2005 SSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT – TEAM CAPSULES

#1 FLORIDA SOUTHERN

The Lady Mocs (17-10, 13-3 SSC) have captured an SSC-best eight conference tournaments to go with their eight SSC regular season titles. Looking to win their second SSC Tournament championship in three years, Florida Southern is also the only school to have won three consecutive SSC Tournaments, achieving that task twice (1985-87 and 1994-96). This season the Mocs lead the SSC in scoring offense (65.4) and field goal percentage (.410). Senior Lucresia West, the 2004 SSC Player of the Year, leads the conference and ranks seventh in NCAA Division II in scoring (21.8), while also leading the SSC and ranking fifth in the nation in rebounding (11.5). In addition, the first-team WBCA/Kodak All-American boasts the fourth-highest field goal percentage in the nation (.604). Senior forward Monique Bunch, who complements West on the front line, is averaging 12.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per outing, while senior guard Brook Kohlheim is a serious threat from behind the three-point arc. She is currently second in the SSC with 1.74 three-pointers a game. Senior guard Rosemary Perry poses a steal threat for the Mocs. She is third in the SSC with 2.79 steals per outing. FSC’s 34 SSC Tournament wins are tops among all schools.

#2 FLORIDA TECH

The Panthers (19-8, 11-5 SSC) enter the SSC Tournament hoping to win their first title since 2002, when they became just the second SSC women’s team in history to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Tech’s five SSC regular-season championships and four SSC Tournament crowns both rank third in conference history. This season Tech boasts the tenth ranked scoring defense in NCAA Division II, allowing just 54.0 points per game. They lead the SSC in rebounding defense (35.0), steals (13.41), and turnover margin (+3.04). The Panthers are led by solid two-way threat Shayla Fisher, defensive standout Ty-Anna Caravano, and 2004 All-Freshman team member Danise Fequiere. Fisher is the fourth leading rebounder in the SSC with 8.4 boards per game. Caravano earned honorable mention All-SSC honors a year ago and is fifth in the conference with 2.59 steals per game, while Fequiere contributes 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Newcomers Jennifer Tamilio and Danielle Quinn have made an immediate impact, leading the Panthers with 11.3 and 10.2 points per game respectively.

#3 NOVA SOUTHEASTERN

The Knights (16-11, 11-5 SSC) make their SSC Tournament debut as they became eligible to compete for conference championships this fall, after spending the past two seasons as a provisional member. NSU leads the conference with a .715 team free throw percentage and ranks second in scoring offense with 63.3 points per contest. Junior guard Missy Guadagnino, junior guard Katie Cloud, and junior guard/forward Jennifer Havens lead a squad that features no seniors, but has a bright future with four juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen. Guadagnino contributes 11.8 points per game and ranks second in the SSC with 4.3 assists per outing. Cloud leads the Knights and ranks fourth in the conference in scoring with 12.3 points per game. Havens is a consistent scoring threat, averaging 11.8 points per game and ranking second in the SSC with a .541 field goal percentage. Junior guard Andrea Martin leads NSU on the boards with 6.0 rebounds per game.

#4 TAMPA

The Spartans (18-9, 9-7 SSC) are enjoying their finest season since claiming a share of the SSC championship in 2003, their first league crown in nine years. Tampa has claimed one SSC Tournament title back in 2000, but has earned runner-up honors three times. This season the Spartans are 11th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense (54.0) and 12th in rebound margin (9). The squad leads the SSC in rebounding offense (46.0), assists (15.85), assist/turnover ratio (18.15) and offensive rebounds (18.15). The Spartans are led by sophomore forward Jamie Skinner who is one of the conference’s most talented players on both ends of the floor averaging 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. She is a perfect complement to strong backcourt player Shawtavia Mathis, a 2004 All-SSC second team and All-Freshman team pick, who is emerging as both a top scorer and playmaker with 12.2 points and 4.6 assists per game. Freshman Shaneisha Walton is making a splash in her first collegiate season, contributing an average of 9.0 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds to the Spartans’ cause.

#5 ROLLINS

The Tars (18-9, 9-7 SSC) have won nine SSC regular-season championships, including a share of five of the last six league titles, and also claimed five tournament crowns, second among all SSC schools. As of Feb. 20, the Tars led NCAA Division II in field goal percentage defense (32.9) and ranked seventh in scoring defense (53.6). Rollins was chosen to repeat as SSC Champion in 2004-05 according to the SSC preseason poll. The Tars currently lead the conference in scoring margin (+8.7), field goal percentage defense (.332), and defensive rebounds (27.93). The 2004 SSC Tournament champions are led by two returning All-Conference performers from last season, junior forward Joslyn Giles, a second-team honoree, and senior guard Nicole Warder, an honorable mention recipient. Giles averages 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds a game and boasts a team-high 31 blocks. Warder contributes 8.4 points, and 4.7 rebounds to the effort. Sophomore forward Larissa McDonough has enjoyed a solid year, leading the Tars with 10.4 points per game, after earning a spot on the 2004 All-SSC Tournament team. Freshman Jennifer Musgrove has secured herself a role as a starting guard, starting all 27 games and adding 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.

#6 BARRY

The Buccaneers (15-12, 8-8 SSC) have tasted SSC championship glory just once, and hope that the comforts of home will bring back memories of 1991, when Barry claimed the only SSC women’s basketball tournament championship in school history. Since the SSC Tournament returned to campus sites in 2002, the host school has captured all three SSC women’s tournament championships. As of Feb. 20, the Bucs ranked 13th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense (54.9). Barry currently leads the SSC in three-point field goal percentage (.359), three-point field goal percentage defense (.259), and three-point field goals made (5.96). Sophomore guard Karla Mast, the 2004 SSC Freshman of the Year and a second team All-SSC selection, is one of the conference’s most well-rounded players, as she contributes in all areas of the game. She is tops in the SSC in free throw percentage (.863) and three-point field goal percentage (.506). She leads the Bucs in rebounds (6.7), assists (4.0), and blocks (1.37) per game and is second in steals (2.63) and scoring (11.7). Junior guard Nicole Denmon has been a solid addition who provides extra scoring punch, ranking third in the SSC with 12.7 points per game. Senior Yashica Nesbit adds 10.8 points per outing and leads the SSC in steals with 3.39 swipes per game.

#7 LYNN

The Fighting Knights (12-15, 6-10 SSC) hope that the first SSC Tournament held in South Florida pays dividends. Lynn is looking to capture the program’s first-ever SSC tournament win after being eliminated in the quarterfinal round in each of the program’s first six conference tournaments. The Lynn roster is down to six healthy players, but the Knights still pack a strong defensive punch. As of Feb. 20, the squad was ranked 19th in NCAA Division II with a .354 field goal percentage defense. Junior guard/forward Cherise George posted a solid SSC debut in 2004, claiming first team All-SSC honors, but suffered a season-ending injury in a conference contest against Barry earlier this season. Junior forward Jackie Codiga is enjoying a breakout season ranking second in the SSC in scoring (15.0) and sixth in rebounding (8.0). She leads the SSC in defensive rebounds with 6.56 boards per game.

#8 ECKERD

The Tritons (8-19, 5-11 SSC) posted a 44-33 victory over Barry in the quarterfinals of the 2004 SSC Tournament to claim their first conference tournament victory since 2002 and only their third win since the tournament’s inception. Eckerd is led by senior guard Qunisha Rush, an All-SSC Honorable Mention selection in 2004 and junior center Chimene Gordon, the SSC’s tallest female player at 6-5. Rush leads the squad with 11.5 points, 3.2 points and 2.0 steals per game. Gordon is third in the SSC with 1.65 blocks per game. She also contributes 9.9 points and 5.8 boards a game to the Triton cause. Freshman forward Tameron Armbrister has added some power to Eckerd’s frontcourt. She leads the Tritons with 6.2 rebounds per game.

#9 SAINT LEO

The young Lions (1-25, 0-16) seek their first SSC Tournament win since 1999 and have some dangerous players that can provide a spark. The Lions lead the SSC with 4.15 team blocks per game. Senior forward Rosetta Little ranks eighth in the SSC in scoring (11.8), fifth in rebounding (8.3) and ninth in steals (2.36). Junior guard Jonelle Nieb is one the conference’s most feared three-point gunners, leading the SSC with 2.04 three-pointer a game, and ranking fourth with a .346 three-point percentage (53-of-153). Sophomore forward Marina Arkhipova is second in the conference with 2.00 blocked shots per contest and freshman guard Jenna Drouin has exploded onto the collegiate scene, averaging 10.2 points, and 4.5 rebounds per game. She is third in the conference with a .348 three-point field goal percentage (24-of-69).