ncataggies.com/Womensbasketball/2009-10%20ARTICLES/1WOMEN%27S%20BASKETBALL%20PREVIEW.htmWOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
2008-09: 26-7, 15-1 MEAC
2008-09 postseason: NCAA Tournament
Coach: Patricia Cage-Bibbs (448-253 overall/25th season, 77-47 at N.C. A&T/5th season)
Predicted Order of Finish in the MEAC: 1st
KEY LOSSES: G Amber Bland (15.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.2 apg); G Brittanie Taylor-James (18.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.6 apg); F Ahmad Williams (2.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.5 apg)
RISING STAR: Over the first two years of her career, Jaleesa Sams (5-11, New Castle, Pa.) has been there to provide offense when the go-to players were not on. This season, she could emerge as that go-to person. She can score from the perimeter, she has the body to score in the post and she has trimmed down during the off-season. She already earned first-team preseason All-MEAC honors. But what head coach Patricia-Cage Bibbs loves about Sams is her willingness to sacrifice her body and play defense. Injuries have sidelined her for periods of time, but if she can stay injury-free in 2009-10, it could be a break out season.
EMERGING LEADER: Crystal Murdaugh could not play last season because she was a Division I transfer. Murdaugh did practice with the team and provided the Aggies with the type of intensity they were likely to see in game action. Murdaugh, a transfer at of Bowling Green, will see plenty of action this season. Murdaugh could provide the leadership Bibbs has been searching for since she arrived.
UNSUNG HERO: A year ago when the Aggies seemed all but certain to lose to Delaware State at home, senior forward Shantar Waddell came through by scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds in the last 10 minutes to lead the Aggies to victory. Waddell has the skill set to be a productive player for the Aggies. Her wingspan makes her tough to shoot over, and she is an effective rebounder. If the she can work her way into a competitive rotation, it could reap benefits for N.C. A&T.
KEY DATES IN ’10: January 2 @ N.C. Central – It will mark the first time the two arch-rivals have met since the 2001-02 season; January 16 @ Corbett Sports Center vs. Howard – This is significant because it will mark just the second home game of the season; Feb. 1-8 @ Corbett Sports Center vs. Morgan State, Delaware State and UMES – In a week’s time, the Aggies will have to face a Morgan State team that returns all five starters including MEAC preseason Player of the Year Corrin Adams, a Delaware State team that has finished in the top three of the conference the last seven seasons and a UMES team that returns all five starters.
HOW IT WILL TURN OUT: November and December will be ultra important for the Aggies this season. The big question coming into the season is how Patricia Cage-Bibbs replaces the scoring of Brittanie Taylor-James and Amber Bland. The duo accounted for 45 percent of the Aggies offense. The question could be answered amid a schedule that includes tough preseason WNIT opponents, New Mexico, Auburn and a possible matchup against SEC power LSU. If an Aggies team used to success can survive their non-conference schedule with team unity and a few wins, there is every reason to believe the Aggies can repeat as MEAC Champions.
PROJECTED STARTERS
G Ta’Wuana Cook (11.8 ppg, 2.7 apg) – Cook will become the Aggies all-time leader in assists in 2009-10. She is the Aggies leading returning scorer, and she already has posted 1,000 points in her career. Another championship will just top things off for her.
G Amber Calvin (1st season) – Expectations are high for this young lady. She has handled the attention superbly thus far, which lends to the optimism that Calvin will be a great point guard over her career.
F Jaleesa Sams (9.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg) – The way she runs down court can be intimidating in and of itself. Then add the fact that she runs the floor, she defends and she never takes a play off, and you have what could be a season to remember for Sams.
F Crystal Murdaugh (1st season) – Patricia Cage-Bibbs always wants her two best defenders in the starting lineup. Murdaugh qualifies as one. Plus, she plays with an intensity that Bibbs loves. And oh, her offense isn’t bad either.
C Nikia Gorham (1st season) – Yes, you could very well find Lamona Smalley in this spot. But Smalley showed an appreciation for coming off the bench last season. Plus, the Aggies are top heavy with post players. Therefore, there will not be a lot of pressure on Gorham if she does earn a starting spot.
OTHER KEY RETURNERS
C/F Lamona Smalley (7.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg) – Ok, when it is all said and done Lamona Smalley’s career numbers will not jump off the page. But make no mistake, the Aggies are not where they are without Smalley. She is the best low-post passer in the conference. She can score 20 when needed and she has led the team in rebounding the past three seasons.
C Lonise Coulter (3.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg in 07-08) – Coulter missed the 2008-09 season for personal reasons. Her 2007-08 campaign was filled with injuries. But Bibbs is impressed with Coulter’s majority and her experience will be a valuable asset.
G Tyronnica Alford (1.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg) – She was close to unsung hero status. Alford has the potential to score off the dribble, and some time at shooting guard could help her be more aggressive.
G Tierra Thomas (4.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg) – Thomas has a tremendous upside, she’s a winner and a hard worker. The belief is she is only going to get better with time and work in the gym. She started six games a year ago, and she plays the type of defense Bibbs likes.
F Shantar Waddell (1.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg) – Four-year senior who provides experience and another defender coming off the bench. She will likely play the small forward position this season.
G Reisha Bullock (4.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg) – She had to play some point guard last season, but with the addition of Calvin she will likely find herself as a shooting guard which is more to her liking.
C Nakia DeBlanc (4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg) – DeBlanc is a talented low-post scorer. The hope to gradually add strength to her game, but she can definitely cause problems for low-post defenders.
NEWCOMERS: There is no indication the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball juggernaut that has emerged since Patricia-Cage Bibbs’ arrival is going to slow down anytime soon. The Aggies put together another impressive recruiting class that was ranked among the top 50 nationally. The headliner in this season’s freshman class is point guard Amber Calvin (5-7, Fayetteville, N.C.). Calvin led South View high school to the Class 4A state championship, and she was ranked as one of the top point guards in the state. Calvin averaged more than eight assists per game over her high school career. The Aggies lost two excellent perimeter players in Amber Bland and Brittanie Taylor-James. Guard JaQuayla Berry (5-11, Douglas, Ga.) could help to fill that void. She comes in with a reputation of being a consistent scorer. There is no question as to what center Nikia Gorham’s (6-2, Bowie, Md.) reputation is on the court. She is can be described as a rebounding machine. She averaged a double-double during her Flowers High School career.
