Aug. 20, 2008
written by: The FSU Sports Information Office
The quest for the 2008-09 CIAA Championship will definitely be a battle this season. However, with the talent Head Coach Eric Tucker was able to bring in and retain from last season; he believes that despite being in the line of fire he'll be able to take the Fayetteville State women's basketball team back to the top of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). With the direction of the 16 year head coach and the return of some of the most gifted student-athletes in the conference, the energetic coach is ready and willing to take on the CIAA and make a run for the regional and national titles.
The Lady Broncos finished last season with a 17-12 overall record and 12-6 in the conference. Tucker and his squad advanced to the semi-finals of the CIAA 33rd Annual Women's Basketball Tournament but came up short to Shaw University, 87-74. "Anytime can be the time to get over the hump, I want the time to be now," states Coach Tucker.
Tucker is apparently filled with confidence when it comes to his recruiting class. When asked about his recruits and their chances of making an impact, Coach Tucker replied, "I actually think this is one of my top five recruiting classes.'' "We've had some (recruits) who have made an immediate impact and some who have not. But I'm expecting production out of a lot of these girls very quickly.''
The Lady Broncos graduated three seniors-- guard Leticia Dickson, center Tenisha McArthur and guard Passion Phillips. Dickson earned all-conference honors last season and was the team's leading scorer (averaging 15.4 ppg). A fourth player, junior forward Shacovia Sheppard, is deployed in Iraq with her U.S. Army Reserve unit and isn't expected to return until after the 2008-09 season begins. So who are the Lady Broncos that will be in the crossfire for the 2008-09 season?
FSU returns three starters, potentially seven other student-athletes from last season, and guards Chelsea Jeter and Antoinette Smith are coming back off season-ending injuries. Guard L' Oreal Price and forward Erica Gilley are two players that joined the team last year as transfer students and worked their way into the starting line-up. With a year of CIAA experience under their belts, they come into this season prepared to produce results on the court immediately. Price averaged 9.2 points per game (ppg) and 5.6 rebounds a contest for the Lady Broncos last season; while Gilley pitched in 8.1 ppg, 5.7 rebounds per game, and earned player of the week honors.
Joining the 2008-2009 squad is 5'8, freshman forward Jasmine Young. Young attended East Columbus HS, where she a two-year starter for the Gators. She averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists in her senior season. Danielle Russell, a 5'4 transfer guard from Clinton Junior College, will be a new face in the Lady Broncos line-up. Russell was a two-sport student-athlete at Ashley High in Wilmington, NC. Last season at Clinton JC, Russell averaged 10 points, four assists and two steals per game as a sophomore at Clinton.
Tucker also brought aboard a dominant high school center from Richmond, VA and a transfer point guard from Campbell University he hopes will help elevate this team into solid contenders for the 2008-09 title.
Deja Middleton, 6-4, center (Meadowbrook HS, Richmond, VA) - Averaged 16.6 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior. As a senior, Middleton led her team to a 25-2 overall record and a perfect 14-0 conference record. Ashley Wright, 5-4, point guard (transfer from Campbell University, Halifax, NC) -- Played at Southeast Halifax High School where she helped lead the Trojans to the North Carolina 1A State Championship Game and a Tar Roanoke Conference Championship as a senior. Wright was named conference MVP, MVP of the conference tournament and a Wendy's High School Heisman nominee. She averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.6 rebounds per game during her senior year. She was also a three-time all-conference honoree and was named all-state following her freshman season.
"I'm looking forward to combining the class I've recruited and the returners, and see whether we can take that next step,'' Tucker said. "It's about time to get back to the mountain top. We've got good footing on the hill right now, but we need to go to the summit.''
