Southern Illinoise University Athletics
2003-04 Women's Basketball Season Outlook
10/13/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 13, 2003
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Change can be a vital part of any team's chemistry. For the Southern Illinois University women's basketball program, it hopes the alterations it made in the off-season can produce positive results in 2003-04.
Like several other teams in the Missouri Valley this season, the Salukis enter the year sporting a new look. And the reason why the Dawgs have freshened up their appearance is because they have a lot to prove.
"I'm excited about the upcoming season because we'll have seven new players and three new coaches," said Head Coach Lori Opp. "We have a lot of things we want to accomplish and our main focus is to get to the conference tournament."
Assistants Zareth Gray and Maureen Smith, who have coached in the Valley before, make their SIU debuts this season.
Gray, who spent the last two seasons at Wichita State, will serve as the Salukis' recruiting coordinator and post players' coach, while Smith will handle the guards. Smith comes to SIU from the University of Central Florida, but used to be an assistant at Bradley (1997-99).
"I'm excited to have both Zareth and Maureen join our staff," commented Opp. "This will be the first time I've had assistant coaches with solid Division I experience."
Along with its coaching hires, SIU returns eight letterwinners and welcomes eight newcomers. A solid mixture that should pay dividends.
"Chemistry will be huge," quoted Opp. "It's important that our new kids blend well with our returning players."
Backcourt
Senior Dana Pinkston (Junction, Ill.), one of three returning starters, will look to resume her job at the point this season.
Pinkston started in all but one game and finished as the Salukis' second-leading scorer a year ago. Averaging nine points per game, she led the team in 3-point field goals (37) and ranked second in assists (79).
"Dana is certainly battle-tested and adjusted well last season," commented Opp.
Challenging Pinkston will be junior transfer Daphney Desamours (Miami, Fla.), freshman Clarise Jones (Chicago, Ill.) and freshman Elyse Morris (Prophetstown, Ill.).
Desamours joins the Dawgs from The Brown Mackie College. A two-time, first-team Region VI pick, she scored a total of 452 points in her brief, two-year stint.
"Daphney is a talented point guard who possesses good speed," described Opp. "Her ability to push the ball will help our transition game."
Jones capped off a strong prep career at Regina Dominican High School, where she was among the Chicago Tribune's 50 Players to Watch. Also a Street and Smith's All-American, she averaged 12 points and four rebounds a game.
"Clarise has the ability to play all three guard positions," said Opp. "She was highly recruited and we're excited she chose SIU."
A two-time all-conference pick, Morris became the fourth player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points at Prophetstown High School. Scoring a total of 1,145 points, she also set the school's single-season (190) and career (384) assist records.
"Elyse has great court vision and delivers the ball with accuracy," said Opp. "She can score off the pass or the dribble."
Perimeter
The perimeter is an area which SIU goes at least six players deep. That kind of depth on the wing should help the Dawgs cope with the loss of their leading scorer, Molly McDowell.
Looking to fill McDowell's shoes at the two-guard spot is junior Danette Jones (Salem, Ill.). Jones shot a team-high 35 percent (22-of-63) from behind the three-point arc last season.
"Danette is going to be phenomenal at the wing position," praised Opp. "She can shoot the lights out. She's improved so much and is committed to helping her team be successful."
Senior Stephanie Brown (Olathe, Kan.) and sophomore Amy Hayden (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) will also heat up the battle at the guard spot.
Brown, who appeared to be the most athletic of any Saluki last season, saw action in 23 contests. Contributing a quality 12.1 minutes per game off the bench, she averaged 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds.
"Stephanie is capable of doing some great things, as she showed last year," said Opp. "She is a hard worker who continues to improve."
Hayden also played sparingly for the Dawgs last season. She averaged 3.7 minutes in 13 games.
"I expect Amy to score more this year," said Opp. "She, like Danette Jones, is a very good shooter."
Freshmen Julie Madura (Schaumburg, Ill.) and Laura Cooper (Xenia, Ill.), and junior Lecretia Akines (Wheaton, Ill.) will also fight for playing time at the wing.
Madura averaged between 11 and 13 points in her last three seasons at Conant High School. She was also named all-area and team MVP.
"Julie plays good defense and is extremely athletic," said Opp. "She worked hard with a personal trainer in the summer to prepare for her college career."
Cooper was named all-conference in each of her prep seasons at Flora High School. She also averaged 20 points per game and made 78 three-pointers as a junior.
"Laura is a kid who we've had the opportunity to watch in our camps for several years," said Opp. "She is a three-point shooter with a blue collar work ethic."
Akines walked on the team last season, but had to sit the year out due to eligibility purposes.
"Lecretia has a lot of athletic ability," said Opp. "She can get to the basket quickly."
"I'm pleased with our guard spot," continued Opp. "We have kids we can move around to create different combinations. Once we figure out the right combination, we're going to have a tough outside game."
Frontcourt
Seniors Katie Berwanger (Lake Zurich, Ill.), Tiffany Crutcher (Bolingbrook, Ill.) and Jodi Heiden (Altamont, Ill.) will be the heart of the Salukis' inside game this season.
The three veterans have a lot in common - they can crash the boards, get physical underneath and score on the low block. All characteristics Opp looks to use to her advantage.
"We expect these three to be consistent and give us a lot of scoring inside," said Opp.
Berwanger, a fifth-year senior, is probably the Dawgs' most aggressive post player this season. Her main area of expertise is the boards, where she grabbed a team-leading 158 rebounds last season. Starting all 27 games, she also contributed 7.1 points per game.
"Katie hustles all the time and is very intense," described Opp.
Crutcher, the team's third-leading scorer a year ago, also looks to resume her starting role. She averaged 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 20 starts.
"Tiffany is probably one of the most physical players we have underneath," said Opp. "She has a sweet hook shot and can be dangerous when she gets going."
Of the three seniors, Heiden appears to be the most versatile. Not only can she score on the low block, but she can step back and drill the outside jumper.
Last season, Heiden was most dangerous off the bench, where she posted 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds a game. She was also solid at the free throw line, where she made 63 percent (20-of-32) of her shots.
"Jodi's versatility is such an asset to our team," said Opp. "She can score on the low block or on the perimeter and can run the floor well."
In addition to the three seniors, junior Wendy Goodman (Evansville, Ind.), freshman Bernettra Grayer (Gary, Ind.) and freshman Vicki Hampton (Campbellsville, Ky.) will provide help as well.
Goodman averaged 6.1 minutes per game and shot 56 percent (15-of-27) over 20 contests a year ago.
"Wendy plays hard and has a great attitude," said Opp. "She will look to get more playing time this year."
Grayer joins SIU from West Side High School, the same high school as former Salukis Kasia McClendon and Melaniece Bardley. An all-conference pick, she helped lead her team to sectional titles in three of four prep seasons.
"Bernettra runs the floor like a deer and can jump and grab the rim," said Opp. "Like Heiden, she can also shoot the three."
Rounding out this year's squad is Hampton who comes to the Maroon and White from Taylor County High School. She accumulated a total of 875 points, 588 rebounds and 135 blocks as a prep.
"Vicki has some good size and should be able to mix things up a bit," quoted Opp.
"We don't have the depth in the inside game like we do in the guard spot," concluded Opp. "But we have some different weapons and I think we'll be able to do a lot of good things."
