While the Lone Star Conference basketball tournament is a showcase for the league's top players of today, it also gives a chance for some of the former greats to return to their stomping grounds.

            One player who showed up to support her school in this year's LSC tournament was Crystal Robinson, a former Southeastern Oklahoma State standout who had a career in the WNBA and is currently a coach in the league with the Washington Mystics.

            "One of the reasons I'm here is because I want to support this level of play," said Robinson, who also played overseas in Italy before she was the sixth overall selection in the WNBA Draft. "I came from this level of play. To think they're a lot of good players from this level that just don't happen to get recognized."

            Robinson played three years at SOSU and is still considered the most decorated player in school history.

            She played three years for the Savage Storm, and is currently the school's all-time leader in points (3,023), rebounds (1,165), assists (547), steals (376) and is second with 162 blocked shots.

            Robinson, a native of Atoka, Okla., was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame and was named to The Daily Oklahoman All-Century Team for both Oklahoma high schools and the collegiate level.

            Robinson attended the first round games for the women's tournament on Thursday, hoping to watch her school pull off the upset against West Texas A&M, the top seed in the LSC tournament.

            While Southeastern put up a fight, they couldn't overcome a tenacious Lady Buffs squad, led by three-time Player of the Year Emily Brister, and were eliminated in the quarterfinals with a 72-65 defeat.

             Before the game, Robinson said she was excited to evaluate Brister, a player she had heard plenty about.

            "I haven't seen her play yet. But I'm looking forward to watching her," Robinson said. "I can't wait to see her."

            Brister certainly didn't disappoint, recording a game-high 24 points, along with 10 rebounds and seven steals.

            While Robinson will have to wait at least a year to scout Brister, who is wrapping her junior season, she said the Lone Star Conference won't be overlooked in her attempts to find young talent for the WNBA.

            "I plan on giving some players at this level a shot with our team. I'm keeping an eye out for some people," Robinson said. You don't know what the next level really entails until you actually get there.

            "I feel like you can't count anyone out. There are a lot of small-named players that come out and have an impact. You can't judge a player by the conference they play in. You have to go sit down and see them and judge them by the amount of heart they play with." 

Crystal Robinson

I feel like you can't count anyone out. There's a lot of small-named players that come out and have an impact. You can't judge a player by the conference they play in. You have to go sit down and see them and judge them by the amount of heart they play with. 

I plan on giving some players at this level a shot with our team. I'm keeping an eye out for some people. You don't know what the next level really entails until you actually get there. 

I haven't seen her play yet. But I'm looking forward to watching her. I can't wait to see her.