AUSTIN — Skylar Lott has never had a problem making her presence felt.
Standing 6-foot-3, Lott is usually the tallest player on the basketball court she loves being on.
The 2009 Elgin graduate, along with 2008 Bastrop alum Courtney Moore, made their home debut for the Concordia University women’s basketball team Saturday.
Lott finished the game as the fourth leading scorer and second leading rebounder for the Tornados in their 69-60 win over LeTrouneau at the Concordia Fieldhouse in Austin.
Head coach Steven Cochran said Lott played her best game of the season.
“Her potential is so unlimited,” Cochran said. “She gives us so much size inside and I think she will be an all-conference caliber type player. There are a few girls in this conference that will match her size, but that will be rare.”
The average fan wouldn’t have know she was a freshman unless they read the program.
She appeared comfortable, offering the occasional high-five to a teammate and joking with the ball girls during pre-game warm-ups.
Lott didn’t see her first action until the eighth minute of the game, but it took her 30 seconds to make her presence felt scoring on a fade-away jumper to tie the game.
Five minutes later, Lott was leading Concordia (2-2, 2-1 American Southwest Conference) in scoring and rebounds.
She played just 10 minutes in the first half coming off the bench, scoring 8 points, and pulling down 7 rebounds to go with one assist and one steal.
Lott was also he most efficient player on the court.
She was 3-for-3 from field goal range and 2-2 from the free-throw line.
Not bad for a player who didn’t pick up a basketball until she was 12 and was placed on the seventh grade “B” team.
“Skylar is such a hard worker,” Cochran said. “She comes into practice every day and gives it her all. She’s got a bright future.”
Lott only saw six minutes of action in the second half and missed her only shot attempt, which was her only miss of the game.
The 2009 All-Bastrop County Player of the Year said she is still adjusting with the transition from high school to college.
She said her biggest adjustment, other than the more up-tempo style of the college game, has been time management.
“There are times you have to sleep or study,” Lott said. “The college game is a lot more intense. Right now, I am just grateful for my playing time I am getting.”
Moore is also a newcomer for the Tornados.
After Temple Junior College decided not to renew her athletic scholarship, Moore headed south on IH-35 and returned to Central Texas.
Concordia offered Moore an academic scholarship, which made it the perfect choice since D-III athletes do not receive athletic scholarships.
When the two Bastrop County natives showed up for the first day of practice, it was a pleasant surprise.
“Having Skylar here is making the transition a little easier,” Moore said. “We played against each other in high school, so we knew each other.”
Lott said, “We are like best friends.”
Moore has earned a starting spot for Concordia and played 25 minutes Saturday in Concordia’s 69-60 win over LeTrourneau.
She struggled early, missing her first three attempts from behind the three-point line.
Moore finally hit her first three-pointer with 1:48 left in the first half, which proved to be her only points of the game.
She said after the game that she’s still getting used to the different styles in the game, but she is working to rebound more and help the Tornados to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“I am being more aggressive,” she said. “My biggest adjustment has been the speed of the game. It’s so much quicker and the competition is better.”
As for Lott, her goals are similar to those she had in high school.
“I trying to double-double every game and get the win,” she said.