Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 30, 1993, edition 2 / Page 8
Part of Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Devlettes Won't Sneak Up On Anybody This Season in SWAC ; Southern, JSU Also Figures To Be In Race AWomen's conference receives automatic NCAA bid to provide an extra incentive for teams There is big excitement this year in woman hoops around the Southwestern Athletic Conference. For the first time in the league history the SWAC will get an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament The tournament has been expanded from 48 teams to 64 for the upcoming year. ? This is really great for the confer ence," Alcorn coach Shirley Walker said. *it has been a long time coming." With the extra incentive, SWAC basketball should be very exciting heading into the month of March. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY (11-17 overall in 1992-93, 6-8 in SWAC). pre diction: Fust The Devflettes came from a sixth place finish last year to upset Southern in the tournament finals for the league cham pionship. This year Valley won't have the opportunity to be the surprise team in the league. With the entire starting lineup and eight of nine letters dinners returning. Valley has been picked to claim to cham pionship. But coach Jessie Harris isn't feeling any added pressure. "We fell pretty good about this team," Harris said. "We know its not going to. be easy. We are working to prepare ourselves. I fell we'll able at the top of the conference race." The star player for the Devilettes this season will be center Donna White. Last year the six-foot senior was voted the tour nament's most valuable player after lead ing Valley to the championship. White averaged 16 points and 10.1 rebounds last year. Valley's other returning starters are 5 10 senior forward Vanessa Harris (12.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg), 5-9 forward/guard Stephanie Garden (6.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 5-9 sophomore guard Erica Scott (7.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.1 apg) and 5-8 sophomore guard Demetriss Brown (11.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg). SOUTHERN (20-7, 12-2), prcdic tk?: Second What will Southern coach Herman Harunen do for an encore? Jaguar Cans would love a repeal of last season. In his first year of coaching women's basketball, Hartmen led the Lady Jaguars to its first regular season title championship. Southern lost to Mississippi Valley in the championship game of the tournament. Southern lost leading scorer Thelma Wilhite to graduation, but the Lady Jaguars return several capable scorers. Senior Jessica Davis returns this sea son after averaging 16.6 points and 11.0 rebounds. Donna Washington, who missed most of last year with an injury, averaged 17HI points and 10.6 rebounds two years ago. "We have two talented and experi enced inside players in Jessica and Donna,' Hartmen said. "However, let us keep in mind that talent alone will not be enough to put a winner on the basketball court We will have several other ingredi ents." Southern will be aided by the return of point guard Lakeba Hibbler, who dished out 121 assist last year. JACKSON STATE (10-18, 7-7) prediction: Third The Lady Tigers are expected to be much improved with the inside duo of Tera Sheriff and Kim Lin son, a transfer from Ole Miss, had some good numbers her first year at JSU. The 6-1 junior aver aged 16.1 points and 10.3 rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers. Linson, a 6-2 junior, avenged 12 points and 6.1 rebounds. JSU should be much better at the guard spot with the return of Gwen Spann. Last year Spann averaged 6.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and three assist per game. Eve lyn Wilson broke into the starting lineup as a freshmen last year. The 5-8 sopho more averaged 4.3 points and four rebounds. Syfvia Lovind and Yolando Brown are also expected to be big contributors for the Lady Tigers. GRAMBUNG STATE (12-14, 8-6), prediction: Fourth It's been four years since the Lady Tigers of Grambling's reign as champion. Over the last two year Pat Bibbs have suffered consecutive losing season. But Grambling is expected to be much improved this season. "We were playing with a lot of injuries last season," Bibbs said. "We didn't have much expected to much better. Grambling's returning starters are 5-8 junior forward Angela Hall (13.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and 5-6 sophomore guard Lisa Bruins (8.7 ppg. 4.1 rpg). Freshmen likely to play and have an impact on the team include forwards Tamke Lands (5-1 \\ Joy Bowie (6-3) and Melinda Folk (6-0). Bibbs believes that this year's team should surpass last year's performance. "It must have the heart and desire of last year's team that was a surprise third in SWAC despite a lack of height," Bibbs said. "We should have the height this sea son to complete on the boards." ALCORN STATE (16-8, 12-2), pre diction: Fifth Lady Braves coach Shirley Walker admits that last year was a big surprise. Alcorn went 16-8 overall and won its third straight SWAC championship after shar ing the title with Southern. Getting its fourth title would be a big stretch this year for Alcorn. "I didn't think we would go as far," Walker said. "All the girls worked hard and gave 100 percent." Walker will need another effort like that this season. The Lady Braves hopes rest with the leadership of returning starters Nikki Tatum, JoAnn Simpson, and Ira Fuquay. Last year Tatum averaged 12 2 points and 93 rebounds while Simpson averaged 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds. Fuquay, who lead the conference with a 9.2 assist aver age, was second on the team in scoring with a 14.2 average. ALABAMA STATE (8-16, 6-8), prediction: Sixth The Lady Hornets return eight letter men including three starters for this sea son. Alabama State is hoping for a big year from guard Latricia McDole. McDole, a 5-9 senior, was fourth in the conference with a 17.4 average. She grabbed 4.2 rebounds and made 2.8 assist per game. The loss of Sherri Harris is a major concern for coach Ron Mitchell, but he is still optimistic about the season. "Experience in the backcourt will be one weakness," Mitchell said. "But over all, the 1993-94 Lady Hornets will have more speed and better shooting in the backcourt** TEXAS SOUTHERN (11-16, 5-9) prediction: Seventh It could be a tough your for first-year coach Star Williams. Williams, a former assistant at Louisville, replaced Robert Gatlin who resigned following the season. If William is to turn the TSU program around, she'll have to it with at team that lost seven seniors and four starters from a year ago. The only returning starter is Kimberly Jeffery, who was voted confer ence Freshmen of the Year. She averaged 1 1 .7 points and 9.7 rebounds. PRAIRIE VIEW (2-25, 0-14), pre diction: Eighth With four of nine letterwinners and three starters returning, the Lady Panthers are hoping to crack into the win column in the conference. For the second straight year Prairie View failed to win a game within the league. r Out of Control You've spent it least $170 in one But as long as we continue to come night. out to cheer U and Shaq and Barry Bonds At "cheap" Indiana? Four tickets at and Barry Sanders, and as long as these $21 each and you're still over $100. guys can keep getting these unimaginable Maybe it's better to save all that money, to-you-and-me salaries, tickets will contin but a big screen T.V., some Orville Reden- ue to go up. bacher and watch this stuff at home. Then What's it gonna cost in five years to again, the way things are going, you're go to the game with your family? Two gonna have to order any game you want to hundred? Three hundred? see on pay-per-view. Me, I think fans are gonna stop show ing up. Soon. But I've got a solution. Rookies in all sports should not be allowed to make more than the top veter ans. In fact, let's set a cap on rookie salaries. Take hoops for instance. No rook should make more than $500,00. I can live off a half-million. Couldn't you? from page 3 The highest paid player on the team shouldn't make any more than $5 million a year. I mean, ain't that enough to get buy and pay the electric bill on the 30th? These are two simple rules that could help save sports as we know them. Laugh if you want Call me stupid. But someone better listen soon. ? By Langston Wertz Jr.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 30, 1993, edition 2
8
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75