University of the Cumberlands

University of the Cumberlands Women's Basketball 03-04 Team Accomplishments

Best record in school history 28-4
Regular Season Mid-South Conference Co-Champions
2 NAIA Scholar Athletes
3 First Team All-Conference
2 All-Conference Honorable Mention
2 Academic All-Conference
1 Champion of Character Award Winner
21 game winning streak
National Tournament Berth

2004-2005 Season Preview

"Championship" is on the minds of every Women's Basketball Team member. With a taste of victory still left from last season, the Patriot Ladies will look to bring home one if not two championships. Coming off a season that had a 28-4 record, a Mid-South Conference Regular Season Championship, finishing 9th in the country, earning a berth in the NAIA National Tournament, two NAIA Scholar Athletes, three First Team All-Conference members, two All-Conference Honorable Mentions, two Academic All-Conference players, and one Champion of Character Award winner, the team knows what is possible and will compete to obtain their ultimate prize.

With the graduation of three seniors, Monica Hang, Danika Cox, and Catherine Gandy, the Patriot Ladies will lose some valuable leadership on the court. However, the future looks bright as several players will be returning. Head Coach Melissa Irvin comments, "We have definitely reloaded this year. We signed three freshman from Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia, all having the competitiveness, drive, and pride to add to the eight would-be returners from last season. This season we plan to use our experiences from last year, along with our additions, to play a very competitive schedule with a number of winning programs." Three freshman that will join the Patriot Ladies this year are Lissi Fuller, of Mt. Vernon, OH, Sarha Tipton, of Powell County, KY, and Kristin Kunzman, of North Springfield, VA. All three are very talented and look to add tremendously to the team.

The Patriot Ladies will have several key returning players. Senior Tiffany Stewart, at the point guard position, will be looked to as the leader on the floor. Junior Tenille Cann will be a force from the perimeter and will stretch defenses with her unlimited range from the field. Senior Stephanie Isaacs will once again be a dominate force under the basket. She led the team in rebounds last year with 178 total rebounds. Sophomore Jennifer Nagy led the team last year in points per game with 13.4 points per game and will look to bring size and power to the middle of the court on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

The Patriot Ladies will be striving hard the season to be named outright Mid-South Conference Champions. To do this, they must win the Regular Season and the Conference Tournament. With this title, Cumberlands would earn a trip back to the NAIA National Tournament. But how do they reach their goal? Coach Irvin explains, "Every game will be tough because they are all stepping stones to our ultimate goal of winning a conference championship. There will be tougher games that others, but most importantly we will never look past a game until after we reached our championship!"