BEARS SET FOR RUN AT 9^TH STRAIGHT TRIP TO NATIONALS

The Shawnee State University Women’s Basketball Team begins the 2001-2002 campaign as the #1 ranked team in NAIA Division II.  They have won six straight regular season conference championships and have made 8 consecutive trips to the National Tournament.  With eight players returning from last year’s 30-2 Elite Eight squad, the Bears look to capture the conference crown and make a return trip to Sioux City, Iowa.

Despite losing All-Conference performers Brandy Humphrey and Becky Holden to graduation, the Bears remain laden with talented athletes.  Leading the way for SSU is sophomore center Mandy Goin (Belpre, OH).  Goin averaged 17.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on her way to earning 1^st Team All-AMC, AMC Freshman of the Year, and 1^st Team All-American honors.  Goin recorded 11 double-doubles throughout the season including two in the National Tournament. 

Joining Goin in the frontcourt will be juniors Camey Geiman (Alexandria, KY) and Angie Ingram (Eaton, OH).  Geiman is perhaps the most versatile player on the team and the player that makes the team click.  She averaged 7.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season.  Ingram played only 15 minutes per contest last season, yet she made the most of her time on the court.  She scored 6.8 points and grabbed 5.8 rebounds per contest.  She showed nice range as she connected on 40% of her 3-point field goal attempts and 45% overall.  

Look for Maggie Unger (Greenfield, OH), Ashley See (Wheelersburg, OH), and Susie Kline (Ironton, OH) to provide valuable minutes off the bench.  Unger played in all but one game last season.  She is great on the glass, averaging 3.8 boards in just 10.8 minutes of playing time.  See shot over 43% from behind the arc as a freshman.  He accuracy dropped off last season, but she looks to have her shooting eye back for her junior campaign.  Kline is one of two seniors on the squad and she was part of the National Championship Team from 1999-2000. 

Cheri Griffith (Greenup, KY) and Teresa Campbell (Waverly, OH) are the top returning guards on the squad.  Griffith started all 32 games last season and averaged 8.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.  She will miss the first half of the season, however, due to off-season knee surgery.  Her leadership off the court will play a vital roll in the team’s success until her return.  Campbell played in all 32 games last season and started nine.  She connected on 39.6% of her shots from behind the 3-point line and averaged 7.9 points per game.

In addition to the returning players, the Bears have very solid freshman class.  Nikki Tucker (Logan, OH) and Natlaie Gill (Xenia, OH) will likely see a great deal of time at the point until Griffith’s return.  Heather Schilling (Columbus, OH) will play at shooting guard.  Sarah Tackett (Greenup, KY) will likely see time at the two and three positions.

“We have a great inside game with Mandy, Angie, and Camey,” said 3-time AMC Coach of the Year, Robin Hagen-Smith.  “We will be a bit inexperienced in the backcourt until Cheri returns, but that is just going to provide a great deal opportunity for our younger players.  By the time the tournament gets here, they won’t be freshmen any longer.  That only increases our chances of returning to the Nationals.”

Shawnee State opens the season at Seton Hill College on November 9.  The Bears’ home opener is Friday, November 16.  SSU plays Westminster in the opening round of the SOMC Invitational Tournament.  Game time is 8:00 p.m. in the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center.