Dec. 12, 2002
On the heels of the team's most successful season in 19 years, the Lady Catamounts have a strong returning foundation in 2002-03. Head Coach Beth Dunkenberger believes it is only a matter of time before her Catamount team will be climbing up the ladder and cutting down a championship net.
Point Guards
WCU has two veteran point guards this year in sophomore Ki-Ki Glass and junior Christy Blackwell. Both have proven they can lead the team and have been excellent defensive catalysts for the Cats. Glass was named to the league's All-Freshman team at the conclusion of last season. She led the SoCon in assists for the season with 117 (4.18 pg), started all 28 games and tallied 129 points (4.6 pg). She also led the team in steals with 47. Blackwell, who sat out last season, led the league in assists in 2000-01 with 4.75 per game and was third in steals with 3.21 per contest. She also broke into the WCU record book, tallying the most steals in a season for a Catamount with 90. The two should to be a strong combination at the one spot.
Shooting Guards
In her first season in Cullowhee, Yoneko Allen emerged as a great leader for WCU last year. Allen was the Cats' third leading scorer with 234 points, averaging 9.0 per game. The sophomore dished out 53 assists, grabbed 22 steals and registered 68 rebounds on the season. Janetta Heggins has been a hustler for Western and one of the most consistent players over the past two years. Dunkenberger is expecting great things from Allen, Heggins and the rest of the guards this season.
"Yoneko and Janetta return as our top two- and three-guards this year," Dunkenberger said. "Janetta is a great slasher and rebounder and Yoneko is one of our best 3-point shooters."
WCU's lone senior, Marsha McGillivary, brings a lot of experience to the team and should be cleared to play as the regular season starts after nursing a bone fracture in her foot. Sophomore Melissa Ervin can play well at both the point and shooting guard positions and is an excellent outside shooter. She averaged just over 14 minutes per game last year and should be a key player for the Cats this season. Teyawna Hardy is coming off a redshirt season last year. Dunkenberger credits her as being one of the most talented small forwards to put on a WCU jersey. Shaketia Barnes saw limited action last year, but she has made great strides during the off-season and the coaches are expecting good things from her. Lindsey Simerly, one of the team?s freshmen, stands as the tallest guard at six-feet and she has deep 3-point range.
Forwards
Junior Tiffany Hamm returns as the second leading scorer from last year. After battling a stress fracture towards the end of the 2001-02 season, Hamm has improved her strength during the off-season and should have a healthy start to the new season. Hamm combines a deadly outside shot as well as a soft touch in the paint that makes her hard to guard.
Sophomore Jennifer Gardner, a SoCon Player of the Week last season, will be looked to as a physical force in the paint. She provides solid rebounding and defense and could emerge as a key go-to player to score quickly for the Catamounts.
Sophomore Miranda Long saw valuable minutes off the bench last season. "She is very physical as well as a hard worker," credits Dunkenberger.
Sophomore Summer Thagard has battled injuries since joining the team, but should see more playing time this year. The team's two other freshmen, Kala Greene and Chantia Broderick, should have a chance to contribute right away. Greene has the ability to score in a variety of ways from all areas of the court. Broderick is a tremendous athlete. How well she adapts to Dunkenberger's system will determine her minutes on the court.
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