2013-14 SCHEDULE

By Jim O'Hara

ROME, Ga. – They have three players who form a deadly backcourt threat back in the nest, as well as two more battled-tested veterans who know what it takes to survive in the paint.

Yet when the Shorter Lady Hawks begin the new season Wednesday night when they host the University of Montevallo at 6 p.m. at the Winthrop-King Centre, head coach Vic Mitchell's team will take the floor knowing that they have even more pieces to give the foes they face even more to worry about.

"I think we have a really good core in experience and talent," said Mitchell, who begins his 23^rd season leading the Lady Hawks and saw the team in its first campaign as an NCAA Division II program post an 18-13 overall record and a solid 10-8 slate and fourth-place finish in the Gulf South Conference.

"But now," the coach said, "we have added more depth on the perimeter and also more talent at the post and the perimeter."

Returning to reassume the role as the trident of the Lady Hawks' spear is the threesome who form the foundation of the team on the perimeter as interchangeable guards – seniors Karisma Boykin and Kristin Nash, and junior Ieshia Alexander, a trio that was the top three scorers a year ago.

Boykin returns after leading the team by 11.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.1 steals a game, while also showing her toughness by pulling down 4.6 rebounds an outing. The Carrollton product ended the year earning being named to the National Christian College Athletic Association South All-Region team and was an NCCAA All-American pick after she helped the Lady Hawks win the NCCAA Region championship and finish sixth at the national tournament.

Nash, who hails from Stone Mountain, joined Boykin in averaging in double figures as she contributed 10.3 points a game, along with 2.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds; and Alexander, a former standout at Coosa High, completes the trilogy having averaged 9.4 ppg, 2.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds last year,

"We'll rely heavily on those three," Mitchell said, "but now we have the depth that has the experience."

That, the coach pointed out, will come from a senior and three sophomores who got a taste of Division II basketball last year and are this year poised to make even more noise this time around.

Senior guard Milena Samson of Sweden, and sophomores Madison Rice of Canton, Tamarr Williams of Dacula and Maggie Peeples of Dalton all saw action in 20 or more games last season in reserve roles, with Peeples and Rice breaking into the starting lineup in select games.

"I feel all four are better and as they continue to get more comfortable, they will be more competitive," Mitchell said. "Having that depth allows us to change things up on the perimeter."

What won't change is the one-two punch the Lady Hawks will have inside thanks to the return of seniors Lindsey Crawford of Leesburg and Lynette Harris of Providence, Ky.

"In Lindsey and Lynette," said Mitchell, "we have two players who are so athletic they create problems for our opponents, and they believe they can have a double-double every game."

Last year, Crawford averaged 5 points and was the second-leading rebounder with 5.1 caroms a game, and wasted little time notching a double-double when the 6-foot-2 forward had 14 points and 11 rebounds during Shorter's preseason exhibition against SEC power Mississippi State.

Harris, a 6-footer who patrols the lane as Shorter's pivot player, contributed 7 points and 5 rebounds a game a year ago, when she proved that she makes the most of the shots she gets by hitting a team-high 54 percent of her attempts.

Expected to provide the depth inside includes 6-0 sophomore 6-0 center Alexis Munlyn of Suwanee, who saw limited action in a reserve role last year, and a pair of Lady Hawks who will be seeing action for the first time this season – red-shirt freshman Grace Rogers of Clayton, who is well-versed on what the Lady Hawks do having been a force during practices, and 5-9 freshman forward Shaundrika Mann of Atlanta, who helped Columbia High win three state championships.

"They will develop into great players, but they still need the experience," Mitchell said.

Rounding out the roster and adding to the overall team depth will be red-shirt freshman Abby Stell of Douglasville, a walk-on who suffered a preseason injury last year, and freshman guard Brittany Greene of Warner Robins, who was the team at Houston County High.

"This is probably as good a balanced we've had inside and outside," Mitchell said. "What we're missing is the leadership we got from our two seniors (Shelby Farrer and Chelsi Matthews) gave us last year.
"Everyone this year has something to offer," he said, "but we're still waiting for someone to step out and fill that role. It's something we need to address."

Mitchell also knows that the Lady Hawks have to address some areas of concern that arose during Shorter's trip to Mississippi State when they had trouble finding the touch from the floor and the foul line, hitting just 23.5 percent of their shots and a cool 16 of 31 free throws.

"We felt like we got good shots but did a poor job of shooting," said Mitchell. "We have to be more comfortable shooting the three and we have to do better from the line.

"And because the Gulf South Conference is so balanced, those two things give you a better chance to win."

After their opener, the Lady Hawks remain at home next Monday when they take on Columbus State at WKC in the nightcap game of Shorter's annual Cancer Awareness Games at 7:30 p.m. The non-conference clash comes after a high-school season opener between Armuchee and Darlington that begins at 5:30. All proceeds benefit the Play for Kay Foundation and the Floyd Breast Center.