2007-2008 Women's Basketball Preview

Expectations will be high for the University of the Cumberlands Women’s Basketball team this year as they look ahead towards a Conference Championship and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. After starting out last season ranked #10 in the nation, Cumberland ended ranked #10 in the nation after fluctuating between 4 th and 14 th throughout the season with a 25-6 overall record. Cumberlands fell short at the regular season MSC Championship Tournament and the NAIA National Tournament. The Patriots received a first round bye the in MSC Tournament facing West Virginia Tech in the second round. The Patriots fell to West Virginia Tech 46-49 despite the two wins against them in regular season play. At the NAIA Conference Tournament, the Patriots battled two tough halves against Oklahoma Christian University, in the end losing 64-77.

The Patriots lost five seniors, Jennifer Nagy (Strongsville, OH), Colia Mayo (Stockton, CA), Shannon Antunez (Ventura, CA), Kirsten Roberson (Baton Rouge, LA), and Becky Sumner (Marshes Siding, KY), from last year. Nagy and Roberson were named to the MSC All Conference Team. Nagy received the Academic All Conference Award for her achievements off the court and also received Honorable Mention All-American in the NAIA and All-American Scholar Athlete. Jennifer Nagy reached the 1500 career point mark as she finished her season with a total of 420 points (13.5 per game) and Kirsten Roberson surpassed the 1,000 plateau at the NAIA National Tournament game finishing her career with 1,003 points.

Lissi Fuller (Mt Vernon, OH), a 5’5” senior point guard, will lead the team as the floor general once again this year with her agility and great fundamentals. Fuller’s skills were noted last season by the MSC as she was named to the All-Conference squad. Juniors Hannah Jefferson ( Brooksville, KY) and Madison Flowers ( Somerset, KY) will return to assist the Patriots in their goal of Conference Championship. Jefferson, honored with Academic All Conference, offers a quick threat to defenders and Flowers has great perimeter shooting abilities. Sophomores Brittanie Ware ( Stafford, VA), Lauren Martin ( Detroit, MI), and Amber Neace ( London, KY) prepare to step up for the Patriots as they return for their second season. Amber Neace, averaging over 20 minutes of playing time per game last season, is solid under the basket and around the perimeter, able to shoot the three and post-up strong under the basket.

Suiting up in a Patriot uniform for the first time will be transfers Sonia Thompson ( Utica, MI), Kenyada Wade ( Detroit, MI), and Crystal Taylor ( Flint, MI). Thompson is a 6’1” sophomore playing forward and guard transferring from Wayne County Community College. Crystal Taylor is a 6’1” senior playing forward and center transferring from St. Augustine College in North Carolina. Kenyada Wade is a 5’5” junior point guard transferring from St. Augustine College. Stephanie Quattrociocchi ( Windsor, Canada), a 5’7” freshmen guard, red shirted last year for the Patriots. Adding one true freshman the roster, Haley Ratliff, a 5’7” point guard comes from Pikeville, KY having graduated from Pike County Central.

This season the Patriots have a schedule that will keep them on the road. Coach Irvin comments, “We were lucky last year and had a schedule that featured us at home for much of the year. This year we are not so lucky. We are only at home three times before Christmas. We will definitely be road warriors.” The Patriots will definitely be road warriors as they will be traveling to Lindsey Wilson, the only team in the MSC to beat the Patriots last year, Georgetown, West Virginia Tech, the team that ended the Patriots hope of a MSC Championship title, and Azusa Pacific, a team that made it to the second round of the NAIA National Championship.

After finishing with their eighth 20 win season in the last nine years and having had made a trip to the MSC Tournament and the NAIA Championship Tournament, the Patriots ladies have a lot of expectations to live up too but they still expect more.

Coach Irvin remarks, “I’m really looking forward to watching a young team develop and work hard to achieve their goals. I want a hungry team that wants to work hard and focus on the fundamentals of basketball with a group of players that have the desire to buy back a championship. We have the desire to maintain our standards of the past and to take it even higher this year.”

The competitions will be tough and the spectators are guaranteed a great showing with every game as women’s basketball at Cumberlands has advanced to the next level. Conference Championships, National Tournament appearances are expected, but a MSC Tournament Championship and a strong NAIA National Tournament appearance is what the 2007-2008 Patriot ladies are after. The road is rugged, but persistence backed with great expectations should propel the Patriots to excel.

2006-2007 Preview
2005-2006 Preview
2004-2005 Preview