North Carolina State University Athletics
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2001 Outlook
7/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 27, 2001
Coach Kay Yow and the Wolfpack Women look to build upon last season's run to the NCAA Sweet 16 as they head into the 2001-02 season with a talent-laden roster. Last year's squad posted an amazing 22-11 record and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 10th time in school history despite being without the services of two returning starters, Kaayla Chones and Terah James, for the entire season.
In addition to regaining the services of Chones in the paint and James at the point, the Wolfpack also return a strong nucleus of players from last year's squad. They will also gain additional help with outside shooting from its recruiting class of incoming freshmen.
"We not only face a terrific schedule this year that our fans should be excited about, but we also have one of the deepest teams we have had in years," commented Yow. "And with NC State hosting the East Regional at the ESA, we have a great opportunity to play four NCAA Tournament games in Raleigh. But we have to take care of business during the season to make that opportunity become a reality."
The Perimeter
The Wolfpack perimeter lost three-year starters Tynesha Lewis and
Monica Bates. A four-time All-ACC selection, Lewis now plays for the WNBA
four-time defending champion Houston Comets. However, NC State also
returns experienced perimeter players, regains the services of point
guard Terah James who redshirted last season due to knee surgery, and
adds three new faces in the backcourt.
James is the frontrunner for regaining her starting role at the point. During her rookie campaign, she averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds per contest. With the departure of Lewis, the 5-9 guard from Riviera Beach, Fla. will be called upon to take on more of a leadership role this season.
Ivy Gardner moved into the starting lineup midway through last year and made an immediate impact. Although known for her tenancious defense and hustle, the 5-9 guard was the Wolfpack's third-leading scorer with 8.1 points per contest. A member of the 2001 ACC All-Defensive squad and ACC All-Tournament team, Gardner also chipped in 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per outing.
Junior Amy Simpson missed the first five contests a year ago following arthroscopic knee surgery, but saw action on the wing in every game after she returned. One of the team's top three-point threats, the 6-0 guard contributed 7.9 points and 2.0 rebounds off the bench. She is expected to battle for a starting spot in the upcoming season.
Daphne Hutcherson and Amelia Labador each earned starts at the point a year ago as Yow searched for a replacement for James. The duo combined for 5.7 points and 1.8 assists per game. Nanna Rivers saw action in 30 contests during her rookie season, providing solid relief on the perimeter. A very quick and athletic player, the Wilmington native could battle for playing time this year.
Yow also welcomes three newcomers, and three North Carolina natives, to her backcourt this year - Rachel Stockdale of High Point, Kendra Bell of Fayetteville and Liz Bailey of Raleigh. Stockdale is a 5-11 shooting guard with tremendous range. She is expected to add perimeter scoring to the team. Bell is a lightening quick point guard with solid defensive skills that has the ability to create for herself and her teammates. Bailey is a 5-8 guard that joins the squad as a recruited walk-on. She is a fundamentally sound player with a great shooting touch.
The Inside Game
For the first time in several years, Yow will have several
seasoned veterans in the post as well as experienced reserves. While some
of the post players are still young, they have earned a lot of playing
time. Every post player on the squad a year ago returns this season along
with regaining the services of Kaayla Chones who redshirted last season.
The return of Chones to the paint for the Wolfpack should make an immediate impact on the Pack's inside game. Two years ago, the 6-3 forward/center was selected to the ACC All-Freshmen team after posting averages of 11.4 points and 7.9 rebounds. She was a Street & Smith's preseason honorable mention All-America selection before suffering a torn quadriceps tendon which forced her to miss the entire 2000-01 campaign.
Carisse Moody stepped up her game in Chones' absence last year and led the team with averages of 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. In addition to earning All-ACC and honorable mention All-America honors, she earned a spot on the USA Basketball National Team that competed in the World University Games over the summer. That experience should prove to be invaluable in the upcoming season. The return of Chones should allow Moody to play more at her natural position of power forward as oppossed to center.
Senior Talisha Scates started 31 games a year ago for the Wolfpack Women, averaging 6.1 points and 4.2 rebounds. A co-captain, the 6-1 forward brings leadership and an aggressive style of play every time she steps on the floor.
Adeola Olanrewaju saw action in all 33 games a year ago in her rookie campaign, averaging 5.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in just over 17 minutes of relief action in the paint. She earned Rookie of the Week honors last year after posting her first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a win over #4 Duke.
Add freshman Kelly Greathouse to the mix, and the Wolfpack have a talented core of post players that could pose problems for opponents. The 6-3 California native was ranked as one of the top 10 high school seniors in the country last year by Women's Basketball magazine and helped lead Buena H.S. to a 29-2 record and a national ranking by averaging 21.0 points and 11.9.
The Schedule
A year ago, the Wolfpack Women schedule was ranked as the fourth
toughest in the country and once again the Pack will face the nation's
elite in the upcoming season. NC State will play 20 games in the 2001-02
season against teams that advanced to postseason play a year ago. Next
season, the Wolfpack is scheduled to face three teams that finished last
season ranked in the top five nationally: Tennessee, Georgia and Duke.
The Wolfpack Women will square off against Tennessee in the Honda Elite Classic, a contest which will be nationally televised from the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. Georgia, the defending SEC champion, will visit Reynolds Coliseum for a non-conference matchup. NC State will face a third SEC opponent when the Pack play Mississippi State in the Fun in the Sun Shootout in Cancun.
Other teams on the Wolfpack's non-conference slate that advanced to postseason play last season include: Wisconsin, Old Dominion, George Washington, Drake, UAB, and Indiana. UAB is led by Deanna Jackson, the nation's top returning scorer.
The contest with George Washington will be held at the ESA as part of a doubleheader with the Wolfpack men's team. The ESA will also be the site of the 2002 NCAA Women's East Regional next March, giving NC State a great opportunity to play four NCAA Tournament games in Raleigh on the road to the Final Four in San Antonio - the Wolfpack's ultimate goal.
