Post by elonfirefighter on Oct 12, 2007 11:20:53 GMT -5
Game Notes
Experienced Returners to Lead Elon Women in 2007-08
10/12/2007
ELON, N.C. - The Elon women’s basketball team showed a great deal of youthful promise for the future last season. The 2006-07 squad featured just one senior, so with 11 returners and four newcomers, Phoenix coach Brenda Paul (14th season) looks to build upon last season’s progress and lead the program to the top tier of the Southern Conference.
Power Forwards
One of the keys to improving upon Elon’s 10-20 campaign (4-14 SoCon) of a year ago is the return of junior power forward Kitara McMoore (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) who sat out the 2006-07 season with a knee injury. The 5-11 forward led the league in both scoring and rebounding in 2005-06, averaging 14.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. She should provide a strong presence once again for the Phoenix at the post position.
Along with McMoore, Elon welcomes back sophomore power post players Amber Wall (Gibsonville, N.C./Eastern Guilford) and Urysla Cotton (New Hill, N.C./Apex). At 5-10, Wall returns after having tallied a team-leading four double-doubles as a freshman in the 2006-07 campaign. Wall averaged 7.3 points per contest and ranked second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game. Cotton, who is 6-0, provided depth on the bench for the Phoenix last season, averaging 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
“Even though our power forwards are young, they have a lot of experience on the court,” said Paul. “Kitara is an impact player in the SoCon. With her returning as the top scorer and rebounder in the conference two years ago, and Amber and Urysla coming back from impressive freshmen campaigns, we should be strong under the net.”
Small Forwards
Nicole Allison (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) will lead the Phoenix at the small forward position. After starting 19 games last season and averaging 5.4 points per game, the senior will serve as an experienced mentor for the younger players in the position.
Freshman Jess Luedtke (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Thunder Ridge) played for two state title teams (2004, 2005) The 5-11 forward was an all-conference and all-academic selection throughout her prep years. Luedtke has shown impressive skill levels and should be see key time as a freshman for the Phoenix.
Senior Shashonna Moore (Kinston, N.C./Kinston) led Elon in free throw percentage a season ago, shooting 81.0 percent from the charity stripe. Moore averaged nearly five points and 2.7 rebounds per contest in her junior campaign.
Junior Carole Sitz (Remich, Luxembourg/Lycee de Garcons) looks to see more time on the court this season after seeing action in six contests in 2006-07.
“We are really strong in the small forward position,” said Paul. If we can keep everyone healthy, our small forwards can rival those of any team in the league. We got small glimpses of Nicole’s capabilities last season, and if she can maintain the mentality and aggressiveness we saw her show at moments last year, she can be unstoppable. Jess has an aggressive mentality which will be a significant addition to our squad.”
Centers
Veteran senior Katie Whidden (Gates Mills, Ohio/Mayfield) will lead Elon at center. At 6-2, Whidden averaged 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 2006-07, seeing time in all 30 contests for the Phoenix. Last season, she tied a career-high of 11 points on two separate occasions.
Junior Shamica Spears (Waynesboro, Va./Mount St. Mary’s) provided Elon with 3.4 rebounds per game in her first season as a Phoenix a year ago.
Whidden and Spears will use their experience to guide the 2006-07 Miami Herald/Miami Heat Academic Player Spotlight Award winner Gabby Oloye (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto) through her freshman year with the Phoenix. A 6-8 center, Oloye was named her high school squad’s most improved player and was a member of the national runner-up Hoop It Up team.
“We have a lot to overcome with our centers, including some lingering injuries with our upperclassmen,” added Paul. “If we can keep them both healthy throughout the season, Katie and Shamica should play significant roles for us as leaders for Gabby.”
Point Guards
Tierra Bumbrey (Stafford, Va./North Stafford) enters her senior season as the only Phoenix player to start every game last season. Bumbrey offered a team-best 8.4 points per game and tallied a career-best 3.73 assists per outing – fourth in the SoCon – on her way to earning team MVP honors.
Sophomore Tiffany Davis (Stone Mountain, Ga./Marist) returns after becoming Elon’s first-ever member of the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team last season. Davis logged 6.4 points per game, led the Phoenix with 2.4 steals per contest and ranked third on the squad with 3.1 rebounds per outing.
“We are so athletic at our point guard position,” stated Paul. “These girls are true guards who can do amazing things on the court for us and really control the game. I will look to both of them to lead the entire team and set the paces of our game.”
Swing Guards
The Phoenix welcomes back another outstanding sophomore in Rachel Hester (Plano, Texas/Plano West), who provided 7.1 points per game off the bench in 2006-07. Hester was a solid presence from three-point range for Elon, knocking down seven treys at Campbell (11/30) and is the leader for two freshmen at the swing guard spot.
Elon will feature newcomers Anna Dellapenta (Thomasville, N.C./East Davidson) and Julie Taylor (Columbia, Md./Atholton). Dellapenta was a Wendy’s High School Heisman Nominee and conference player of the year last season. Taylor leaves Atholton as the school’s all-time leading scorer after lifting her squad to its first-ever state title.
“Rachel was a strong competitor for us last season,” commented Paul, “and Anna and Julie have had impressive preseasons. All three of them will compete for significant playing time this year as our swing guards.”
-ELON
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