my first time. It will be a new experience.”

Trahan, a powerful force on the backboards, averages 9.1rebounds and 11.7 points per game. She praised Coach Young’spatience.

“Coach Young is very good,” said Trahan. “He gives you a chanceto find your game. There’s a lot of twists and turns. He’spatient.”

Dominique Whitfield, a 5-11 sophomore from Crystal Springs, saidshe appreciated Young’s expertise on the sidelines. “He’s a greatcoach. I like his coaching style.”

Whitfield (5.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is a defensive specialist with goodquickness.

Hanna Porter, a 5-6 sophomore from Brandon, transferred toCo-Lin from the University of West Alabama. She adds a consistentperimeter shooter to the starting lineup. She averages 9.4 ppg.

Whitney Scott, 5-9 sophomore from Hahnville, La., averages 5.8ppg and 3.8 rpg. Her quickness and defensive skills are an asset tothe squad.

“I’m very excited about going to the nationals,” said Scott.”It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. We’ve come a longway since the beginning of the season. We have improved and gottenbetter.”

Sophomore guard Alicia Kennedy of Smithdale (West Lincoln), isanother perimeter shooter. She said Co-Lin’s experience has been aplus this season. The input of several talented freshmen hashelped, too.

“All the sophomores coming back helped us be a stronger team,”said Kennedy. “Our freshmen stepped up and helped us out.”

Alisha Mason, a 5-9 freshman from Ruth (Enterprise), made amajor impact this season as a super sub. She averages 7.6 ppg and3.4 rpg.

“I’m excited about the nationals,” said Mason. “We are playingpretty good in the tournaments. If we stick together, we’ll be allright.”

Corissa Tillman, a 5-7 sophomore from Crystal Springs, agreed.”I think we have the best team in the state. We have a goodprogram.”

Tillman expressed her confidence in Young who is in his 30thyear the helm. “I like Coach Young. He knows what to do at theright time.”

This is Young’s fifth team to reach the nationals. Their lasttrip to Salina was in 2002.