2017-18
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2017-18
W
hen Spring Hill College (SHC) women’s basketball coach Karen McConico looks toward the 2017-18 season she sees a new era in Badger Basketball. “Admittedly, we lost a ton of experience to graduation at the end of last year,” she says. “But at the same time, we have two seniors in Jennifer Clark and Jewel Hill who have been in our system for four years now and it’s really beginning to snap for them as to what we are trying to do.” McConico is also enthusiastic about her underclassmen. “Our younger players are very excited about the year and playing very hard,” she says. “Hopefully that energy and hard work will make up for their lack of experience.” McConico has been pleased with the early leadership of her senior guards Clark of Kenner, La., and Hill from St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Mobile. “They have been good leaders for us,” she says. “Sophomore forward Tiffany Valentine of Houston, Texas, has also been a pleasant surprise. She had to sit out last year with a medical red shirt and she is eager to get back into the action and prove herself again. She really missed the game last year and appreciates being back.” Still, the Badger head coach knows that she still has a young team on her hands. “They will have to adjust to things quickly this year,” she says. “I think our biggest challenge will be in rebounding. The last several years rebounding has been our strongest feature and we lost our top rebounders. It will be an adjustment for me as a coach to recognize that fact and work around it, but at the same time, it’s something we have challenged our players to solve. Somebody has to step up and take ownership of rebounding and I’ve challenged all of our players to do it.” A 2017 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) All-Conference selection and the conference Freshman of the Year, Elise Reilly from Covington, La., returns to her sharpshooting position on the outside this year, but McConico assures fans that her team is more than a “one-trick pony.” “Elise will continue to be Elise and we need her to continue to be the shooter that she is, but this year she won’t be pressured to be our offense,” she says. “Clark knows she has to take her game to another level to make that possible and center Katie Krout (sophomore, Tuscaloosa, Ala.) has to establish herself under the basket. Katie needs to improve on her defensive skills, but she really
wants it and she works hard every day. Last year, it was hard to find minutes for her, but when we did, she came on strong at the end of the year.” Senior Angel Carthen of Wilmer, Ala., had a solid first season in purple and white after joining the Badgers in 2016 while sophomores forward Windee Johnson of Greenbriar, Tenn., and guard Daja Walker of Tuskegee, Ala., will step into larger roles this year. Sophomore guard Gabrielle Moore of Memphis, Tenn., will provide a solid defensive presence and Kennedi Goff from Picayune, Miss., will see time at the guard position. Transfer junior point guard Anna Jofresa from Barcelona, Spain, looks to step in and bring the high basketball IQ, great leadership, and experience that the Badgers need in that role. McConico is also excited about freshman Carrington Matias of Henderson, N.C., who will bring passion and excitement at the point guard position as she adjusts to the collegiate game. Five freshmen guards joined the Badgers during the recruiting season and McConico sees bright futures for Ava Verner of Boerne, Texas, Destiny Street of Leakesville, Miss., Angel Benson of Madison, Ala., Brandy Lee of Adamsville, Ala., and Claire Johnson of Duluth, Ga. “This year we have worked on shooting, shooting and more shooting every day,” McConico says in reference to the early workouts. “We have to shoot better this year for our offense to click, but our ladies are playing hard and they all want it this time around.” The schedule makers dealt the Badgers a tough slate in the early going with most of December and January being on the road, but McConico sees it as a blessing. “Sometimes it’s good to be away from home as a young team,” she says. “There’s an added nervousness at home for younger players working in front of friends and fans. The road will let us get the jitters out of our system and settle in. It offers fewer distractions and helps you focus in on the task ahead of you. It helps you bond as a team.” McConico looks forward to getting the new edition of Badger Basketball on the court. “This year we are young, but we will be fun for fans to watch,” she says. “Sure, we’ll have our growing pains, but I just ask the fans to stick with us and watch this team grow because by the time it’s all said and done they will like what they see.”
GENERAL FACTS:
COACHING STAFF Karen McConico - Head Coach, 7th season Karen McConico begins her seventh season as the head coach of Spring Hill College women’s basketball program. During McConico’s seven-year tenure as Assistant Coach at High Point University, the Panthers built an overall record of 118-94 including a 65-37 record in the Big South Conference as the program completed the transitioned from NCAA Division II to Division I status. McConico was a major factor in the Panthers’ regular reason Big South Championship in 2006-07 and their trip to the National Women’s Invitation Tournament (NWIT) that same season. On the court, McConico still ranks as the all-time leading scorer in High Point men’s and women’s basketball history with 2,616 points scored from 1994-98 when the Panthers played among the NCAA Division II ranks. She is also the all-time assists leader at HPU with 645 handouts and ranks fourth in career rebounding with 904 boards. McConico, a native of Apex, N.C., graduated from HPU with a bachelor’s degree in Human Relations in 1998. She played professionally in Switzerland from 1998 to 2000 where she averaged 25 points per game as a point guard. She began her coaching career in 2000 at Cary (N.C.) High School where she was head coach until 2002. She is married to Calvin McConico, Jr., she has one son, Karvin.
Amy Calhoun - Assistant Coach, 7th season A native of Apex, N.C., Calhoun is in her seventh season at SHC following a four-year playing career at High Point University where she played in 121 games with 61 starts. The former forward finished her career as the 10th leading scorer in High Point’s NCAA Division 1 history by scoring 813 points and fourth in assists with 248 handouts.
Tanzania Lewis - Student Manager
Lourdes Taylor - Student Manager
Institution: Spring Hill College City/State/Zip: Mobile, AL 36608 Founded: 1830 Enrollment: 1,200 Nickname: Badgers School Colors: Purple, white Home Facility: Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center Capacity: 1,500 Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Division: West President: Christopher Puto, PhD Athletic Director: Jim Hall Alma Mater: Grinnell College, 1995 Compliance: Chad LeBlanc Senior Woman Administrator: Courtnay Foster Faculty Athletic Representative: Dr. Steve Almquist, PhD Athletic Department Phone: 251-380-3485 Athletic Department Fax: 251-460-2196 Sports Information Director: Jim Stennett Alma Mater: Mississippi State, 1990 SID Phone: (251) 380-4468 SID Email: jstennett@shc.edu Athletic Web Site: www.shcbadgers.com Facebook: SHCBADGERS Twitter: SHCBADGERS Instagram; SHCBADGERS
COACHING STAFF:
Head Coach: Karen McConico Alma Mater: High Point, 1998 Record at school/years: 64-99/6 years Career record/years: 64-99/6 years Office Phone: (251) 380-3488 Assistant Coach: Amy Calhoun (6 years) Head Athletic Trainer: Dani Ellis, ATC Office Phone: 251-380-3493
TEAM INFORMATION:
Overall Record Last Year: 14-12 Conference/Finish: 8-8 (4th of 7 SSAC West) Starters returning/lost: 1/4 First Year: 1973 Overall Record: 460-630 (since 1977)
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2017-18 ROSTER No. Player
Pos.
Class Ht.
Exp. Hometown/Previous School(s)
2 3 4 10 11 13 15 21 22 23 25 32 33 34 35 44 50
PG G G G G PG G G F F G G C/F F G G G
Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. So. Sr. So. Fr. So. R-So. Fr. So. Fr.
HS 2L 1L HS 2L JC 1L HS 1L 1L SQ HS 1L 1L HS 1L HS
Carrington Matias Jennifer Clark Gabrielle Moore Ava Verner Jewel Hill Anna Jofresa Daja Walker Destiny Street Windee Johnson Angel Carthen Kennedi Goff Angel Benson Katie Krout Tiffany Valentine Brandy Lee Elise Reilly Claire Johnson
2016-17 RESULTS
5-3 5-6 5-4 5-10 5-9 5-5 5-7 5-5 5-10 5-9 5-3 5-7 5-11 6-1 5-9 5-7 5-9
Date
Opponent
Nov. 11 Nov. 12 Nov. 14 Nov. 17 Nov. 19 Nov. 22 Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Dec. 12 Dec. 15 Dec. 17 Jan. 2 Jan. 5 Jan. 7 Jan. 12 Jan. 14 Jan. 16 Jan. 19 Jan. 23 Jan. 26 Jan. 28 Jan. 30 Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 10 Feb. 16 Feb. 18 Feb. 20 Feb. 23
University of West Alabama Home W; 55-54 at Southern University (Exhibition) Baton Rouge, La. L; 53-68 University of Mobile Home L; 66-69 (OT) at University of South Alabama (Exhibition) USA Mitchell Center L; 33-38 at University of West Alabama Livingston, Ala. W; 63-50 at University of West Florida Pensacola, Fla. L; 51-81 Loyola University (La.) Home L; 57-68 at University of Mobile Univ. of Mobile L; 59-63 William Carey University Home W; 56-46 at Shaw University Raleigh, N.C. W; 83-67 at High Point University (Exhibition) High Point, N.C. L; 58-74 *Paine College Home W; 77-54 *at Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, Ga. L; 60-77 *at Albany State University Albany, Ga. W; 54-47 *at Tuskegee University Tuskegee, Ala. W; 59-49 *Benedict College Home L; 52-64 *Claflin University Home L; 39-48 *Clark Atlanta University Home W; 78-74 at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Montgomery, Ala. W; 82-53 *at Miles College Fairfield, Ala. W; 71-66 *at Lane College Jackson, Tenn. L; 54-65 *LeMoyne-Owen College Home W; 68-48 *Central State University Home L; 70-76 *Kentucky State University Home W; 96-54 Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Home W; 86-66 *at LeMoyne-Owen College Memphis, Tenn. W; 85-63 *at Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio L; 58-81 *at Kentucky State University Frankfort, Ky. L; 58-66 *Lane College Home L; 65-70
*SIAC game
Site
Henderson, N.C./Southern Vance HS Kenner, La./Mount Carmel Academy Memphis, Tenn./Memphis Catholic HS Boerne, Texas/Samuel V. Champion HS Mobile, Ala./St. Luke’s Episcopal HS Barcelona, Spain/IES La Sedeta/College of Southern Idaho Tuskegee, Ala./Booker T. Washington HS Leakesville, Miss./Greene Co. HS Greenbriar, Tenn./Pope John Paul II HS Wilmer, Ala./Faith Academy/Faulkner St. CC Picayune, Miss./Picayune Memorial HS Madison, Ala./James Clemens Tuscaloosa, Ala./Tuscaloosa Co. HS Houston, Texas/Lutheran High North Adamsville, Ala./ John Carroll Catholic HS Covington, La./Mandeville HS Duluth, Ga./Johns Creek HS
Result
2016-17 SIAC FINAL STANDINGS Team
East Division Benedict
Claflin
SIAC
Overall
14-1
22-8
9-6
15-12
Paine
5-11
11-17
Clark Atlanta
4-11
10-17
Central State
12-4
18-8
Miles
9-6
Fort Valley State 7-8 Albany State
West Division Lane
Spring Hill*
Kentucky State
6-10
8-20
10-6
12-15
8-8
14-12
7-9
LeMoyne-Owen 5-11
Tuskegee
10-17
5-10
14-13 11-15 7-22
10-16
*Not eligible for the SIAC Tournament during reclassification process
2017-18 ROSTER
2
3
4
10
11
13
15
21
22
23
25
32
33
34
35
44
50
Carrington Matias Freshman
Destiny Street Freshman
Brandy Lee Freshman
Jennifer Clark Senior
Windee Johnson Sophomore
Elise Reilly Sophomore
Gabrielle Moore Sophomore
Angel Carthen Senior
Ava Verner Freshman
Kenndi Goff Sophomore
Jewel Hill Senior
Angel Benson Freshman
Claire Johnson Freshman
www.shcbadgers.com
Anna Jofresa Junior
Katie Krout Sophomore
Daja Walker Sophomore
Tiffany Valentine R-Sophomore
2017-18 SCHEDULE Date
Opponent
Site
Time
Nov. 6
at Southern University (Exhibition)
Baton Rouge, La.
6 p.m.
University of Tampa Tournament Challenge; Tampa, Fla. at University of Tampa Nov. 10 Nov. 11 vs. Palm Beach Atlantic University
Tampa, Fla. Tampa, Fla.
2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Nov. 14 Nov. 16 Nov. 18 Nov. 21 Nov. 27 Nov. 28 Nov. 30 Dec. 2 Dec. 8 Dec. 9 Dec. 12 Dec. 16 Dec. 18 Dec. 30 Jan. 4 Jan. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 15 Jan. 20 Jan. 22 Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Jan. 29 Feb. 3 Feb. 5 Feb. 12 Feb. 19 Feb. 21
Thibodaux, La. Home Home Home Univ. of Mobile Jackson, Miss. Fairfield, Ala. Tuskegee, Ala. Home Hattiesburg, Miss. Montgomery, Ala. Orangeburg, S.C. Columbia, S.C. Home Albany, Ga. Fort Valley, Ga. Jackson, Tenn. Memphis, Tenn. Home Home Home Home Home Frankfort, Ky. Wilberforce, Ohio Home Home Home
6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. (EST) 5:30 p.m. (EST) 2 p.m. 5:30 p.m. (EST) 1 p.m. (EST) 2 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. (EST) 5:30 p.m. (EST) 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
at Nicholls State University (Exhibition) Delta State University William Carey University University of West Florida at University of Mobile at Jackson State University (Exhibition) *at Miles College *at Tuskegee University Loyola University (La.) at William Carey University at Auburn University Montgomery (AUM) *at Claflin University *at Benedict College *Clark Atlanta University *at Albany State University *at Fort Valley State University *at Lane College *at LeMoyne-Owen College *Kentucky State University *Central State University University of Mobile *Tuskegee University *Miles College *at Kentucky State University *at Central State University *Paine College *LeMoyne-Owen College *Lane College
*SIAC game
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