North Carolina State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Set to Begin 2002-03 Season
10/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 11, 2002
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Wolfpack Women are set to begin official practice tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 12. The team can finally come together as a 14 player unit. The 2002-03 slates begins with UC Santa Barbara at home on Friday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m.
It's all About Perspective, a 2002-03 Season Outlook
Perspective, that is exactly what the 2002-03 Wolfpack Women must take as their mantra. After being enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Friday, Sept. 27, head coach Kay Yow generously thanked those who helped her become who she is today. Yow then continued to tell a story of perspective, a lesson she learned early on in her coaching career. Below is the induction speech Coach Yow addressed to the Hall of Fame and the nation.
"Thank you Anne! I praise the Lord for this evening; may God be glorified! First, I want to say "Congratulations to the other inductees in the class of 2002! I am honored to be a member of this class and of the Naismith Hall of Fame Team! My excitement for making this team can only be matched by the making of my first team ever in junior high school.To see my name on the list once again takes me back to the beginning when my heart was pounding and my hands sweating, but I was thankful for the opportunity and ready to give my all. I know the selection committee had a challenging task. I am grateful to you for deciding that my contributions to this great game are noteworthy enough to be selected as a Hall of Fame member. Thank you! When I go back to my beginnings in basketball, there was always a basketball goal in my backyard. As a child I played all of the "what if" games. After everyone else had been called home for the evening, I would often stay in my yard and play for conference and state championships! I persevered until I hit the game winning shot. Of course, there were no National Championship games or Olympic Gold Medal games, for, at that time, there were no opportunities for women to compete at these levels. Nevertheless, basketball was one of the loves of my life. After all, I gave up tap dancing and piano playing (much to the disappointment of my mother) to concentrate on this challenging and fun game. Thus, my career in basketball began and today I am still learning and pursuing to be the best I can be. My career has been made possible by many people who have dug wells from which I have drunk and by many who have built fires from which I have been warmed. And today, there are those helping me to dig wells and to build fires for others! To say that my family has helped me to achieve in basketball would be an understatement! To begin with there are my two sisters, Debbie, who is the Athletic Director at the University of Maryland and Susan, my first Kodak All-American and currently Head Women's Coach at Providence College. Both played for me my first years as a college coach! Susan and Debbie, thank you for giving your all as players, your support as friends and your love as sisters! My brother, Ronnie, has always been an encourager to me, seeing the glass half full and the impossible as possible. Thank you Ronnie for your love and support. My parents, Hilton Yow who is in attendance this evening and Elizabeth (better known as Lib Yow) who passed away with cancer nine years ago, were very supportive of my basketball pursuits - even when it wasn't "cool" for women to be involved in sports, particularly team sports. I want to thank them for instilling the qualities needed for success. Of all the gifts my parents have given me - one stands out! They have always believed in me! When I doubted I could do something they said I could do it, thus providing me with a most special gift - the gift of believing in myself! To my other family members present tonight thank you for your ongoing support, help and interest in my life and my career. And now to my NC State Wolfpack family - what an incredible journey I am having! All of the honors, awards and milestones that I have been a part of have been made possible because of very special players, staff, administrators, fans and friends. Representatives of each of these groups are in attendance this evening to share this moment in time with me! And I am here to accept this honor as a tribute to you and to thank you for your insight, encouragement, expertise and friendship! And within this group of very special people lies the nucleus of every successful coach - her staff and players! To all of you from all teams and all levels - you prepared, you planned, you practiced - you performed, you persevered and you made possible this moment for me! I am richer and better as a person for having been a part of your lives. Thank you for all you have given me and for all you have done for me! As I prepare to leave the podium, I am reminded of my first major lesson in coaching. It's about perspective. I was celebrating a last second win over our archrival for the conference tournament championship. As the buzzer sounded and the game ended, towels, water bottles and other items were thrown into the air. Everyone was on the floor congratulating me and I was somewhere in the clouds! As Mr. A. Doyle Early, my principal, approached me I anticipated the words, "Job well done"! Instead these words were spoken - Kay, "you brought 12 towels here; now I want you to take 12 towels back"! "Count the towels." Needless to say my feet became firmly grounded, for I knew he meant what he said. In other words, it's great to win, but don't forget you have responsibilities and that you are accountable to follow through. Life goes on - PERSPECTIVE! At the Olympics in '88, as my eyes filled with tears of joy, I watched as the American flag was raised and our players stood on the platform receiving gold medals. Suddenly, I had a mental marquee flashing through my mind "Count the Towels". And so tonight, as I humbly accept this award on behalf of so many others, the marquee is still flashing.... Count the Towels!"
What better way to start a season than having your head coach inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame? Simply said, there isn't one. With proven excellence at the helm of Wolfpack Women basketball, the team can see where hard work, dedication and love for the game of basketball can take someone. In truth, it's not a game at all for the 14 women who will suit up for NC State this season. It's a way of life.
Words such as tradition, family, excellence and success are spoken everyday by those involved with the program. The word tradition is spoken here without hesitancy. It encompasses everything from the NCAA Tournament invitations right down to the preseason workouts. Excellence comes from the 20 winning seasons, 5 ACC Tournament Championships and 22 postseason appearances, including 16 NCAA trips. The Wolfpack has seen nine former players advance on to play in the WNBA and countless others to play professionally overseas. The program has produced many others who have gone on to coach, at both the collegiate and professional ranks, become administrators, teachers, doctors, lawyers and engineers. These notable achievements define success for the Wolfpack. And perhaps the strongest of the four words is family. The players and coaches believe it. Their family consists of 14 student-athletes, four coaches and a support staff unmatched by any other in the nation. With this in mind, NC State women's basketball is basketball as it was meant to be - tradition, excellence, success and family. The 2002-03 squad is no different than those of the past, but the 14 members are all a part of the future. To move forward after last season's disappointing 14-15 record and sixth place finish in the ACC at 7-9, the Wolfpack Women must remember to keep their perspective. There are going to be ups and downs in any season, and with few exceptions, no season is without imperfections. The pessimist may view last season as a season that should be put into the record books never to be seen again. On the other hand, the optimist or rather the team with perspective, would take last season as a reminder that it's not always the final record which matters most, it's what a team does with it the following year. Coach Yow once said, "I know I've learned more from the valleys than the peaks", and coming from Coach Yow, the words should prove to be very meaningful.
The Rotation
The starting rotation will be a difficult decision for Coach Yow. She returns six starters, four reserves and welcomes four newcomers to the roster. The starters include seniors Carisse Moody and Amy Simpson, redshirt-juniors Terah James and Kaayla Chones, junior Nanna Rivers and sophomore Rachel Stockdale. Moody, an experienced and knowledgeable player, returns to stake her claim as one of the premier forwards in the ACC. The two-time All-ACC team member got off to a quick start last season, after posting team-high points in nine of the first 13 games. Before suffering a sidelining ankle injury, Moody led the squad in scoring and rebounds. Her injury resulted in four missed games. Throughout Moody's career, she has been a key role player in the post. Her averages of 10.7 ppg and 5.3 rpg are slightly lower than her best performance in the 2001 season. That same year, Moody averaged 14.8 ppg and 7.1 rpg, leading her to a selection to the USA World University Games in Beijing, China. After having a debridement this past summer to remove debris in her shin, she returns to the lineup full of strength and confidence this season, ready to make her move from block to block.
"Carisse is clearly a dominating force inside," said Yow. "Her ability to score with her back to the basket or facing up, makes her an offensive force to be reckoned with."
Simpson returns with three years of solid playing experience to her name. She has played in 85 games, nearly every game in her career. Last season she provided both an offensive and defensive spark as she improved her prowess in several categories. She averaged 8.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg and recorded at least one steal per contest. Simpson is an excellent forward, as she is capable of scoring from the outside and has solid passing skills. Defensively, Simpson has worked to become one of the Pack's most consistent defenders, making her a reliable selection to match up against the opposing team's best player.
"The versatility of Amy's play is important to our team's success," said Yow. "We feel comfortable with her shooting from three-point range and she has become one of our best defenders."
James re-enters the starting lineup after two years devoted to recovering from back-to-back ACL surgeries. After sitting out for nearly 60 games, James will take to the court with just 29 games under her belt, with all played but one played her freshman year. She became the first freshman to start at point since Jennifer Howard in 1993. In the 1999-2000 season, James averaged 29 minutes per game, while dishing out nearly four assists and netting 7.9 points per contest. Her assists average led the team and ranked her fifth in the ACC. Her 112 assists on the year made James the second-highest freshman to do so in NC State history. In addition, she scored in double figures nine times, including a stretch of five-straight conference games. Perhaps one of her freshman highlights was receiving the ACC Rookie of the Week honor, Feb. 14, for leading the Wolfpack to wins over Maryland and Clemson. During that stretch she averaged 15 points, four rebounds and 4.5 assists. She finished her one-year campaign with career highs of 19 points, six rebounds, eight assists and four steals (four times). James will wear No. 1 this season instead of No. 12, as she would like to start fresh.
"The team really looks to Terah for her leadership," said Yow. "We are excited to have her back in the lineup, healthy, conditioned and ready to take this team under her wings. Terah definitely is anxious to play and her enthusiasm is contagious."
Chones, who just one year ago took home two ACC honors returns as a starting forward/center. The redshirt junior was named second team All-ACC and second team All-ACC tournament last season after leading the NC State squad with 12.3 ppg and 7.0 rpg. Chones was ranked in the ACC's top five in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage and blocked shots. She scored in double figures 18 times in 2002 and has tallied 13 career double-doubles. Also, she poured in 31 points for a career high against Georgia Tech, Jan. 6, 2002. Chones is no longer bothered by her previous injury status and has narrowed in on reaching the 1,000-point mark. She is on pace to reach 1,000 points this season, after scoring 330 and 357 her freshman and r-sophomore years.
"Kaayla is becoming one of the strongest inside players in the ACC, as both a scorer and rebounder" said Yow. "Her ability to run the floor, combined with her agile hands, makes her a confident target for our perimeter players."
Rivers took over the point guard position last season, filling the shoes of the injured James. This season however, Rivers returns with a plethora of on-court experience to fill her own veteran shoes. The quick, strong guard dished out 157 assists last season, including a career-high 11-assist performance versus Wake Forest. She also led the squad in free throw percentage, shooting 78.3 from the stripe. Rivers' performance at Virginia last season was an example of where her talents can lead. She poured in 14 points, grabbed eight boards and had a 4-4 appearance at the line.
"The strong ball handling skills, perimeter shooting ability and quickness of Nanna, all substantiate her as a solid guard for us," said Yow. "She is a tremendous asset to our guard play."
As a member of the 2002 ACC All-Freshman team, Stockdale is one shooter who sees the 3-point line as a golden opportunity. In her freshman campaign, the gunner made 40 3-pointers, eighth in the ACC. Also, with an average of 7.2 ppg, Stockdale finished fifth among the ACC's freshmen. Her abilities extend beyond the scoring realm as well. In her debut she was fourth among the ACC's freshmen in assists per game with 2.14. Stockdale made appearances in all 29 games last season, including 14 starts. During the off-season, she had two surgeries to repair her knee and has fully recovered. "We were confident in Rachel's maturity and knowledge of the game to put her out on the court to take on some of the toughest guards in the ACC last year," said Yow. "This season we have the same level of confidence and then some." Also returning for the Wolfpack are four women who boast a strong statistical r?sum?. Senior Amelia Labador made quite an impact last season with some breakout performances from behind the arc. She completed an impressive season by recording career bests in all seven categories. Her scoring performance versus Wake Forest was arguably her best outing on the year, as she scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers. With that stat line she established herself as a target shooter from the outside. Over the last three seasons, Labador has improved every statistic, in addition to providing an unselfish style of play, while making the most of her time on the court.
"Millie has the ability to make a major contribution at the guard spot," said Yow. "Her level-headed perspective and pure fundamental style of play enables us to excel as a team."
Junior Adeola Olanrewaju has established herself as a strong, athletic post player within her previous two seasons at NC State. Olanrewaju is a pivotal player with powerful positioning ability in the four or five positions. She has played in all 61 games of her career, posting reliable statistics along the way. Within that time, Olanrewaju has average 4.1 ppg, while shooting 44 percent, and has recorded 4.5 rpg. All of this was achieved with just over 15 minutes of playing time per outing.
"Addy has tremendous quickness, enabling her to score and rebound," said Yow. "Our opponents realize her strength and athletic prowess in the paint."
Sophomore Liz Bailey proved last season just how much of an impact her 3-point range can have after she recorded 20 threes on 51 attempts. Her 40 percent 3-point aptitude is another reason why NC State outscored its opponents last season. She led the team last season with the outing, one that was superceded by a career performance versus Wake Forest. Bailey scored 20 points, which included six, three-pointers and to top it off she snatched five rebounds.
"Bailey, what an exciting shooter to watch," said Yow. "She came through for us last season with her 3-point capabilities."
Sophomore Kendra Bell saw ample time at point last season, providing credible support for Rivers. She will again be looked upon to step in and take a guard position, but this time with proven experience to her name. Bell's quick demeanor and extensive defensive capacity solidify her as a competent choice for Coach Yow. Within her 28 games, Bell stepped in for six starts, while posting 2.6 ppg, 2.1 apg and 13 steals. She accomplished all of this within 14 minutes of court time.
"Kendra is on her way to becoming a successful guard at NC State," said Yow. "She stepped in and became a leader for us in some important games last season. The best is yet to come for Kendra."
Newcomers
Four new faces will be dressing the sidelines of Reynolds Coliseum this season. Junior Alvine Mendeng, sophomore Monica Pope and freshmen Jennifer Filipowski and Billie McDowell have joined the Wolfpack arsenal. Mendeng, a transfer from Kentucky will begin playing for the Pack after December, after she finishes her transfer requirements. While at UK, Mendeng was the only player to start all 27 games. She was the team's leading rebounder with 4.7 per game. Overall she netted 174 points, including a career-high 18 versus Florida Atlantic. Pope will not be on the official roster for the 2002-03 slate as she fulfills her requirements. A transfer from Furman University, the guard saw time in all 29 games, averaging 23.8 minutes. She averaged of 11.4 ppg, 1.7 rbg and 3.0 apg, and as a result was named Rookie of the Year in the Southern Conference. She was the high scorer in seven appearances. Filipowski and McDowell will be stamped with the typical rookie tag. Filipowski led her Wake Forest-Rolesville squad to three section runner-up titles and one section championship title. She finished with career game-highs of 27 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, 10 steals and an impressive four blocked shots per game. She has the ability to play either the three or four positions. McDowell earned several honors in her prep career, including the North Carolina 4-A state championship. She also was named co-state Player of the Year, Region Player of the Year, Conference Player of the Year, All-State, All-County and All-Region as a member of the Lumberton High School. McDowell has tremendous quickness and can see the floor extremely well. Because of those facts, in addition to her extended shooting range, McDowell will be stationed on the perimeter.
Schedule Notes
NC State will face several NCAA Tournament caliber teams this upcoming season. On the slate for the Wolfpack are 10 teams that advanced to the first round, including Virginia, Clemson, Florida, Iowa, UC Santa Barbara, Brigham Young, North Carolina, Old Dominion, Duke and UConn. In addition, the team will participate in the inaugural Women's Jimmy V Classic at the newly named RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C., as well as two, four-team tournaments. The Jimmy V Classic pits Duke against Tennessee and NC State against UConn, with the contests being televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN. The Wolfpack then takes to the road for the Loyola Marymount Thanksgiving Classic in Los Angeles with a match-up against Iowa and possibly LMU or South Alabama. GlaxoSmithKline again will sponsor a tournament at NC State with Washington, Florida and Houston. Before opening the ACC portion of the season, the Pack will host Brigham Young and Elon, before heading north to Seton Hall and Old Dominion. The ACC slate opens with Maryland at home on Thursday, Jan. 2. As for the postseason, NC State heads to Greensboro, N.C. for the ACC Tournament, March 7-10. In addition, the Wolfpack will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in Reynolds Coliseum, March 23-25. Atlanta, Georgia is the site for the 2003 NCAA Final Four, scheduled for April 6-8.
