It's all been leading up to this for Tyra Grant.
Through her three years with the Lady Lions she said she has seen the team leader role passed down from Charity Renfro, Amanda Brown and Adrienne Squire to Kamela Gissendanner to Mashea Williams and Brianne O'Rourke.
Now a senior, it's Grant's turn.
With the Lady Lions being injected with an infusion of youth this year, all eyes are on Grant as she steps into the role of senior leader on this year's team.
"Well I think she's enjoying the fact that the team is in some respects on her shoulders," coach Coquese Washington. "She's a kid that likes pressure. She's doesn't mind taking the big shots, she doesn't mind having that role of this being her team. So she's definitely stepped up and is looking forward to leading the team her senior season."
Grant is the first to point out that she still has veteran teammates Julia Trogele, Meredith Monroe and Janessa Wolff helping her guide this year's team.
However, there is no denying the team's success will be dictated by Grant's job as team leader.
Grant is up to the challenge as she has been growing into the role since her freshman year.
"You just have to get some more confidence in yourself; you just have to step up a little bit more each year," Grant said. "I think I've gotten that little stepping stone each year to build up my leadership, and I feel I'm ready to lead this team to victory."
Still, Washington said this season is going to be a lot different for Grant than those in the past as she adjusts to being a leader.
While she has always been the go-to player on the court, she has always had proven, more experienced players on her side that opponents needed to worry about.
Until freshman Nikki Greene becomes a dominant post threat or sophomore Zhaque Gray turns into a consistent three-point threat, defenses will be able to focus in on Grant.
The way Grant handles the pressure will go a long way in determing the team's success as the rest of the team will look on to their senior leader for guidance.
"She is going to be the target night in and night out," Washington said. "She was to a degree last year, but we also had experience in the backcourt. Brianne [O'Rourke] would make plays and Mashea Williams would make plays. Right now coming into this season, the sole focus for teams is on Tyra Grant."
Washington said Grant has been working on her ball-handling frequently during the offseason since she will be expected to help bring the ball up the floor.
"She's not going to be able to just rely on Bri and Mashea who knew what to do and who could break the press and those kind of things," Washington said. "She's going to have to help in those areas, so we're hoping to see a great improvement in her ball-handling."
Grant's intensity has already started to rub off on her new teammates as they've tried to duplicate her competitiveness and compete on the same level as their leader.
"She's a competitor and that's what we need and that's what we look for," freshman Alex Bentley said. "If you're competing then everybody is going to follow you. That's what we need. If we're going to compete then we're going to have a better chance at winning."
