Women's Basketball: 2011-2012 Season Outlook
The 2011-2012 women's basketball season begins with great excitement and expectations surrounding the Lady Redhawks. Last season, the Redhawks won their first ever AMCC conference championship and made it to their first NCAA tournament. This year's team is looking to continue last year's success, with the addition of some very talented freshmen and some very experienced transfers. A very up-tempo style and pressure defense will be the key to the Redhawk's success. A powerful recruiting class of thirteen should allow this year's squad to continue playing an up-tempo style offense and pressure on the defensive end. The addition of depth, size, and speed was the main focus in this year's recruiting class. The new class hopes to contribute immediately and help continue last season's success. We are very excited and looking forward to getting started.
A close look, by position, at the 2011-2012 Lady RedHawks:
POINT GUARD
The Lady Redhawks will return last season's starting point guard Ariel Green. She will be challenged at the point by transfer Samantha Robson. Samantha is a very quick point guard that can really handle the basketball and is a true point guard. She is an unbelievable on the ball defender. Green is a big point guard who can shoot the three and shows great leadership. We are expecting big things from Ariel and Samantha this season.
SHOOTING GUARD
Sophomore Leslie McPherson, Freshmen Rashontala Murtaza and Shataya White and senior captain Chloe Stewart will be one of many sharing the shooting guard duties. Dierica Blackwell is a combo guard that can play multiple positions and she will make our lineup extremely versatile. McPherson is a relentless defender who can also move to the point guard position. Stewart is a very skilled and hard-nosed combo guard. She is a great rebounder from the guard position and a very good mid-range jump shooter. Stewart and Blackwell both come from a much respected high school program in Farrell. Stewart will bring tons of knowledge and leadership to the team this season. Rashontala will be a lock down defender who brings a ton of energy and White is a scoring sensation who can really fill it up.
SMALL FORWARD
Sophomore Adaeze Ogbonna, Casie Cygan, Freshmen Jazmyne Hayes and Shanae Daye will add some depth to the small forward position. Ogbonna and Cygan are very physical wings that can really shoot the basketball. Jazmyne Hayes and Shanae Daye will bring lots of energy and toughness to the team this year. Hayes is extremely athletic and can really rebound the basketball. Combo forwards LaShauna Brothers and Ivorie Law are very versatile wing and post players who can play both forward positions. They are very athletic and both can step out and hit the 15' jumper. Freshman Shone Russell will also compete for minutes at the small forward position.
POWER FORWARD
Sophomore Amanda Garland, Junior transfers Alyssa Schreiner and Amber Perry and freshman Ja'nia McPhatter will all share minutes at the power forward position. McPhatter is a very athletic and versatile forward who can really run the floor and brings tons of energy to our lineup. Garland is bringing tons of experience to the team this year after being our starting power forward last season. Schreiner is an unbelievably hard worker who we need to play some very important minutes for us this year. Garland is a defensive stopper who loves to compete. Lastly, Perry is a tireless competitor, who will bring tons of energy to the power forward position. We are looking for this new class to make a major impact right away this season.
CENTER
Sophomore Jessica Pitts and Freshman Alex Austin will anchor the post position in the 2011-2012 campaign. Pitts was named rookie of the year last season and we are hoping she can pick up where she left off a year ago. Austin is a versatile low post player that can play the four and the five positions. She is a very good rebounder and shot blocker that can really run the floor. We are expecting big things from Jessica and Alex this year.
