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WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW
The Red & Black | Tuesday, November 7, 2006 | 5
Women’s Basketball
MARIA
TAYLOR
No. 12,
Forward
Sophomore
6-foot-2
Alpharetta
Likely Role: Coming off bench
Stat from Last Year: Was an All-
SEC freshman team member for
volleyball, registering 338 kills and
44 blocks.
Note from Last Year: Tried to join
Lady Bulldogs last fall, but SEC
rules regarding two-sport athletes
prevented it.
Outlook: Once volleyball season
ends, Taylor will add much-needed
depth to the Georgia frontcourt.
Interesting Note: Holds
Centennial High School records
for career points (1,888) and
rebounds, also earning first-team
All-State honors in volleyball.
JANESE
HARDRICK
No. 14, Guard
Senior
5-foot-6
Powder
Springs
Likely Role: Starting guard
Stat from Last Year: Recorded 10
of her 15 double-digit point games
against SEC foes.
Note from Last Year: Doubled
her previous career high for steals
in a game by picking eight against
Alabama.
Outlook: After serving as the
“Sixth Woman” for most of the last
two seasons, Hardrick, often effec
tive off the bench, will likely get a
chance to start.
Interesting Note: While at
McEachern High School, scored
2,600 career points, nearly dou
bling the previous record.
MEGAN
DARRAH
No. 24,
Guard/Forward
Junior
6-foot-3
Moreland
Likely Role: May start or come off
bench
Stat from Last Year: Hit six three-
pointers, one less than the
Georgia single game record, in 25
minutes against Ole Miss.
Note from Last Year: Started all
32 games last year, the only
returning Lady Bulldog to accom
plish the feat.
Outlook: Darrah will comfortably
move back to the perimeter. Her
versatility in playing either guard
or forward will earn her minutes.
Interesting Note: Was also a
standout volleyball player in high
school, earning Player of the Year
honors as a junior.
Lady Dogs
battle back from injuries
TOM O’CONNOR | The Red & Black
A Janese Hardrick (14) drives to the basket during Georgia’s 76-50 exhibition win over
West Alabama Thursday.
By JAMIE CWALINSKI
j cwalinsk@randb. com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A
year later, Angel Robinson
apologizes for screaming as
loud as she did.
Then again, the piercing
shrieks Lady Bulldog fans
heard inside Stegeman
Coliseum last November were
not without good reason.
Less than two minutes
into her Georgia career,
Robinson, the prized fresh
man expected to contribute
significantly in the post, tore
her ACL in the Lady
Bulldogs’ first exhibition
game.
What probably made
coach Andy Landers want to
scream was the fact that
Robinson’s injury came not
long after fellow forward
Rebecca Rowsey tore her
ACL as well.
“I’ve coached 32 years and
prior to last year, I had three
torn ACLs that were mine
(happened to players once on
his roster),” Landers said.
“Then, in a matter of days ...
(crunching sound).”
Thus was the story of last
year’s Lady Bulldogs. Injuries
and defections over the
course of the year left the
team with a steady rotation
of seven players, and those
seven were forced to play
lengthy minutes sometimes
through injuries of their own.
Nonetheless, the health
limitations only make the fact
that Georgia reached the
“Sweet 16” of the NCAA tour
nament and were a
Connecticut prayer shot
away from advancing further
more impressive.
Entering this fall, the
mood at preseason practice
should be one of optimism for
a rebuilt roster recovered
from injury.
But once again, the health
of the Lady Bulldogs has
come into question.
Robinson and Rowsey are
still working to get back into
playing shape. Forward Tasha
Humphrey is also on the
mend from offseason knee
surgery.
And the ACL bug has
found its way to the program
again — freshman recruit
Jaleesa Rhoden may redshirt
this year after blowing out
her knee last spring.
Landers sums up the situ
ation as “tricky,” adding that
he now gets reports twice a
day from the team’s trainers.
“We have five coming off
surgery in some form, and
nine at practice,” he said.
“They need conditioning, but
if we’re not careful, we’ll do
something to take someone
out longer.”
“We did what we did last
year with seven or eight kids,
and now we have nine (ready
to play). The big difference
was that last year we had pre
season conditioning and
practice and everyone was in
shape. Now it’s a matter of
maintaining.”
Robinson, in particular,
claimed at the SEC Media
Days Oct. 26 that she was at
about “92 percent” health-
wise, but should be ready to
go by the season opener “as
long as I don’t do anything
stupid.”
However, the talented for
ward, who overcame a torn
ACL in high school, has bat
tled swelling in the knee this
fall and still faces rehab tac
tics.
“I sit in the whirlpool three
to four times a week for 15
minutes, I still gotta ice
down,” she said.
When Robinson steps on
the floor for the first time this
season, it will be a year over
due but at least a partial end
to frustration.
“There were times last
year where I wanted to jump
off the bench and grab a jer
sey,” she said. “But I learned
a lot and I’m now ready to get
in there.”
TASHA
HUMPHREY
No. 34,
Forward
Junior
6-foot-3
Gainesville
Likely Role: Starting forward
Stat from Last Year: Her 20.1
points per game was the second
highest number in the SEC, and
her .500 three-point percentage
was top in the conference.
Note from Last Year: Earned
Kodak All-American honors and
was a finalist for the State Farm
Wade Trophy, which honors the
nation’s top player.
Outlook: Once her six-game sus
pension ends, Humphrey will be
back in the mix for conference and
national player of the year honors,
as added depth in the post should
make her job easier.
Interesting Note: Her mother is
Lady Bulldogs assistant coach
Brenda Hill.
CORI
CHAMBERS
No. 21, Guard
Senior
5-foot-9
Elmsford, N.Y.
Likely Role: Starting at guard
Stat from Last Year: Broke the
Georgia single-season record for
three-pointers with 78.
Note from Last Year: Became the
27th Lady Bulldog to score 1000
points in a career. She enters this
year with 1,058.
Outlook: Chambers, playing sig
nificant minutes at guard, will likely
break Georgia’s career three-point
mark, which she is currently 56
behind.
Interesting Note: Is a member of
Delta Sigma Theta sorority off the
court.
ANGEL
ROBINSON
No. 33,
Forward
Redshirt
Freshman
6-foot-5
Marietta
Likely Role: May start or come off
bench
Stat from Last Year: Tore her ACL
less than two minutes into
Georgia's exhibition opener.
Note from Last Year: Despite
earning a medical redshirt, began
light shooting and practice with the
team at the end of last season.
Outlook: If she can stay healthy,
the former “Ms. Georgia
Basketball” in high school should
give the Lady Bulldogs much-
needed minutes in the post.
Interesting Note: Her No. 34 is
retired at Marietta High School.
REBECCA ROWSEY
No. 50, Forward
Redshirt Junior
6-foot-3
Henderson, Tenn.
Likely Role: May start or come off
bench
Stat from Last Year: Missed entire sea
son after tearing ACL.
Note from Last Year: Was Georgia's representative on the
SEC Good Works Team, honoring her community service.
Outlook: Rowsey, who started every game in 2004, will join
Robinson in solidifying the Lady Bulldog front court.
Interesting Note: Is a member of the University's Honors
Program and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll
for the third straight year in 2005.
ASHLEY HOUTS
No. 1, Guard
Freshman
5-foot-6
Trenton
Likely Role: In mix to start at guard
Stat from Last Year: Averaged 24.2 points per game in
leading Dade County High School to the state tournament.
Note from Last Year: Was named team MVP, her fourth
selection in as many years.
Outlook: Counted on to help replace departed guards
Alexis Kendrick and Sherill Baker, Houts could share a
feat of theirs - starting as a freshman.
Interesting Note: Was named homecoming queen at her
high school last fall.
JALEESA RHODEN
No. 15, Guard
Freshman
5-foot-8
London, Ontario
Likely Role: Status unknown following ACL surgery last
spring
Stat from Last Year: Averaged 27.8 points per game in
leading London Central Secondary School to a tournament
runner-up finish.
Note from Last Year: Led Team Ontario to a third straight
Canadian championship in her different age groups.
Outlook: Rhoden may be redshirted after undergoing knee
surgery and facing rehabilitation.
Interesting Note: Is Georgia’s second-ever recruit from
Canada (Angie Ball played from 1997-2000)
CHRISTY MARSHALL
No. 22, Guard/Forward
Freshman
6-foot-1
Savannah
Likely Role: Coming off bench
Stat from Last Year: Averaged 22 points and nine
rebounds per game and led Beach High School to the
state tournament.
Note from Last Year: Was named Georgia’s 2006 Class
AAAAA Player of the Year by the Georgia Athletic Coaches
Association.
Outlook: Marshall, who has battled nagging leg injuries,
could see minutes off the bench once fully healthy.
Interesting Note: Was one of 33 players invited to try out
for the USA Basketball 18-and-under national team.
ALABAMA
Head Coach: Stephany Smith (second
season)
Last Year’s record: 9-19 (3-11 SEC)
/ 1 \' I ' Last Year’s Finish: 11th in SEC; no
postseason
Returning Starters: Four
Key Players: Moore (Sr., 12.5 ppg, 51 assists), G Kate
Mastin (Sr., 44 three-pointers, 9.6 ppg)
Outlook: Though the Crimson Tide return four senior
starters, the rest of the team is young. This is likely the
second year of Smith’s rebuilding process.
ARKANSAS
Head Coach: Susie Gardner (fourth sea-
son )
155^■■ Last Year’s record: 13-15 (5-9 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: T8th in SEC; no post
season
Returning Starters: Three
Key Players: F Sarah Pfeifer (Sr., 12.4 ppg, 4.7 reb per
gm), F Whitney Jones (So., 6.5 ppg, 22 blocks)
Outlook: Staying healthy will be the key to any successes
for the Lady Razorbacks, as injuries decimated them last
year. Still, this team may be a year away from contention.'
AUBURN
Head Coach: Nell Fortner (third season)
Last Year’s record: 14-15 (4-10 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: 10th in SEC; no
postseason
Returning Starters: Three
Key Players: G/F DeWanna Bonner (So., 13.5 ppg, 40
steals), C Keke Carrier (So., 9.1 ppg, 5 reb per gm.)
Outlook: The Lady Tigers have sizable youngsters in
Bonner (6-foot-4) and Carrier (6-foot-7). An NIT berth is
likely for a team that is probably a year away from becom
ing a true contender.
LSU
rfJOi&r Head Coach: Pokey Chatman (third
VKjjSjW* Last Year’s record: 31-4 (13-1 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: 1st in SEC, lost in
NCAA tournament Final Four
Returning Starters: Three
Key Players: C Sylvia Fowles (Jr., 15.9 ppg, 75 blocks), G
Erica White (Jr., 5.6 ppg, 5.4 asst, per gm.)
Outlook: It’s always a challenge following the loss of a
player the caliber of Augustus, but Fowles' dominance
inside should keep the Tigers in contention for another
SEC title
O&MtSS
OLE MISS
Head Coach: Carol Ross (fourth sea
son)
Last Year’s Record: 17-14 (5-9 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: T8th in SEC, lost in
second round of NIT
Returning Starters: Four
Key Players: Price (Sr., All-SEC First Team, 17.7 ppg), G
Ashley Awkward (Sr., 39 steals, 9.8 ppg)
Outlook: The Lady Rebs return four starters from a team
that just missed the Big Dance last year. With Price a fac
tor on both ends, they could squeeze in this year.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach: Sharon Fanning (12th
season)
Last Year’s Record: 6-22 (1-13 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: 12th in SEC, no
postseason
Returning Starters: Three
Key Players: G/F Robin Porter (So., 10.6 ppg, 6.0 reb per
gm.), G Miayorka Johnson (Jr., 8.3 ppg, 3.6 reb. per gm.)
Outlook: Porter is talented and will keep the young Lady
Bulldogs in games, but it could be another long winter in
Starkville.
FLORIDA
Head Coach: Carolyn Peck (seventh
season)
Last Year’s record: 21-9 (8-6 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: T5th in SEC, lost in
first round of NCAA tournament
Returning Starters: One
Key Players: G Sha Brooks (So., 13.7 ppg, 65 steals), G
Marshae Dotson (So., 6.8 ppg, 18 steals)
Outlook: The Lady Gators lost most of the seniors who led
last season’s postseason run. If the team’s sophomores
step up, a return trip to March is not out of the question.
KENTUCKY
Head Coach: Mickie DeMoss (fourth
season)
Last Year’s Record: 22-9 (9-5 SEC)
3. Last Year’s Finish: 4th in SEC, lost in
second round of NCAA tournament
Returning Starters: Five
Key Players: G Samantha Mahoney (Jr., 11.9 ppg, 38
steals), C Sarah Elliott (Jr., 11.2 ppg, 40 blocks)
Outlook: The Wildcats are the conference's dark horse.
Ten players from last year’s surprise squad return, mean
ing the Kentucky men’s team may not be the only one
playing deep into March.
TENNESSEE
Head Coach: Pat Summitt (33rd sea
son)
Last Year’s Record: 31-5 (11-3 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: 2nd in SEC, lost in
NCAA Tournament “Elite Eight”
Returning Starters: Four
Key Players: Parker (So., All-American, 17.3 ppg), G
Alexis Hornbuckle (Jr., 9.9 ppg, 91 steals)
Outlook: The Lady Vols come in bitter after failing to
escape the loaded Cleveland region last March. With
Parker, a potential Player of the Year, on board and
Summitt on the bench, a Final Four run is possible.
GEORGIA
Head coach: Andy Landers (28th sea
son)
Last year’s record: 23-9 (10-4 SEC)
Last year’s finish: 3rd in SEC, “Sweet
16” of NCAA tournament
Returning starters: Three
Key Players: F Tasha Humphrey (Jr., 20.1 ppg, 9.1 reb per
game), G Cori Chambers (Sr., 11.3 ppg, 78 three-pointers)
Outlook: Landers’ team making it to March has become a
lock. How healthy the team stays will determine just for far
it will go.
VANDERBILT
Head Coach: Melanie Balcomb (fifth
VANDERBILT,, season)
Last Year’s record: 21-11 (8-6 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: T5th in SEC, lost in
second round of NCAA tournament
Returning Starters: Four
Key Players: G Dee Davis (Sr., 7.8 ppg, 212 assists),
Sherwood (Jr., 12.7 ppg, 31 blocks)
Outlook: Balcomb feels this could be the best Vandy team
she’s coached, and having three seniors and Sherwood
inside validates that. The ’Dores should hover around the
Top 25 all year.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Head Coach: Susan Walvius (10th
Season)
Last Year’s Record: 17-12 (7-7 SEC)
Last Year’s finish: 7th in SEC, lost in
first round of NIT
Returning Starters: Five
Key Players: F Melanie Johnson (Sr., 11 ppg, 67 steals); F
Iva Sliskovic (Sr., 8.0 ppg, 37 blocks)
Outlook: The Lady Gamecocks overachieved last year
and return all five starters, plus the dominant Johnson.
Strong on defense, this will be the team high seeds won’t
want to see in March.
compiled, by Jamie Cwalinski