RUSTON - Through the first week of fall workouts, Louisiana Tech head coach Kurt Budke said he is very pleased with the attitude and work ethic of his Lady Techster basketball team.

Following Monday afternoon's practice session, Budke said he felt like his squad was coming along nicely as it prepared for its first exhibition game on Nov. 10.

"I think the No. 1 thing I'm pleased with is this team's work habits," Budke said. "It all starts with the leadership of our returners. They have done a great job of leading the newcomers through the drills. This time of the year is never really fun for the players because we are always breaking things down everyday and teaching new drills. I can't say we've had a bad practice yet."

One of the most anticipated debuts for this year's squad is that of junior guard Lakiste Barkus, the 2003 Women's Basketball Coaches Association National Junior College Player of the Year at Trinity Valley Community College. Barkus is compared to former Lady Techster Tamicha Jackson with her quickness and scoring ability.

"Lakiste Barkus is everything we hoped she would be," Budke said. "She has picked up work habits of our experienced players very quickly. She can really shoot the basketball; she is a scorer.

"Lakiste will get minutes at both the one and the two (positions). Because of that, she is having to learn a lot of sets. Since we have 10 offensive sets in right now, she is forced to learn 20. It makes it tough but she is doing a great job."

Barkus, who averaged 20.8 points and 6.8 assists per game last year for the 30-1 Lady Cardinals and led TVCC to the regional semifinals, said the transition has been a challenge.

"(Practice is) going pretty good," Barkus said. "It's been difficult for me because I am learning two different positions, but I look forward to practice every day."

Perhaps the most competitive battle in the early practices has been between Barkus and returning starter Tasha Crain, whose quickness made her one of the top defensive players inn the country as a freshman.

"Both of us like to battle each other, and it is only going to make us better," Barkus said. "We compete every day against each other but we also encourage one another. I've never had someone that could push me like she does (because of her quickness)."

The Techsters open the regular season Nov. 21 at Stephen F. Austin.