Monday, October 22, 2007

12 Days of A-Sun Basketball tips off with a closer look at the Belmont Bruins. The two-time regular-season and reigning tournament champions are led by head coach Tony Cross. Cross enters the 2007-08 season three wins away from 500. The Bruins enter the season as the second choioce of the coaches and the media. 

When Cross reaches the 500-win mark, Belmont will join three other programs as the only four in the country that feature 500-win coaches in both men's and women's hoops. His counterpart, Rick Byrd, reached the 500 mark last season. The other three schools with a pair of 500-win coaches are Connecticut (Geno Auriemma and Jim Calhoun), Arizona (Joan Bonvicini and Lute Olsen) and North Carolina (Sylvia Hatchell and Roy Williams).

In six seasons in the Atlantic Sun, the Bruins have won a pair of outright regular-season titles and shared a third. Their combined conference record is 81-33 for a win percentage of .711. Only ETSU (.727) has a higher conference win percentage. Over the last two seasons, the Bruins have gone 33-5 in the regular season in conference play.

Coach Tony Cross on the Bruins

Team Page

Roster

Schedule

2006-07 Statistics

SEASON PREVIEW - (Courtesy Belmont Media Relations)

Three wins are all that separate Head Coach Tony Cross from becoming the first Belmont women’s basketball coach to reach the 500 win plateau and join the 20 current Division I coaches who have already reached the milestone. More importantly, the two-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year is looking for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have more momentum than ever and are poised once again to challenge for and win the Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament titles to advance to the NCAA Tournament for a second year.

The Returners

With a trip to the NCAA Tournament fresh in their minds, this year’s class of seniors is eager to assist the Belmont women’s basketball team to make another title run. Laura Cowley, Brittany Myers and Brooke Sunday have been instrumental during their first three years as Bruins in moving the program toward achieving one of its loftiest goals.

“I am really excited about our team and our potential this year. We have a group of returners who have a lot of experience, maturity and leadership ability. Our seniors are ready to lead this team and our newcomers are eager to contribute,” said Head Coach Tony Cross.

Cowley, one of the league’s most dangerous shooters behind the three-point arc, returns to the BU lineup after being sidelined midway through last season with an injury. Despite only playing in 13 games, she still managed to hold onto one of the A-Sun top three-point shooting performances of the season (six three pointers in a single game). The War Trace, Tenn., native averaged 6.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest last year.

“She has worked diligently to come back from her injury. She has been playing well in the preseason. Her athleticism and shooting ability will help the team this year.”

Madison, Ind., native Myers made appearances in all 32 games with 15 starts last season. The quick thinking guard finished her junior year third on the team in assists with a total of 42. Myers averaged 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. “Brittany is one of the most intelligent players we have on the team right now. She can play any perimeter position and is one of the most versatile players on the team. Her maturity and leadership as a senior will also help the team.”

Sunday will serve as one of the anchors in the post for the Bruins. Last season, the Sparta, Tenn., native played in all 32 games with three starts. Sunday, who averaged 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per outing, was third on the team in offensive rebounds, pulling down a total of 35.

“This year, Brooke’s leadership has stepped up tremendously. She is playing with so much confidence and energy this year. Her role has changed every year with the program and she has adjusted well. This year we expect more productivity in the form of more points, stronger defense and improved rebounding from Brooke.”

Also making a strong return to the post is junior Jessica Bobbitt. The A-Sun’s leader in blocks needs to record only four to become Belmont’s all-time leader in the category. The Trenton, Tenn., native spent the majority of her sophomore campaign nationally ranked and finished the season at 10th in all of NCAA Division I. She also set the conference tournament record for most blocks in a game (8). Bobbitt, who was selected to the 2007 A-Sun All-Tournament team, averaged 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. She was also second on the team in field goals made (97), offensive (67) and defensive (144) rebounds, assists (56) and steals (43).

“Jessica will be a key for us this year. She has played a key role before but this year we expect her to step forward in a more consistent role than before. We will count on her every game. Jessica’s confidence and attitude will help her with her rebounding, defense and scoring.”

Headlining the sophomore class is Amber Rockwell. After redshirting her freshman year, the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native stepped into the lineup and became an immediate asset to the program. One of the Atlantic Sun’s best three-point shooters, Rockwell also made an impact on the national stage, coming away with national rankings in two categories -- three-point field-goal percentage (63rd, 35.4) and three-point field goals per game (95th, 2.0). The quick footed guard was second on the team in points per game (9.1) and field goals made (97).

“Amber has matured mentally and physically since last season. She turned in a lot of key moments for us last year and we are expecting her to do even more this year. She is another one of our most versatile players. Watching her learn to play well for herself and the team will help us succeed.”

Also returning and adding depth to the guard position is Kristin Bunch. Starting the last 16 games of the season, the Fayetteville, Ga., native helped turn up the team’s intensity during the final stretch of the 2006-07 campaign. Bunch averaged 4.4 points and 2.0 boards per contest.

“Kristin was probably our most consistent player in the preseason. She was very aggressive and more productive that we have ever seen. KB can create things offensively and we expect her to be one of the team’s leading scorers.”

Dynamo Shaunda Strayhorn also returns after an outstanding rookie season for the Bruins. The 5-6 guard led the team in free-throw shooting percentage (.778) and assists (60) and was second in three-point field goals made (39), and free throws made (70). The Dyersburg, Tenn., native averaged 9.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

“Shaunda had a great freshman year and we expect her to be even better this year. We depend on her energy and toughness - she just doesn’t back down! This year, Shaunda needs to lead our team vocally, mentally and emotionally.”

Tereva Moore shook off her freshman jitters early in the year and turned in many game changing plays throughout the season. The Memphis, Tenn., native averaged 6.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. She was also third on the team in blocks (13), defensive rebounds (95), and field goals made (67).

“We are expecting a lot from Tereva when she returns to the lineup next year. We were looking at her to be one of our returning starters before she injured her knee. Her work ethic and attitude will help her to make a 100 percent recovery. She is one of our most mature players. Tereva just has the ability to make something out of nothing.”

Rounding out the sophomore class is LaWanna Holiday, who returns to the Bruin lineup after sitting out all but two contests during the 2006-07 campaign with an injury. The Henderson, Tenn., native had a productive rookie season for BU, coming off the bench in all 30 games and averaging 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds per outing. That year, the 5-7 guard was third on the team in assists with a total of 45.

“LaWanna came back from being injured last year with a great frame of mind. We are counting on her to contribute early and often. She has basically had two years of learning and one year of playing time so we are expecting her to come out and play like a true veteran.”

The Newcomers

The lone junior transfer among the 2007-08 newcomers is Sharde’ Burkhead. The North Pole, Ak., native joins the Bruins after stints at Lake Region State College and Umpqua Community College. During her first year of collegiate play at UCC, she led the conference in scoring and was second in rebounding. Last season at LRSC, the 6-0 forward/post led the team in scoring and was second in rebounds and floor shooting. For her efforts, Burkhead received MVP and All-Conference honors.

“We are counting on Sharde’ to be productive early and often. She has picked things up well in the preseason and every day is becoming more and more comfortable with our system. Sharde’s experience and maturity will help our team throughout the season.”

A trio of highly-regarded freshmen round out the newest additions to the Bruin lineup - Brittney Everhart, Whitney Seals and Rachel Swisher.

Everhart averaged 10 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game as a senior at Gatlinburg Pittman High School. The Gatlinburg, Tenn., native was tabbed All-District as a junior and senior and led the team in steals for two consecutive years. She was named to the All-Region team as a senior and was a Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist.

“Brittney is a guard with a lot of energy and determination. She is eager to contribute to the team on and off the floor. Brittney is a fundamentally sound player and a great three-point shooter.”

Raceland, Ky., native Seals averaged 15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and was named All-State during senior year. She is the All-time leading scorer at Raceland High School with 1,614 total points. The three-time All-Area selection was named four times to the 63rd District Tournament Team and three times to 16th Regional Tournament Team.

“Whitney is probably the most athletic player on our team. We anticipate, as she gains experience and learns how to use her athleticism, she will progress quickly.”

Swisher averaged 18 points, eight rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a senior. The Franklin, Ky., native led her Franklin-Simpson High School team in scoring, three-point shooting (40.0), was second in defensive rebounds (3.7) and was third in steals (48). She was named to the All-District Team three times and the All-Region Team once.

“Rachel was slowed by a late start in the preseason but we are looking for her to do well as the year progresses. She has great ability in the post to shoot the three.”

The Schedule

The Belmont women’s basketball team will continue to test itself through yet another rigorous and ambitious schedule. This season, the Bruins will take on teams from the SEC, MAC, Ohio Valley, Big East, Conference USA and the Southland Conferences.

“By far, this is the most challenging schedule we have ever had,” said Cross. “With the progress our team has made over the last few years, reaching the WNIT last year and the NCAA Tournament this year, I think this schedule is the next step in challenging our players and this program to reach its highest levels of potential.”

Belmont will open the 2006-07 campaign on the road against TAMU-Corpus Christi and UTSA, both of the Southland Conference. The Bruins then return home to defend the Curb Event Center against Mississippi State, Bowling Green, Alabama and Montevallo.

BU will see intrastate action at Tennessee Tech (11/20), at Tennessee State (12/1) and at Memphis (12/14) before heading south of the border to participate in the Cancun Caribbean Classic (12/18-19). The Bruins will face off against first-time opponents South Florida and Tulsa.

Atlantic Sun play for Belmont begins on the road in North Carolina with stops at Campbell (1/5) and Gardner-Webb (1/7) before returning to Nashville for part one of the Battle of the Boulevard at Lipscomb (1/12). The Bruins will return home to the CEC for games against league newcomer USC Upstate (1/19) and ETSU (1/21). A stop in Georgia for contests at Mercer and Kennesaw State close out the month of January.

February opens with the Bruins hosting A-Sun newcomer Florida Gulf Coast (2/2), North Florida (2/9) and Jacksonville (2/11) with trips to Florida (Stetson, 2/4), South Carolina (USC Upstate, 2/16), and eastern Tennessee (ETSU, 2/18).

Belmont concludes league play with a three-game series at home, facing off in part two of the Battle of the Boulevard against Lipscomb (2/23) during Homecoming, followed by Campbell (2/28) and Gardner-Webb (3/1). The team will not have to travel far to compete in the Atlantic Sun Championship since it will be hosted by the Lady Bisons here in Nashville during the week of March 5-8.

12 Days of A-Sun Basketball Schedule
Oct. 22 - Belmont
Oct. 23 - Campbell
Oct. 24 - ETSU
Oct. 25 - Florida Gulf Coast
Oct. 26 - Gardner-Webb
Oct. 29 - Jacksonville
Oct. 30 - Kennesaw State
Oct. 31 - Lipscomb
Nov. 1 - Mercer
Nov. 2 - UNF
Nov. 5 - USC Upstate
Nov. 6 - Stetson