Gardner-Webb Women's Basketball Season Outlook
October 24, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Heading into its final season in the Atlantic Sun Conference, head coach Rick Reeves, his staff and players all have the same goal – win the conference title and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Last year, Gardner-Webb reached the A-Sun semifinals before falling to the conference's No. 1 seed Belmont by nine points. The margin was only that wide due to fouling at the end of the contest. Despite being picked to win the league last year, the Bulldogs struggled early after losing two starters and the sixth man – Jessica Bryant, Laura Povilonyte and Katie Sanderson – before the season even began due to injuries. After a bumpy start to the season, the squad came together and reeled off 10 wins in the league and earned the No. 4 seed for the conference tournament.
With the departure of seniors Brittany Harmon, Shameka Smith and Novia Sturdivant and redshirt-junior Candyse Kelly to graduation, some may overlook the Bulldogs as title contenders. Despite having just one senior on the squad, this year's team has the potential to be the best in the school's Division I history. That will be the key to success this season – tapping into the unlimited potential that the players possess.
"We have 13 freshman, sophomores and redshirt-sophomores on the team this year," Reeves said. "It will be a challenge this season because we have a lot of young players who will see plenty of time on the court, but this is by far the deepest team we've had since I've been here."
CENTER
Redshirt-senior LaToya Carter returns to the Bulldogs for her final year of eligibility. Having been around the program for now her fifth year, Carter will be expected to carry on the senior leadership role on and off the court while also playing a big part in the Bulldogs' success.
Carter started five games a season ago, but her final start of the year was by far her best performance and she single-handedly kept the Bulldogs in the game early against Stetson before the squad pulled away for Reeves' 300th career win. In the contest, Carter notched her first career double-double, netting 12 points while pulling down 10 rebounds.
"I'd like for her to step up and be a leader, but it will be difficult the first semester because she will be student teaching," Reeves said. "She has a lot of leadership qualities. LaToya has a chance to really step up with the departure of Shameka Smith and Brittany Harmon."
Redshirt-sophomore Sherika Montgomery sat out last season after transferring from Memphis after the 2005-06 season and will compete for the starting job. Montgomery could be a mainstay at the center position the next three seasons with the Bulldogs.
"We are very excited about Sherika being with us," Reeves said. "She will make an immediate impact on the program. Sherika has the combination of Shameka Smith as a low post scorer, but has the perimeter shooting ability, which we didn't have last year. She can score facing the basket or by posting up. Sherika plays hard and she is anxious to get back on the court after sitting out last year."
Another newcomer to the squad, Emma Cronk, could also see playing time at the center position. She is a versatile 6-4 player who can run the floor well, but Reeves is unsure if she will focus on the center or power forward spot at the start of practice.
"We teach all of our kids only one position at a time when they come in," Reeves said. "We want them to be comfortable in one role before we teach them another.
"Emma has the potential to be one of the best post players to ever come to Gardner-Webb," Reeves said. "She is left handed and has a great shooting touch."
FORWARDS
Povilonyte, now a redshirt-sophomore, will battle for a spot in the starting lineup. After undergoing surgery before the season began for her ACL, she had already been released from the doctor prior to the start of the A-Sun Tournament.
"Laura will pick up where she left off," Reeves said. "She will be more of an impact player this year than she was two years ago for us. Laura has been around and understands the system. She can play at either the small forward or power forward position. The defense has to respect her perimeter shooting while she can post up the smaller forwards that guard her. Laura will also help us on the offensive glass because she's such a strong rebounder."
Sophomore Margaret Roundtree looked more comfortable as the season went on during her rookie campaign. She showed flashes of how good she can be, especially when she grabbed 15 defensive rebounds in a game.
"Margaret is still learning the game, but she will compete for a starting spot," Reeves said. "Whether she starts or not, she'll be on the court a lot for us. Margaret gives us a slasher-type scorer and another good rebounder. We want her to be able to score off the dribble more, which she worked on during the off-season."
Montgomery could also slide over from her center spot and see some time at the power forward position, depending on the lineup that Reeves wants on the court at any given time.
Cronk, like Montgomery, could vie for playing time at the power forward spot, whether it's a starting role or coming off the bench.
"Emma's potential is unlimited," Reeves said. "One of her goals is to play in the Olympics for the Canadian team, which she has the ability to accomplish with continuous development."
Fellow rookie LaTroya Pope could also see some time on the court as a power forward. She's coming off an injury from her senior year of high school, but if healthy, will compete for quality minutes.
"She's going to be a talented player," Reeves said. "She is someone we may redshirt depending on how she comes off her injury; if we do that, it's because she will be really good. LaTroya is a combination of Laura and Margaret. She's a good defensive player, solid rebounder can run the floor well and is a good scorer from the mid-range to the basket."
Bryant, a redshirt-sophomore, is coming off an injury she sustained during a preseason scrimmage a year ago. When she returns to top form, Bryant should pick up where she left off from her freshman season.
"It may take her some time to regain the form she had before her injury since she hasn't been able to play for a year," Reeves said. "She gives us a fierce rebounder from the perimeter. Jessica is a good scorer who plays with such tenacity. Night in and night out, you can expect her to score in double figures. Depending on the lineup that's on the court, she can play the small forward or shooting guard spot."
Sophomore Jenny Sprouse, a deadly three-point shooter, will fight for playing time as a small forward and at shooting guard. Sprouse had a few big games last year and will look to continually improve, which will allow the Bulldogs' offense to create more spacing and one-on-one ability for other players.
"Jenny is as good of a three-point shooter as there is in the conference," Reeves said. "Last year, she had to adjust to the speed of the college game; she'll be better at that this year. Jenny will see a lot of time when teams are playing zones. If she continues to work on her side step after a pump fake, it will open up the offense more."
Two rookies are versatile enough to play small forward or shooting guard. Courtney Epps, one of the most highly recruited athletes in Reeves' tenure with the Bulldogs and Ashley Falknor will both see time at the three.
"Courtney is a tremendous athlete," Reeves said. "She has strength, leaping ability, can take the ball to the rim or can pull up and shoot the jumper. Courtney's potential is unbelievable. A fierce defensive player, she will challenge for a starting spot in practice.
"Ashley is a scorer," Reeves said. "She can score off the dribble and is an excellent passer. Ashley is talented enough to play four positions for us, but she will primarily be a small forward or shooting guard. Ashley can shoot the three and is a good defensive player. She is versatile, so it depends on who we have on the court as to where she might play."
GUARDS
Sophomore Meranda Burnett came in as a freshman and was thrust into a starting spot almost immediately. As Burnett improved throughout the course of the season, so did the Bulldogs. With a year of experience at the point, Burnett will once again be in charge of creating good scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.
"Meranda was thrown into the fire last year," Reeves said. "As she got better, we got better. Look for her to step up and be a team leader on and off the court this year. I think she will have a breakout year and a strong season. Meranda is the first one out to practice and is always working on her game."
Two freshmen – Teri Higgenbottom and Dominique Hudson - could see time at the point while Falknor is versatile enough that she could fill in at that spot if needed.
"I'm very excited about Teri," Reeves said. "She's a different type of guard. She can play the point and shooting guard positions, but will play the point primarily this season. Teri's a good scorer from the point and she's a big guard. Like Meranda, she pushes the ball. Teri is very athletic and can score. She can also draw a lot of fouls and distribute the ball well.
"Dominique is strictly a point guard," Reeves said. "She's very
strong and a good defensive player. Dominique hasn't realized her
potential and she could be really good. She is also one that likes
to push it up; Dominique is a scoring point guard who is strong
fundamentally. She is a good three-point shooter with a lot of
range."
Monique Hudson is a pure shooting guard. An excellent scorer,
Hudson should make a solid impact on the team immediately.
"Monique has great range," Reeves said. "She is a true scorer who can also enter the ball into the post rather well; she can also find ways to get to the foul line. Monique is a good defensive player who is used to winning."
Other players that could see time at the shooting guard slot are Bryant, Sprouse, Epps and Falknor. All have the capabilities to play shooting guard or small forward. However, depending on who is having a better night and the match-ups, Reeves will have various ways to substitute and insert the player that is the right fit at that time into the shooting guard role.
SCHEDULE
After opening with Montreat, the Bulldogs play host to a tough Georgetown squad in Paul Porter Arena. GWU has an opportunity to knock off its first opponent from the BIG EAST. The Bulldogs head to the Carolina First Tournament, which will give them stiff competition in addition to getting to play on a future Big South opponent's home floor. There, the squad will face Georgia State and either UNC-Asheville or Davidson, both solid programs.
GWU returns home for games against Appalachian State and a return game from IUPUI. The Jags are supposed to be one of the top teams in the league this season, so the tough competition early on for the Bulldogs may bode well for them once entering A-Sun play.
The Bulldogs travel to South Carolina State before heading north to Ithaca, N.Y., to play in the Cornell Tournament against Bowling Green and Cornell. On Dec. 4, GWU will look to knock off neighboring Wofford before breaking for exams.
Reeves' team will play just two games after exams before leaving for the holidays. The team will travel to Longwood before hosting UNC-Asheville. Then, on Jan. 2, GWU will look to down High Point in its last non-conference game.
The A-Sun, which is divided into two divisions this year, pits the Bulldogs against some of the top teams from a season ago. However, GWU will open against Lipscomb and Belmont in Paul Porter Arena before hitting the road for ETSU, USC-Upstate and Campbell.
The Bulldogs don't have to make the extended trip to Florida this season as newcomer Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson travel to Boiling Springs. GWU will hit the road the first of February for games at Jacksonville, UNF and Kennesaw State before hosting four consecutive league games. The Bulldogs play host to Mercer, Campbell, USC-Upstate before playing ETSU in its final home game of the season.
GWU concludes the regular season in Nashville, Tenn., against Lipscomb and Belmont before turning around to play the conference tournament at Lipscomb the following week.
"There are no easy games this year," Reeves said. "We finish our season in Nashville and play our conference tournament there. Our schedule worked in our favor since we play there just days before the A-Sun Tournament."
Should the team live up to its potential, come together and play
well in Nashville come March, Reeves' team will leave a lasting
impression on the league by winning the conference title and
earning its first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.
