2008-09 Women's Basketball Season Outlook
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Fresh off a resurgent year that included a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a return to the national rankings and a third-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the 2008-09 Cavaliers are primed for another postseason run. The season tips off with a Friday, Nov. 7 exhibition contest against DT3 at 7 p.m.
2008 Hall of Fame inductee Debbie Ryan, now in her 32nd year at the helm of the Virginia program, will look to the three returning starters on the squad to build on last year’s success. At the top of a deep roster is junior guard Monica Wright, an honorable mention Associated Press All-American last year.
Wright emerged as one of the most dynamic guards in the nation in her follow-up season to being named the 2007 ACC Rookie of the Year. She returns as the team’s leading scorer (17.6 points per game) and was named to the ACC’s All-Defensive team after leading the Cavaliers in steals (2.4 per game) and blocks (19).
“Monica obviously solidified her place as one of the nation’s best players last season,” Ryan said. “She worked extremely hard this summer. She’s a tremendous player and she has improved every aspect of her game, from 3-point shooting to decision-making to going to the basket.”
Other returners at the guard position are Britnee Millner and Kristen London. Millner proved herself to be a spark for the Cavaliers off the bench in 2007-08, and appeared in 29 games while averaging 3.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. She had a particularly strong showing at the NCAA Tournament, scoring seven points against UC Santa Barbara and eight against ODU in the second round.
“Britnee brings us a ton of energy and defends well,” Ryan said. “We’re looking for her to mature and make strides. She’s extremely athletic so we want to see her push to start to make a name for herself.”
London, meanwhile, appeared in 22 games in her first year in a Cavalier jersey. The Seminole State (Okla.) junior college transfer will add depth the backcourt for UVa.
“Kristen worked hard over the summer and she learned how to work,” Ryan said. “She will compete for playing time and I think with a year under her belt she seems a lot more comfortable.”
Paulisha Kellum, who would have been the Cavaliers’ fourth returning starter, will miss the 2008-09 campaign with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee.
Jayna Hartig, who missed all but one game of the 2007-08 season with an injury and took a medical redshirt, could see time at either the guard or post positions. The versatile 6-1 player played in 29 games during her freshman campaign.
“Jayna is 100 percent,” Ryan said. “She has worked on the conditioning aspect of her game, and she’s a player that can really stretch defenses because she can flat-out shoot the ball. She’s got a knack for making big shots.”
In the frontcourt, seniors Lyndra Littles and Aisha Mohammed return for Virginia as one of the strongest center-forward combinations in the league. Mohammed burst onto the scene during her first year playing injury-free (she sat out 2006-07 with a knee injury) and led the team in rebounding (9.2 per game) while also contributing 13.1 points per game. The Lagos, Nigeria, native tallied 14 double-doubles last season and set a new school-record for rebounds in a game (21).
“Aisha had a chance to go home in the offseason and I have seen her in a great frame of mind since she came back,” Ryan said. “She is taking responsibility of becoming a leader on this team and she seems to have the roads mapped out in front of her.”
Littles, meanwhile, returns for her fourth-year after averaging 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 2007-08. She particularly shined on the big stage, putting together two big-time performances in the NCAA Tournament (29 points and 10 rebounds vs. ODU; 17 points and 10 rebounds vs. UCSB).
Littles, who notched her 1,000th-career point last season, was a third-team All-ACC selection and is on pace to grab her 1,000th-career rebound in 2008-09.
“Lyndra has matured so much in her time here,” Ryan said. “She is aggressive and can score in a lot of different ways.”
Returning in the post is also junior Enong Stovall. Stovall earned the team’s unsung hero award following last season, after emerging as the Cavaliers’ Sixth Man’ and averaging 4.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Stovall had a knack for hitting big shots in big games, while also contributing tenacious defense.
“Enong played a great role for us last year,” Ryan said. “She is so physical and really worked hard on all aspects of her game over the summer. She deserves freedom to be a scorer for us.”
Kelly Hartig is also a post player that returns with game experience. The sophomore saw action in 26 games last season.
“Kelly matured as a player with a year of experience,” Ryan said. “She is continuing to learn how to stay out foul trouble for us and how to score around the basket.”
Four newcomers join the Cavaliers’ squad this year Britny Edwards, Whitny Edwards, Ariana Moorer and Chelsea Shine.
The Edwards, fraternal twins out of Charlotte, N.C., join Kelly and Jayna Hartig as the second set of sisters on Virginia’s team. They also represent the second set of twins to play under head coach Debbie Ryan Heidi and Heather Burge were the other.
“Britny is a skilled post player,” Ryan said. “As she continues to develop she will make strides and then big jumps.”
“Whitny has a great long-range shot,” Ryan said. “We’re looking for her to tap into her full potential day in and day out.”
Moorer is a guard out of Woodbridge, Va., and may compete for time at the point guard position.
“Ariana has fit in well,” Ryan said. “She is competing for time at the critical point guard position while she learns what it takes to compete at this level.”
Shine, a post player out of Berwyn, Pa., will add depth to the frontcourt.
“Chelsea came in great athletic shape,” Ryan said. “She has got that Philly attitude that makes her tough and she also has great basketball intelligence.”
Match-ups with 15 opponents that advanced to last year’s postseason, 17 home games in John Paul Jones Arena, a rematch of an NCAA Tournament second round overtime thriller and a trip to face the defending NCAA Champions highlight the 2008-09 Virginia women’s basketball schedule.
“A lot of it is about chemistry,” Ryan said. “What happens when you come up against adversity and how well you respond can determine a lot about your season. I am interested to see where leaders emerge.”