Wednesday, November 05, 2008

11 Days of A-Sun Women's Basketball hits the midway point with a look at the Kennesaw State Lady Owls. The Lady Owls posted their first winning season in Division I with a 16-12 record and an 11-5 mark in A-Sun play.

Senior Britteny Henderson returns after a dominant junior season, in which she won the Player of the Year after she led the Lady Owls in scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.0 rpg). She is the leading returning rebounder in the A-Sun and the second-leading returning scorer, behind only USC Upstate’s Courtney. The coaches have tabbed her as the Preseason Player of the Year. Hawkins (16.4 ppg).

The Lady Owls enjoy the return of arguably the top on-ball defender in the conferece in Greteya Kelley, who led the A-Sun with 106 steals (3.79 per game), which was 30 more than ETSU’s Latisha Belcher, who posted the second most steals in the conference (76).

Coach Colby Tilley on the Lady Owls

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SEASON PREVIEW - (Courtesy Kennesaw State Media Relations)

Expectations are high for the Kennesaw State women's basketball program this season and head coach Colby Tilley couldn't be happier. His Lady Owls are coming off the program's first-ever winning Division I season and are picked No. 2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

Last season, the Lady Owls finished with 16-12 record and posted an 11-5 mark in the conference as they finished in a tie for third place with Jacksonville. With wins over the Dolphins and regular season champions, Florida Gulf Coast, confidence is soaring in Birdland this season.

"We are confident heading into this season," said KSU head coach Colby Tilley. "We know we have a tough schedule ahead of us and we are in a very difficult, competitive conference with a lot of good teams. But, we are coming off a good season, we gained a year of maturity and we have a good blend of returnees and newcomers."

The Black and Gold return two of the top players in the league this season in reigning A-Sun Player of the Year Britteny Henderson and Defensive Player of the Year in Greteya Kelley. The duo gives Kennesaw State one of the strongest one-two combinations in the conference. Last season, the pair combined to average 27.8 points, 12.7 rebounds and 157 steals.

"What a great place to start with building the program when you have two great players on your team," said Tilley. "Britteny is a complete, A-Sun type player and Greteya's defense has always been impressive."

Henderson dominated the A-Sun quickly last season and captured the attention of everyone in the league with her size, strength and mobility. Averaging 14.5 points and nine rebounds per game, Henderson was a three-time A-Sun Player of the Week while finishing the season fourth in scoring and second in both rebounding and field goal percentage.

"What more can you say about the conference Player of the Year?" added Tilley. "The defenses she faced last year told you that she has the respect of other coaches. She works hard and when she catches the ball around the basket she's going to score."

While the Lady Owls are scoring, Kelley will be controlling the opponents offensive. The A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year was far- and-away the most dynamic defender in the league. With a whopping 106 steals in just 28 games, Kelley (3.79 spg) topped the a-Sun by 30 steals as she was the only player in the conference to average over 2.5 steals a game. If not for KSU's transition to Divison I, Kelley would have ranked fifth in the nation in steals per contest.

"Greteya is so quick and smart on the defensive end she causes so much difficulty for our opponents. Plus, this summer she has really worked on her offensive game, especially her jump shot."

Kelley was the Lady Owls' second-leading scorer last season, averaging just over 13 points per game. She also led the Black and Gold in three-point percentage and was the top shooting guard, connecting on 39 percent of her shots from the field.

BACKCOURT

Also returning for Tilley and the Lady Owls this season is a solid core of upperclassmen, including a trio of guards, Jennifer Baker, Lennisha Johnson and Ashley Johnson.

Baker, a Second Team All-Atlantic Sun selection in her sophomore season, finished third on the team in scoring last season (8.3 ppg) and is back showing the skills that make her one of the most talented guards in the conference.

"As a sophomore she was all-conference," said Tilley. "This year, she's started in pre-season like she did her sophomore season, except better. She is working harder, going to the boards and shooting better. There is no telling the success we can have because she is that good."

Not only are the Lady Owls strong in the paint with Henderson, but also in the backcourt with Ashley Johnson. A started in 26 games at point guard for the Lady Owls, she led the team with 110 assists and was one of three players in the A-Sun to average over four assists per game with a 4.07 mark. She also was fifth in the league in assist/ turnover ratio.

"A.J. is a great floor leader," said Tilley. "She knows our system well, she has great leadership qualities and also knows what we expect from her."

Lennisha Johnson is a JUCO transfer who will look to share time with Ashley Johnson at point guard this season. One of the quickest players on the roster, Lennisha saw a limited role this season, playing in 11 games and averaging 2.3 ppg and 1.5 asp, but should see increased playing time this season.

"Lennisha does a good job at running the offense," added Tilley. "She is super quick and can also use her speed to make things happen on the defensive end."

Gia Locket is back for her third season and the Lady Owls are looking for this to be a breakout year for guard. Steadily improving over her first two years with the Black and Gold, Lockett is a steadfast, multi-talented player.

"Not only is Gia a very smart player," said Tilley. "She could be the best rebounding guard we have ever had here. She has such good timing that she can rebound over post players. She can read defenses well and has also improved her offensive game. If she doesn't start this year, she'll play a huge role for us."

JoeDonna Molden, Asia Minter, and Angie Smith will solidify the backcourt. Molden is back for her third season and is a solid addition off the bench. Her experience gives Coach Tilley not only depth, but also gives him a player who knows and can execute his style of play.

"JoeDonna's working hard," boasted Tilley. "She will fit into any success we have this season. She understands what the coaching staff wants and what is expected. She knows the system well and never gives less than 100 percent."

Minter is an exciting newcomer and a solid shooting rookie who the KSU coaching staff is looking at to make increasing contributions during the season.

"Asia is a very good perimeter shooter," mentioned Tilley. "She has a lot to learn on the defensive end and once she does, she'll compete for quite a bit of playing time."

Smith will likely see time on the court early in the season with Ashley Johnson out for an extended period of time. Coach Tilley is not worried as of yet, because Smith has been solid in the pre-season and comes with a tremendous prep pedigree from South Brevard High School in Florida.

"Angie will be competing for the starting point guard spot when we start the season," said Coach Tilley. "She may be the most well-rounded recruit we have had coming straight out of high school since the program transitioned to Division I."

FRONTCOURT 

Returning to join Henderson in the post this year will be Montinique Nixon. Bigger and stronger than last season, Nixon gives the Lady Owls another powerful option in the paint. Last season, Nixon made 23 starts and appeared in 28 games, giving KSU another threat in the post as she averaged 5.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.

"Montinique has improved from last season," added Tilley. "As a junior, she has shown improvement every season. She has gotten bigger as a presence inside and that's what we have been missing. We'll look for her to help us anchor the defense on the inside. Once she learns how to finish on the offensive end, she'll be a complete player."

DeAndrea Bullock is coming off a solid sophomore season in which she was fourth on the team in scoring and third in rebounding. The Lady Owls top reserve, Bullock was second in field goal percentage, shooting at a 43.5% clip and is one of the most versatile scoring threats KSU has as she is a threat both from the outside and can use her strong frame in the paint.

"DeAndrea is so valuable to us because she is a threat both outside and on the wing," boasted Tilley. "Percentage wise she is the best perimeter shooter we have, but with her size she can also go inside and get big rebounds for us and also has an uncanny knack for scoring."

Coach Tilley will also look to get solid minutes in the post from Oglethorpe transfer Jasmine Johnson and freshmen Davia Harris and Tamasha Bolden. The talented trio will likely see time as reserves as they progress and mature in the Lady Owls system.

"Jasmine gives us depth," commented Tilley. "She can push the other veterans and challenges the other post players while Davia is a typical freshman right now. She is still learning and needs to get stronger. Tamasha is a very solid recruit and she gives us another tall, athletic player down low."

SCHEDULE

Behind a solid core of veterans, the Lady Owls will need to get out of the gates quickly as they are faced with a challenging non- conference schedule that includes visits to three Atlantic Coast Conference schools.

Since becoming a Division I member, the Black and Gold will face second meetings with both the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Clemson Tigers. In addition, the second game of the year sees the Lady Owls tipping off against national powerhouse, North Carolina at the Dean Smith Center.

Road trips to Virginia has KSU battling Richmond and later in the season Longwood as the Lady Owls play seven of nine non-conference games away from home. Kennesaw State will also visit Troy and Jacksonville State rounding out the road slate.

The College of Charleston and Georgia Southern provide the Lady Owls' two home non-conference opponents.

"I think our schedule needs to be challenging because it gets us ready for the A-Sun schedule and that's the most important part," said Tilley. "Our players grow up wanting to play teams like UNC, Georgia Tech and Clemson and throw in our other non-conference opponents and we feel like that will help us prepare for our conference season and we all know how tough the A-Sun is on a nightly basis."

11 Days of A-Sun Basketball Schedule
Oct. 29 - Belmont
Oct. 30 - Campbell
Oct. 31 - ETSU
Nov.  3 - FGCU
Nov.  4 - Jacksonville
Nov.  5 - Kennesaw State
Nov.  6 - Lipscomb
Nov.  7 - Mercer
Nov. 10 - UNF
Nov. 11 - USC Upstate
Nov. 12 - Stetson