North Carolina State University Athletics
Bell Gets Ready to Carry On
7/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 22, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. - She may only be 5-foot-5 in height, but senior point guard Kendra Bell has strong enough shoulders to put the NC State Wolfpack on her back for the 2004-05 season. Her team-best bench press of 170-pounds is just one of several strengths she will use to do so.
"I'm very optimistic and excited to start the season," said Bell. "With two new conference teams on our schedule things will be different. We will have a different travel schedule and we won't be playing every team twice. That means we won't be able to say 'we'll see them next time'."
Bell, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., started all but one of her 30 games last season at point guard. She finished with an average of 3.27 apg in Atlantic Coast Conference play, which was seventh among the league's leaders. Bell also racked up a career-high six assists against Loyola Marymount in her first appearance at the position last year. During the offseason she has been hard at work honing both her athletic prowess and her leadership skills both on and off the court. Head coach Kay Yow will be looking for Bell to lead this team and to ready the four newcomers, which includes two freshmen and two junior college transfers.
"This summer has been a learning experience," commented Bell. "I am learning a lot about what it takes to be a good leader for my teammates. Nanna (Rivers) did such a good job last season and I want to take what she did for us and continue it."
In order to familiarize herself and her teammates with the four newcomers in juniors Tiffany McCollins (5-8, Guard, Memphis, Tenn.), Tiffany Stansbury (6-3, F/C, Philadelphia, Pa.) and freshmen Celanese Bozeman (5-9, G, Hampton, Va.) and Khadijah Whittington (6-0, F, Roanoke, Va.), Bell has been busy making sure everyone is playing pick-up. The team gets together at least three times a week to play and have been working hard in the weight room as well.
"I'm looking forward to having the new players come in and contribute," stated Bell. "They all bring a lot to the table and have a great enthusiasm for the game."
The Wolfpack returns two starters last year and one is Bell. Eight other returnees, including sophomore Marquetta Dickens, who finished second on the team with 8.3 ppg last season, will join her along with RS-junior Rachel Stockdale, the team's only other starter.
Bell has been doing to work and she can't wait to show it off.
"Preseason is just around the corner," said Bell. "I'm ready to get going."
