2009-2010 Women's Basketball Preview

During the 2008-2009 season the Patriot ladies were striving to make history as they were “Livin’ the Dream.” The Women’s Basketball team made school history with a record of 29-5 and reaching the Elite 8 in the NAIA National Tournament. This was the most wins in one season in Cumberland history and Coach Irvin’s ninth 20 plus win season. In the NAIA preseason poll, the ladies were ranked 21st. On January 26th the Patriots had moved up in the rankings to the top 10. The final rating released ranked the ladies at 11th. The Patriot Ladies are looking to build on their success and strive for even higher results. As Coach Irvin put it, “We are very excited about all of this year’s possibilities. I guess you could say that we are ‘Championship Hungry’. We got a taste of what is out there last year and we definitely want more this year!”

The first obstacle for the Patriots to overcome will be replacing their point guard Johnna Abney who was lost to graduation. Abney (Mt. Vernon, KY), a 5’5” point guard, transferred to the Cumberlands from Middle Tennessee State University. With only one year of eligibility of play, she led the Patriot Ladies on the floor. Abney had 311 points, averaging nine per game, led the ladies in assists with 137, shot over 90 percent from the free throw line, and shot over 40 percent from behind the three-point arc. Abney started in all but one of the Cumberlands 34 games.

Also lost due to graduation was Hannah Jefferson (Brooksville, KY), Kenyada Wade (Detroit, MI), and Madison Flowers (Somerset, KY). During her final season, Flowers joined the 1,000 point club and ended the season with 395 points, 119 rebounds, and 80 assists. Flowers also led the Patriot Ladies in three-pointers with 78 on the season.

Returning to assist the Patriot Ladies in their dreams are seniors Sonia Thompson (Utica, MI), Lauren Martin (Detroit, MI), and Amber Neace (London, KY).

Neace joined the 1,000 point club last season as a junior and had 408 points, averaging 15.1 points a game and led the team with 60 steals. Amber also earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors. “She (Amber) is the backbone of our team and a true leader out on the floor,” stated Irvin. “Her experience and ability to score at any time will be a great return for us.”

Thompson played in all 34 games, and accumulated 216 rebounds and 213 points. “Sonia came off the bench and played a multitude of positions for us,” said Irvin. “She can play anywhere from a 2 guard to a center and do all very well.”

Martin was a strong asset for the Patriot Ladies underneath the basket shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor, scoring 277 points and grabbing 216 rebounds. Lauren’s athletic ability and defensive savvy proved to be a tremendous asset to the Patriots.

Also returning for the Patriots as upperclassmen are Stephanie Quattrociocchi (Windsor, Canada), Brittanie Ware (Radcliff, KY), Haley Ratliff (Pikeville, KY), Lauren Wombles (London, KY), and Amanda Brimm (Williamsburg, KY). Wombles was awarded MSC Freshman of Year and All-American Honorable Mention from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association finishing only seven points shy of 500 points, with 493, averaging 14.5 points a game. Wombles lead the Patriot Ladies with 281 rebounds, averaging 8.3 a game with 12 double-doubles during the season. Irvin mentions, “With a little more experience coming into this year, we expect her (Lauren) to step her game up and become stronger and more aggressive.”The Patriot Ladies have a strong returning class as well as strong incoming class of transfers and freshmen.

Coach Irvin is very excited about the additions to this year’s team. “We believe that we have one of the best recruiting classes that we have ever had. We have brought in 5 players this year that we hope will all have the opportunity to make immediate impacts on our team and in the Mid-South Conference.”

The Patriot Ladies will have four new transfers this year, juniors Darneilla Russell (Seattle, WA), Myah Autry (Chicago, IL), Sherika Puckett (Seattle, WA), and red-shirt freshman Allison Whitenack (Westchester, OH).

“Myah Autry is extremely talented and a strong wing; we plan on moving her to the perimeter and utilizing her ability to handle the ball and take it strong to the basket,” said Irvin. Allison Whitenack comes to Cumberland after red-shirting last season due to injury. “Allison is a talented and very fundamental point guard; we will utilize her tremendous shooting abilities and give depth to the point position,” said Irvin.

Coach Irvin believes Darnellia Russell will become a premier player in the NAIA after a successful career at Northwest Seattle Junior College. “She is going to be bringing some intensity,” said Irvin. “She is a very good all around player and a very smart player. I think she brings speed, aggressiveness, and intensity. She is a great scorer; there is no question about it. But that is just one dimension of her game.

The Patriot Women will add one true freshman to the roster, Ida Gustafsson ( Oskarshamn, Sweden), a 6’3” post player with the ability to play with her back to the basket or face up and handle the ball. “She moves like a guard and is one of the quickest players on the team. She has the skills and work ethic to become one of the best post players to ever have played at UC,” adds Coach Irvin. All of the new Patriot Ladies will add great talent, athleticism, and experience to the team and contribute to the year’s successes.

“We are very excited about our schedule that we have ahead of us,” commented Irvin. “We definitely have to have one of the toughest schedules in the nation! We know that we will have the opportunity to play some of the best competition out there and feel that it will make us stronger and stronger throughout the year. It will definitely be a challenge and one that we are excited about.”

The ladies will be facing Union University, who won the NAIA National Tournament last season, Lambuth University, who were National Runner’s Up last season, and Lee University, who ended the season ranked 5 th. After facing an incredible pre-conference schedule, the women will enter into one of the toughest conferences, facing Georgetown College, Lindsey Wilson College, Campbellsville University, and University of Rio Grande among other teams.

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 National Championship is what the Patriot ladies are after. The road is rugged, but persistence backed with great expectations should propel the Patriots to excel. The 2009-10 team is not ready to settle for just the next level, they want it all, the elite level, one that many dream of, but never achieve. But why shouldn’t they want it and have it all? After all, they are ‘Championship Hungry’ after having an amazing season so why wouldn’t they continue “Livin’ the Dream!”

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