Women's Basketball Scouting Report
George Mason | Maryland | Navy | Virginia | Virginia Tech | Five Teams to Watch | Five Top Conferences | Five Top Players
From News Services
Saturday, Nov. 11, 2005; Page E7
Coach: Joe McKeown (431-154 overall, 363-134 at GW).
Last season: 23-9, 13-3 Atlantic 10.
Data: The Colonials got away from their traditional formula for success last season, becoming a more perimeter-oriented team. With the addition of 6-4 Jessica Adair, 6-3 Jazmine Adair and 6-2 Chantelle John, they have gone back to being big. Jessica Simmonds, a 6-2 senior and first-team all-conference preseason pick, anchors the front court. Simmonds is the top returning scorer (14.4 ppg) and rebounder (7.1 rpg). Point guard Kimberly Beck, last season's Atlantic 10 rookie of the year, also is back.
Coach: Melissa McFerrin (12-16 overall and at American).
Last season: 12-16, 7-7 Patriot League.
Data: The Eagles' season came unraveled last year when point guard Tala Hadavi tore her ACL after the eighth game. Hadavi is back, but four starters from last season's team are gone. Tara Williams, a 5-foot-6 junior guard from Newport News, Va., is the only player who played significantly last season. Williams started 18 games and averaged 6.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. McFerrin added five freshmen and Delaware transfer Liz Hayes, who must sit out this season under NCAA transfer rules.
Coach: Cathy Parson (263-149 overall, 80-66 at Howard).
Last season: 17-12, 11-7 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Data: The Bison welcome back sophomore guard Christina Aden, who was the team's leading returning scorer heading into last season but tore her Achilles' tendon and redshirted. She and senior guard Brittany James, the team's top returning scorer at 12 ppg, will try to fill the void left by Daisha Hicks, who as the second leading scorer in the league last season helped make Howard the most potent offensive team in the MEAC. Junior forward Melloni Benson (8.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) also must contribute.
Coach: Debbie Taneyhill (115-105 overall and at George Mason).
Last season: 12-16, 8-10 Colonial Athletic Association.
Data: The Patriots return 72 percent of their scoring, including senior guard Jen Daniels, who led the team with 10.9 points per game. Two players who had breakout freshman seasons, Moni Akintunde (7.9 ppg, 5 rpg) and Keyhana Wakefield (6.6 ppg), are expected to become bigger contributors. George Mason will add Lateisha Wade, a transfer from Marshall, who becomes eligible after the first semester. C'Vette Henson, a transfer from Maryland, will sit out this season.
Coach: Brenda Frese (107-71 overall, 50-41 at Maryland).
Last season: 22-10, 7-7 ACC.
Data: After reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year, the Terrapins added two McDonald's all-American guards: Marissa Coleman (St. John's) and Kristi Toliver. Maryland welcomes back sophomore forward-center Laura Harper, who played in nine games before rupturing her Achilles' tendon. Harper joins sophomore center-forward Crystal Langhorne to form a formidable front court. Junior guard Shay Doron, a first-team all-ACC pick, is the top returning scorer at 17.6 points per game.
Coach: Tom Marryott (24-35 overall and at Navy).
Last season: 11-18, 6-8 Patriot League.
Data: The Midshipmen's strength will be their back court of Lauren Skrel and Ashley Pelzek (7.1 ppg). Skrel, a senior point guard, led the league with 5.5 assists per game and made 44 percent of her three-point attempts. Junior Carly Meyer, a reserve forward last season, is the team's top returning scorer (9 ppg) and rebounder (4.9 rpg). After recording its first win in the Patriot League tournament in six years, Navy looks to build on that success. The Midshipmen were picked to finish sixth in the Patriot League.
Coach: Debbie Ryan (612-251 overall and at Virginia).
Last season: 21-11, 8-6 ACC.
Data: The Cavaliers are a young team with only one senior, forward Tiffany Sardin (5 ppg), and three juniors. Junior guard Brenna McGuire and sophomore point guard Sharnee Zoll are the lone returning starters. McGuire is the team's top returning scorer (6.3 ppg) and led the team with 59 three-pointers. Zoll broke Dawn Staley's freshman assist record at Virginia with 159. Virginia added height by bringing in 6-9 freshman Lindsay Hayward and 6-3 freshman Abby Robertson (Lake Braddock).
Coach: Beth Dunkenberger (82-62 overall, 17-12 at Virginia Tech).
Last season: 17-12, 6-8 ACC.
Data: The Hokies have plenty of experience back from last season's NCAA tournament team, including 75 percent of the offense and 80 percent of the rebounding. Four starters return. Senior forward Kerri Gardin is the top returning scorer (11.1 ppg) and rebounder (8 rpg). Senior guard-forward Dawn Chriss (11 ppg, 4.2 rpg) came on strong during the late part of the season and needs to be more consistent this season. Senior point guard Carrie Mason (10.4 ppg, 3.4 apg) averaged nearly 33 minutes per game last season.
Duke: Five starters, including potential top WNBA draft pick Monique Currie, return from last season's 31-5 team, and point guard Lindsey Harding is back after missing last season for violating team rules.
LSU: With Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles, the Tigers have the talent to win the title, but can they do it without current Mystics point guard Temeka Johnson?
Ohio State: Jessica Davenport and Brandie Hoskins are a strong inside-outside combination, but as last season's NCAA tournament loss to Rutgers showed, the Buckeyes must be more physical to be successful.
Rutgers: The mercurial Cappie Pondexter and Matee Ajavon form one of the better backcourts in the country, and the Scarlet Knights are always tough defensively.
Tennessee: Despite losing four players to knee injuries last season, the Lady Vols still managed to reach the Final Four. Dunking phenom Candace Parker, one of those with a knee injury, is expected to make her long-awaited debut, but the knee remains a concern.
ACC: In Duke, North Carolina and Maryland, the conference could have three top 10 teams.
SEC: The last 12 Final Fours have featured at least one team from this conference.
Big East: Half of the conference's 16 teams won 20 or more games last season.
Big 12: Who would have thought Baylor, not Texas, would be the first team from this conference to win a national title?
Big Ten: Since 2000, four league teams have made Final Fours: Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue and Penn State.
Seimone Augustus, LSU senior guard: As her collection of individual awards has grown, it has become glaringly obvious what's missing: an NCAA title.
Candice Wiggins, Stanford sophomore guard: She returns after becoming only the ninth freshman named a Kodak all-American in the award's 30-year history.
Monique Currie, Duke senior forward: After passing up a chance to play in the WNBA to win a national championship, it is up to her to prove it was worth it.
Jessica Davenport, Ohio State junior center: Against national runner-up Michigan State last year, she became the first Buckeye to record a triple-double: 19 points, 13 rebounds, 12 blocked shots.
Sophia Young, Baylor senior forward: After leading the surprising Bears to their first national championship, she was named most outstanding player at the Final Four.
