MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Head coach Bill Sullivan has compiled another challenging slate for the Barry University women’s basketball team this year.
“With the NCAA focus on regional scheduling, we really tried to increase our presence in the region,” Sullivan said. “All three of our tournaments – Tip-Off, Thanksgiving and Christmas tournaments – are versus regional teams and we have a total of nine non-conference regional games in all.”
The Bucs tip off the season at the NSU Tipoff Classic, taking on a pair of Gulf South Conference teams, but with an unusual format this season. On Nov. 14, the Bucs face off against Shorter, while Nova Southeastern takes on Alabama-Huntsville at the Sharks’ University Center. On Nov. 15, the teams come to Barry’s Health & Sports Center as NSU’s facility is hosting volleyball.
The game against Shorter will be the first for the Bucs. The Hawks were 6-20 last season in their final provisional season of the move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. They return their leading scorer in senior Ieshia Alexander, a 5-4 guard who averaged 12.8 points per game.
The Bucs have faced the Chargers once, winning 64-47 in Miami Shores in 2003. The Chargers were 15-12 last year, but lost Jordan Smith and Jasmine Hammon who accounted for over 40 points per game as well as head coach Roy Heintz. New coach Andrea Lemmond will lean on senior guard Shannon Steinert who was third on the team at 8.6 points per game and led the team with 77 steals.
The Bucs have two more home games in November, against Florida Memorial and Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Nov. 18 and 22 respectively. The Bucs hold a 16-7 edge on the Lions and have dominated the series lately, winning 10 of the last 11, including one of the largest margins of victory in school history in last year’s 93-32 win in Opa Locka. The Bucs are 2-0 against the Jerezanas, with both games in the Health & Sports Center.
The Bucs are back in Davie, Fla., for the NSU Thanksgiving Classic with another pair of region games on Nov. 28-29. Another school from the GSC in its first season as an active member of Division II, Union is coming off a 25-6 campaign. The Bulldogs are a top defensive team, allowing just 58.0 points per game last year. Though they lost their leading scorer, senior guard Amber Rechnis averaged 11.6 points per game as a junior. The Bucs close the tournament with the Stillman Tigers of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Tigers were 10-17 last year, but return inside/outside combo Samantha Thomas and Angel Mitchell who averaged over 25 points, 15 rebounds and four assists per game. The games mark the first meetings with both squads.
On Dec. 6, the Bucs open Sunshine State Conference play in the Health & Sports Center against the Saint Leo Lions. Despite losing both meetings a year ago, the Bucs hold a 39-16 lead in the all-time series. The Lions, under new head coach Missy West, lost their top two scorers, but return Chachi Guzman, a member of the SSC All-Newcomer Team, who averaged 9.7 points and 5.5 assists per game.
The Bucs close out the first semester with their third trip to NSU for tournament play, this time for the Pre-Christmas Classic. Barry will face the Fayetteville State Lady Broncos from the CIAA and the Albany State Lady Rams from the SIAC, both for the first time. The Lady Broncos went 21-7 last season, finishing first in the CIAA South behind 6-5 center Deja Middleton who averaged 13.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The Lady Rams also won their division, finishing first in the SIAC East at 19-5 overall. Leading scorer Artisha Holston averaged 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as a freshman last year. Guard Keidra Green chipped in 12.6 points.
After the break, the Bucs dive into the heart of SSC play with a pair of road games at Florida Southern and Rollins on Jan. 3 and Jan. 7. The Bucs split with the Moccasins, with both teams winning on the road, last season. Florida Southern holds a 42-15 edge in the all-time series, though Barry has won three of the last four. The Mocs, coming off a 7-20 season, have a new head coach in Betsy Harris and three players who averaged double figures in conference games. The Tars have one of the most stable coaching situations in the conference as Glenn Wilkes, Jr., has led them for 28 years. Last year, Rollins finished third in the league and posted a 25-7 mark. Emmalee Schill, the SSC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 10.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game.
Palm Beach Atlantic, which joined the conference as a provisional member in July, visits the HSC on Jan. 10. The Sailfish, who have won just twice against Barry in 21 meetings over the years, return two starters in guards Kimmi McIntosh and Taylor Buchanan who combined for 9.9 points per game last season.
Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern come to call on Jan. 14 and Jan. 17. The Panthers knocked the Bucs out of the SSC Tournament last year and hold a 37-25 edge in the series. The Bucs won twice in the regular season, but Tech prevailed in the first round of the tournament. Kayk Wilson, the leading returning scorer in the conference at 20.1 points per game, leads the Panthers. The Sharks won the SSC regular season and tournament titles a year ago and advanced all the way to the Elite 8. Taylor Buie and Jasmine Wilkins, a pair of second-team All-SSC performers, are back for the Sharks (29-5) after tossing in 27.9 points per game.
The Bucs travel to Lynn on Jan. 21 and Eckerd on Jan. 24. The Bucs bested the Knights in both meetings last year and hold a 26-18 edge in the series. The Knights (11-16) return three double-figure starters, led by guard Zachara Bailey at 12.4 points per game. The Tritons (11-16) have junior guard Kayla Bowlin back after averaging 10.3 points per game. The Bucs, who won both meetings last year, lead 35-19 in the all-time series.
The Tampa Spartans (24-7) come to town on Jan. 28 to close out the first round of conference play. They lead the overall series 40-21 and have won 18 of the last 22. SSC Newcomer of the Year Ellen Nurmi, who averaged 11. 8 in the Spartans’ balanced attack, is back to lead the squad.
For the second swing through the conference, the Bucs host Florida Southern (Feb. 4), Rollins (Feb. 11), Eckerd (Feb. 21), and Lynn (25). They travel to Saint Leo (Jan. 31), Nova Southeastern (Feb. 14), Florida Tech (Feb. 18), and Tampa (Feb. 28) and make a return trip to Palm Beach Atlantic (Feb. 7).
With a strong run through the league, the Bucs hope to hear their names called when regional bids are announced.
“As always, our conference is exceptionally strong again this year so we are looking forward to a challenging schedule for the 2014-15 season.”