Friday, November 9
Chapel Hill, NC
5:00 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
at
North Carolina
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Reigning SoCon Regular Season Champs Tip Season Off at UNC Friday in Preseason WNIT
11/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID
Preseason WNIT bracket (pdf)
Live Stats at North Carolina
Live Audio
Game Notes: #1 at Tar Heels
Find Your Favorite Wildcat Action Shot at DavidsonPhotos.com
For Information on tickets or to buy them for the season, check out the Tickets link on the home page of DavidsonWildcats.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. — The reigning 2011-12 Southern Conference regular season champion Davidson Wildcat women's basketball team opens the new season in the first round of the preseason Women's NIT at North Carolina Friday evening.
Davidson, coming off a 22-10 season and a school-best mark of 17-3 in SoCon play a year ago, heads to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a 5 p.m. tip against the Tar Heels at Carmichael Arena. The Wildcats were picked first in the presason SoCon coaches poll, with Sophia Aleksandravicius being selected preseason Player of the Year and Laura Murray joining Aleksandravicius on the preaseason all-league team.
Friday's game can be heard live on teamline as Derek Smith and Leslie Urban bring you all the action courtside.
In preparation for the tip-off on Friday evening, below is the season outlook for the 2012-13 Wildcats ...
The Wildcats' 2012-13 season begins its third year under the guidence of Michele Savage and the expectations are running very high throughout the program after being picked first in the 2012-13 Southern Conference preseason coaches poll. This high is coming after a record-setting 2011-12 season in which Davidson won the program's first SoCon regular season title, finished one win short of the school record and reached the postseason for the second time with a trip to the Women's NIT. Led by the return of four starters and 12 letterwinners in all, including SoCon Player of Year recipient Sophia Aleksandravicius and All-SoCon First Teamer Laura Murray, the 2012-13 campaign is gearing up to be an exciting one.
Coach Savage's thoughts on this year's team and what you can expect from the Davidson Women's Basketball team…
Expectations are high this year, what are some key factors for the team to continue its success from a season ago?
Coach Savage: There are three key components going into this season that will help with continued success: staying healthy, bench production, mental toughness against a challenging non-conference and conference schedule
2011-12 Quick Recap
Last season was one of the best in the program's 33 years, as the Wildcats finished 22-10 overall and set a school mark with a 17-3 record in SoCon action on their way to the program's first regular season title. Davidson reached the SoCon semifinals and earned a bid into the Women's NIT, the second time the Wildcats had reached the postseason.
In addition, Aleksandravicius became the second Wildcat to garner SoCon Player of the Year honors as voted on by the league's coaches and she was the Defender of the Year as well.
Gone due to graduation are forward Kristen Johnsen and Amanda Ottaway. Johnsen leaves after starting 73 games during her four-year career and finishing with 503 rebounds, putting her in the top-15 career record book. Ottaway was a key contributor off the bench in her four years and during her final season, she averaged personal-bests of nearly six points and three rebounds in a career-high 31.
2012-13 Returners
The pieces that return for Savage are 12 letterwinners, which starts with All-SoCon First Team performers Aleksandravicius and Murray. The tandem were two of the best in the league with Murray finishing second in the SoCon in scoring and Aleksandravicius winning the player of the year honor.
Both were selected – for the second year in a row – to the 2012-13 preseason coaches team. In addition, Aleksandravicius's fellow senior teammates Barbara Sitton, Jasmine Calin, Sarah Davis and Katrin Chiemeka will all look to lead the Wildcats to the league championship title after assisting in the program's first regular season title a year ago.
Add in the pieces of five sophomores and two newcomers, it all sets up the 'Cats for another solid season and a strong run in the SoCon.
You return the top player in the SoCon from last year in Aleksandravicius. This being her senior year, what do you expect from her as she has the chance to close out her career as one of the best players in the program's history?
Coach Savage: “I expect her to increase her productivity in every statistical category. She has put a lot of work into her game over the summer and we hope to see a huge return. Sophia has come into this season very focused and determined and I expect her to a big piece of our quest for a title.”
As Laura Murray approaches 1,000 career points, what are you looking for her to improve on during her junior campaign after a stout second year?
Coach Savage: “I look for her to improve her aggressiveness offensively and defensively. In addition, I am expecting improved verbal communication as one of the leaders on this years' team.”
Senior Class
One of the best women's basketball recuiting classes to come to Davidson, led by Aleksandravicius, will look to finish out their Wildcat careers in winning style. The class of 2013 came in ranked 105th nationally, the best in the SoCon for the 2008-09 season. Aleksandravicius is coming off a strong junior season and has a chance to finish as the program's all-time leader in numerous categories, including points and rebounds. She already owns the blocks all-time records: game, single-season and career.
Joining the 6-5 forward are Sitton, Davis, Calin and Chiemeka. Sitton has been the Wildcats main point guard the last two years and had a standout junior campaign. She currently sits third all-time with 321 assists.
Davis, Calin and Chiemeka have each provided good depth off the bench, with Chiemeka stepping into the starting lineup a season ago.
Cracking the Lineup: Backcourt and Front
The Wildcats return four of their five starters from a year ago, led by Murray in the backcourt and Aleksandravicius in the frontcourt. Aleksandravicius averaged 13.8 points for fourth-best in the league, while pacing the SoCon in rebounding at 8.9 per game and blocks with 93, two off her school single-season record. Aleksandravicius nearly had the school's first unofficial triple-double when she tallied 20 points, 17 rebounds and a new Wildcat single-game record nine blocks in a 55-52 win at Appalachian State.
The 6-5 forward became the program's 14th 1,000-point scorer a year ago and is just 210 points from setting the all-time mark held by Davidson Hall of Famer Jennifer O'Brien.
Murray followed up her SoCon Freshman of the Year honors by earning first team nods on both the media and coaches teams, while also securing a spot on the first-team SoCon All-Tournament Team. Murray paced the team in scoring and ranked 19th in the country in three-point accuracy at 39.3 percent.
Helping fill the backcourt will be seniors Sitton and Chiemeka. Last year saw Sitton average a career-high 6.9 points and paced the 'Cats with a team-high 124 assists. The senior point guard ranked second in steals in the SoCon (88, 2.8 per game) and third in assist to turnover ratio at 1.2.
Chiemeka started a career-best 30 games and gave the Wildcats another threat from downtown by hitting a personal-best 27 three-balls.
Junior Shneeka Center, and sophomores Shannon Eriksson and Lillian McCabe will see time in the backcourt as well. Center and McCabe saw action in 26 and 24 games, respectively, while Eriksson will look to rebound from missing all but six games during her freshman season after a season-ending injury. Mason Jeffries got into 11 games a year ago and will provide depth at the off-guard spot.
The frontcourt will be filled with senior returners Davis and Calin, along with sophomores Hannah Early and Mellissa Giegerich. Davis teamed with Aleksandravicius at times and provided depth off the bench down low in the blocks last year. She averaged close to four points and played in 26 games. Calin will be looking to carry a fabulous junior season into her senior year. The 5-11 slashing forward played in 31 of the 32 games and provided a spark off the bench, averaging five points and shooting 45 percent from the field.
Early, a preseason favorite last year to challenge for the SoCon Freshman of the Year honors, was lost after a season-ending injury cut her freshman season short after three games. She will give the 'Cats a threat inside and outside. Giegrich will give coach Savage depth to spell Davis and Aleksandravicius down low on the blocks.
There are two freshmen this year (Alex Long and Dakota Dukes). Talk about what they bring to the table and how you see them fitting into the rotation and contributing during the season.
Coach Savage: “I'm expecting Alex and Dakota to contribute sooner than later in their freshman campaign. They both bring much needed depth to their positions respectively and will only enhance what we currently have on the team. Alex will bring length and scoring versatility at the point position, helping contribute with Sitton.
Dakota will fill in at the post position. She has a nose for the the ball and a knack for scoring around the basket. She'll be another strong rebounding presense on the blocks as well.”
The 2012-13 Schedule
For the second time in program history, the Davidson women's basketball team will participate in the preseason Women's NIT, while also playing former national champions North Carolina and Tennessee.
The Wildcats' non-conference schedule is highlighted by three trips to traditionally-ranked teams Miami, Rutgers and Tennessee, while opening up the preseason WNIT at North Carolina. In addition, the 'Cats will also play cross-county rival Charlotte and a pair of Big South opponents to go with their normal 20-game Southern Conference slate.
“I'm very excited about having the nucleus of the team back from last year's successful season,” said Savage. “I expect us to continue to build on that success with the additions of our newcomers. We have a very demanding schedule that will challenge us early and often beginning with the preseason NIT.”
The Tar Heels were 20-11 a year ago and won the 2008 preseason WNIT. The event guarantees a minimum of three games for the Wildcats, with the second and third rounds taking place Nov. 11-19.
Thanksgiving weekend has the Wildcats traveling to Rutgers for a Sunday contest. It will be the first matchup against the Scarlet Knights, who finished 22-10 and were ranked No. 23 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Wildcats have their home opener on Saturday, Dec. 1, with a contest against league-foe Georgia Southern.
Davidson takes Florida native Calin home with a trip to Miami for the first time, Dec. 8. The Hurricanes finished ranked eighth in the AP Top 25 poll and 11th in the USA Today/ESPN after going 26-6 and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. They open this season ranked 24/23 in each poll.
The 'Cats and the Charlotte 49ers battle each other for the first since 2008 when they take to the hardwood before Christmas, Dec. 21, at Charlotte's Halton Arena.
December finishes out with a trip to Tennessee for another first-time matchup for the Wildcat program. The Vols, an eight-time NCAA champion, will be under the guidance of first-year head coach Holly Warlick, who takes over for Hall of Fame coach Pat Summit. Tennessee is coming off a 27-9 campaign and reached the Elite Eight for an NCAA-record 25th time. The Vols open the season ranked 20th in the AP poll and 16th in the USA Today/ESPN.
The new calendar year opens up with a showdown at Belk Arena, Jan. 5, against Appalachian State, which shared the regular season title with Davidson. ASU went 27-7 last year and reached the WNIT Sweet 16. The Wildcats had the Mountaineers number last year, taking both meetings during the regular season.
The SoCon Tournament is again in Asheville, N.C., March 8-11. Last season the top-seeded 'Cats reached the semifinals for the first time since 2007. Their tournament run ended with a defeat to eventual champion Samford. In its 19 appearances since joining the SoCon in 1993-94, Davidson has gone 12-19, reaching the semifinals eight times and the final once.
Live Stats at North Carolina
Live Audio
Game Notes: #1 at Tar Heels
Find Your Favorite Wildcat Action Shot at DavidsonPhotos.com
For Information on tickets or to buy them for the season, check out the Tickets link on the home page of DavidsonWildcats.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. — The reigning 2011-12 Southern Conference regular season champion Davidson Wildcat women's basketball team opens the new season in the first round of the preseason Women's NIT at North Carolina Friday evening.
Davidson, coming off a 22-10 season and a school-best mark of 17-3 in SoCon play a year ago, heads to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a 5 p.m. tip against the Tar Heels at Carmichael Arena. The Wildcats were picked first in the presason SoCon coaches poll, with Sophia Aleksandravicius being selected preseason Player of the Year and Laura Murray joining Aleksandravicius on the preaseason all-league team.
Friday's game can be heard live on teamline as Derek Smith and Leslie Urban bring you all the action courtside.
In preparation for the tip-off on Friday evening, below is the season outlook for the 2012-13 Wildcats ...
The Wildcats' 2012-13 season begins its third year under the guidence of Michele Savage and the expectations are running very high throughout the program after being picked first in the 2012-13 Southern Conference preseason coaches poll. This high is coming after a record-setting 2011-12 season in which Davidson won the program's first SoCon regular season title, finished one win short of the school record and reached the postseason for the second time with a trip to the Women's NIT. Led by the return of four starters and 12 letterwinners in all, including SoCon Player of Year recipient Sophia Aleksandravicius and All-SoCon First Teamer Laura Murray, the 2012-13 campaign is gearing up to be an exciting one.
Coach Savage's thoughts on this year's team and what you can expect from the Davidson Women's Basketball team…
Expectations are high this year, what are some key factors for the team to continue its success from a season ago?
Coach Savage: There are three key components going into this season that will help with continued success: staying healthy, bench production, mental toughness against a challenging non-conference and conference schedule
2011-12 Quick Recap
Last season was one of the best in the program's 33 years, as the Wildcats finished 22-10 overall and set a school mark with a 17-3 record in SoCon action on their way to the program's first regular season title. Davidson reached the SoCon semifinals and earned a bid into the Women's NIT, the second time the Wildcats had reached the postseason.
In addition, Aleksandravicius became the second Wildcat to garner SoCon Player of the Year honors as voted on by the league's coaches and she was the Defender of the Year as well.
Gone due to graduation are forward Kristen Johnsen and Amanda Ottaway. Johnsen leaves after starting 73 games during her four-year career and finishing with 503 rebounds, putting her in the top-15 career record book. Ottaway was a key contributor off the bench in her four years and during her final season, she averaged personal-bests of nearly six points and three rebounds in a career-high 31.
2012-13 Returners
The pieces that return for Savage are 12 letterwinners, which starts with All-SoCon First Team performers Aleksandravicius and Murray. The tandem were two of the best in the league with Murray finishing second in the SoCon in scoring and Aleksandravicius winning the player of the year honor.
Both were selected – for the second year in a row – to the 2012-13 preseason coaches team. In addition, Aleksandravicius's fellow senior teammates Barbara Sitton, Jasmine Calin, Sarah Davis and Katrin Chiemeka will all look to lead the Wildcats to the league championship title after assisting in the program's first regular season title a year ago.
Add in the pieces of five sophomores and two newcomers, it all sets up the 'Cats for another solid season and a strong run in the SoCon.
You return the top player in the SoCon from last year in Aleksandravicius. This being her senior year, what do you expect from her as she has the chance to close out her career as one of the best players in the program's history?
Coach Savage: “I expect her to increase her productivity in every statistical category. She has put a lot of work into her game over the summer and we hope to see a huge return. Sophia has come into this season very focused and determined and I expect her to a big piece of our quest for a title.”
As Laura Murray approaches 1,000 career points, what are you looking for her to improve on during her junior campaign after a stout second year?
Senior Class
One of the best women's basketball recuiting classes to come to Davidson, led by Aleksandravicius, will look to finish out their Wildcat careers in winning style. The class of 2013 came in ranked 105th nationally, the best in the SoCon for the 2008-09 season. Aleksandravicius is coming off a strong junior season and has a chance to finish as the program's all-time leader in numerous categories, including points and rebounds. She already owns the blocks all-time records: game, single-season and career.
Joining the 6-5 forward are Sitton, Davis, Calin and Chiemeka. Sitton has been the Wildcats main point guard the last two years and had a standout junior campaign. She currently sits third all-time with 321 assists.
Davis, Calin and Chiemeka have each provided good depth off the bench, with Chiemeka stepping into the starting lineup a season ago.
Cracking the Lineup: Backcourt and Front
The Wildcats return four of their five starters from a year ago, led by Murray in the backcourt and Aleksandravicius in the frontcourt. Aleksandravicius averaged 13.8 points for fourth-best in the league, while pacing the SoCon in rebounding at 8.9 per game and blocks with 93, two off her school single-season record. Aleksandravicius nearly had the school's first unofficial triple-double when she tallied 20 points, 17 rebounds and a new Wildcat single-game record nine blocks in a 55-52 win at Appalachian State.
The 6-5 forward became the program's 14th 1,000-point scorer a year ago and is just 210 points from setting the all-time mark held by Davidson Hall of Famer Jennifer O'Brien.
Murray followed up her SoCon Freshman of the Year honors by earning first team nods on both the media and coaches teams, while also securing a spot on the first-team SoCon All-Tournament Team. Murray paced the team in scoring and ranked 19th in the country in three-point accuracy at 39.3 percent.
Helping fill the backcourt will be seniors Sitton and Chiemeka. Last year saw Sitton average a career-high 6.9 points and paced the 'Cats with a team-high 124 assists. The senior point guard ranked second in steals in the SoCon (88, 2.8 per game) and third in assist to turnover ratio at 1.2.
Chiemeka started a career-best 30 games and gave the Wildcats another threat from downtown by hitting a personal-best 27 three-balls.
Junior Shneeka Center, and sophomores Shannon Eriksson and Lillian McCabe will see time in the backcourt as well. Center and McCabe saw action in 26 and 24 games, respectively, while Eriksson will look to rebound from missing all but six games during her freshman season after a season-ending injury. Mason Jeffries got into 11 games a year ago and will provide depth at the off-guard spot.
The frontcourt will be filled with senior returners Davis and Calin, along with sophomores Hannah Early and Mellissa Giegerich. Davis teamed with Aleksandravicius at times and provided depth off the bench down low in the blocks last year. She averaged close to four points and played in 26 games. Calin will be looking to carry a fabulous junior season into her senior year. The 5-11 slashing forward played in 31 of the 32 games and provided a spark off the bench, averaging five points and shooting 45 percent from the field.
Early, a preseason favorite last year to challenge for the SoCon Freshman of the Year honors, was lost after a season-ending injury cut her freshman season short after three games. She will give the 'Cats a threat inside and outside. Giegrich will give coach Savage depth to spell Davis and Aleksandravicius down low on the blocks.
There are two freshmen this year (Alex Long and Dakota Dukes). Talk about what they bring to the table and how you see them fitting into the rotation and contributing during the season.
Coach Savage: “I'm expecting Alex and Dakota to contribute sooner than later in their freshman campaign. They both bring much needed depth to their positions respectively and will only enhance what we currently have on the team. Alex will bring length and scoring versatility at the point position, helping contribute with Sitton.
Dakota will fill in at the post position. She has a nose for the the ball and a knack for scoring around the basket. She'll be another strong rebounding presense on the blocks as well.”
The 2012-13 Schedule
The Wildcats' non-conference schedule is highlighted by three trips to traditionally-ranked teams Miami, Rutgers and Tennessee, while opening up the preseason WNIT at North Carolina. In addition, the 'Cats will also play cross-county rival Charlotte and a pair of Big South opponents to go with their normal 20-game Southern Conference slate.
“I'm very excited about having the nucleus of the team back from last year's successful season,” said Savage. “I expect us to continue to build on that success with the additions of our newcomers. We have a very demanding schedule that will challenge us early and often beginning with the preseason NIT.”
The Tar Heels were 20-11 a year ago and won the 2008 preseason WNIT. The event guarantees a minimum of three games for the Wildcats, with the second and third rounds taking place Nov. 11-19.
Thanksgiving weekend has the Wildcats traveling to Rutgers for a Sunday contest. It will be the first matchup against the Scarlet Knights, who finished 22-10 and were ranked No. 23 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Wildcats have their home opener on Saturday, Dec. 1, with a contest against league-foe Georgia Southern.
Davidson takes Florida native Calin home with a trip to Miami for the first time, Dec. 8. The Hurricanes finished ranked eighth in the AP Top 25 poll and 11th in the USA Today/ESPN after going 26-6 and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. They open this season ranked 24/23 in each poll.
The 'Cats and the Charlotte 49ers battle each other for the first since 2008 when they take to the hardwood before Christmas, Dec. 21, at Charlotte's Halton Arena.
December finishes out with a trip to Tennessee for another first-time matchup for the Wildcat program. The Vols, an eight-time NCAA champion, will be under the guidance of first-year head coach Holly Warlick, who takes over for Hall of Fame coach Pat Summit. Tennessee is coming off a 27-9 campaign and reached the Elite Eight for an NCAA-record 25th time. The Vols open the season ranked 20th in the AP poll and 16th in the USA Today/ESPN.
The new calendar year opens up with a showdown at Belk Arena, Jan. 5, against Appalachian State, which shared the regular season title with Davidson. ASU went 27-7 last year and reached the WNIT Sweet 16. The Wildcats had the Mountaineers number last year, taking both meetings during the regular season.
The SoCon Tournament is again in Asheville, N.C., March 8-11. Last season the top-seeded 'Cats reached the semifinals for the first time since 2007. Their tournament run ended with a defeat to eventual champion Samford. In its 19 appearances since joining the SoCon in 1993-94, Davidson has gone 12-19, reaching the semifinals eight times and the final once.
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