West Florida Women's Basketball 2009-10 Season Preview
Krissy Diggs (Photo by Ron Besser)PENSACOLA, Fla. – Head Coach Shannan Bergen and the West Florida women’s basketball team are in preparation mode, as the Argonauts are set to tip off the 2009-10 season at home on November 16 against the University of Mobile. The Argonauts return five starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s team, and Bergen’s experienced squad looks poised to improve on last year’s 8-19 overall record and 3-9 mark in the competitive Gulf South Conference.
“Our goal is to make it back to the GSC Tournament,” said Bergen. “We definitely want to win more games and continue to get better throughout the non-conference schedule, but we want to be playing our best ball at the start of conference play in January.”
With last year’s starting five coming back, West Florida will look to take the lessons learned from last season and turn them into results on the court. UWF went into overtime six times in 2008-09, winning just one of those six games. The Argonauts also had seven other games decided by five points or less, so this group of players has had its share of experience in close games.
Leading the returners this season will be preseason All-GSC selections Amy Drake (Niceville, Fla./Winthrop) and Tiffany Williams (St. Petersburg, Fla./North Florida). Drake and Williams, both seniors, will serve as the primary perimeter threats, as both players averaged over 15 points per game in GSC play. Joining them in the starting backcourt will be senior point guard Krissy Diggs (Hillsboro, Ala./Pensacola JC), who led last year’s team in assists (3.7) and steals (1.9) per game.
Junior Chelsea Turgeon (Palm Harbor, Fla./Dunedin HS) and sophomore Keaundrea Merriewether (Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian HS) return to provide depth in the backcourt this year, and they will be joined by newcomers Sabrina Stambouli (Québec City, Québec/Dawson) and Lauren Fagler (Gainesville, Fla./Pensacola JC). Sophomore Ashley Jade Howard (Salyersville, Ky./Berea) also joins the team this year after transferring from Berea College, but she will sit out the season due to NCAA transfer rules.
“With the three starting guards returning I believe we have a lot of strength in our guard play,” explained Bergen. “We also added depth with some good outside shooters, so I feel good that our outside players will be able to match up with the guards that we face this season.”
At the post position, UWF will look to senior Dominique Boykins (Houston, Texas/North Shore HS) to provide stability. Boykins averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last year. Senior Jessica Young (Hillsboro, Ala./Wallace-Hanceville CC) will rejoin the team at midseason, and Young had an outstanding first year at UWF; the forward averaged a double-double with 11.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and she also ranked 16th in rebounds per game in Division II. Newcomer Janay McCray (High Springs, Fla./Santa Fe CC) will be in the mix to get some starts at the post position as well.
The Argonauts look to have plenty of depth down low, as seniors Jamie Freeman (Mobile, Ala./Okaloosa-Walton) and Caitlin Salak (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon HS) return from last year to lead the group of reserve post players. Senior Jessie Ivey (Jay, Fla./Jay HS) is also back after missing all of last year with a knee injury. Coach Bergen has also added to that depth with newcomers Kirstin McIntyre (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./Florida Southern) and Emily Erland (Pegram, Tenn./Harpeth HS).
“I like the versatility of our post play this season,” said Bergen. “We added some players who can play the four or five positions for us, run the floor, and shoot the ball deep. I feel this will help to stretch opposing teams by bringing our posts off the block and letting them shoot the ball.”
West Florida will travel west to take on Division I South Alabama in an exhibition game on Sunday, November 8 at 2:05 p.m. After the regular season opener against Mobile on Monday, November 16, the Argos will start tournament season, playing in four tournaments in November and December, three of which will be at home.
One highlight of the non-conference schedule will be preseason No. 3 Delta State (Women’s Division II Bulletin) at home on December 13. The Argonauts faced DSU twice last year, going 1-1 and handing the Lady Statesmen one of just seven losses all year on their way to the NCAA Elite Eight. UWF is set to face three other teams ranked in the preseason, including No. 21 Gannon on November 27 at the North Star Invitational in Fairbanks, Alaska, No. 25 Columbus State at home on December 5 at the UWF Argo Classic, and No. 16 Clayton State at home on January 3.
The GSC slate is scheduled to begin at home on January 7, with the Argonauts taking on East Division rival West Alabama. The Argos will face 2008-09 division champion West Georgia on the road on January 16 and at home on February 13, while Valdosta State, last year’s number two seed from the East, is on the schedule for January 13 in Valdosta and at home on February 10.
“As always, our non-conference schedule is strong,” said Bergen. “I believe it will prepare us for the rest of the season. When January rolls around and GSC play starts, we will be ready to compete from the get go.”
The West Florida men’s and women’s basketball teams will meet with the local Pensacola media on Tuesday, November 3 for the 2009-10 UWF Basketball Media Day, and video, audio, and photos of the event will be available online after the event. UWF fans will be able to follow Argonaut basketball all season long with live coverage at www.GoArgos.com.
