Lynchburg College Women's Basketball Season Preview

Lynchburg College Basketball 2011-2012 Season Preview

The Lynchburg College women's basketball team comes into the 2011-2012 season with a high level of enthusiasm.  The Hornets finished last season with an overall record of 7-19 and 7-13 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).  An eighth place finish earned them a trip to the Salem Civic Center for the ODAC tournament where they lost a quarterfinal game to eventual champion Randolph-Macon College.

LC returns four of its top five scorers from last year, with each of them averaging more than 7.5 points per game.  Forward/center Katie Crump (Burke, VA/Lake Braddock) is the top returning scorer and rebounder, averaging 8.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. A capable scorer inside, Crump also connected on 14 three-point shots last year, showing off her range.  The coaching staff will look to her for strong leadership this year.  Returning in the frontcourt with Crump is fellow senior Caitlyn Falls (Moneta, VA/Staunton River).  Falls averaged 7.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 2010-11. A hard-nosed player, she hit a team-leading 59 free throws on the year and will be counted on to provide valuable minutes in the frontcourt this year.

Other top scorers returning are in the backcourt.  Carly Greenlief (Centreville, VA/Westfield) returns for her senior season after starting 21 games last year.  Greenlief averaged 8.1 per game and 5.3 rebounds per game last season.  One of the most versatile players on the team, the 5-9 guard shot 33 percent from behind the arc and 75 percent from the free throw line.  Her experience will undoubtedly provide an extra push throughout the upcoming season.  Roslyn Alexander (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) returns to the backcourt after having a huge impact in her freshman campaign.  The sophomore added 8.5 points a game and hit a team-leading 40 threes.  Lynchburg's coaching staff is excited to see these numbers improve in Alexander's second year, along with her 50 assists, which was good for second on the team.

 The Hornets return three additional forwards to the squad this year.  Junior Rebecca Speck (Vienna, VA/James Madison) started four games, scoring 12 points against Methodist, last year at forward and shot 44 percent from the field.  Sophomore Caleigh Patterson (Fairfax, VA/Fairfax) comes back after appearing in 24 games, as an important part of the frontcourt rotation.  She scored a season-high 10 points in a key win against Emory and Henry on February 11.  Classmate Julia Scales (Martinsville, VA/Bassett) who brings a lot of energy and strength, will look to gain more minutes in the rotation. This group dedicated their time and energy to improve their individual skills, strength and conditioning levels during the offseason.

Returning to the backcourt are guards Allyson Cannella (Walkill, NY/Walkill) and Shea Kelley (Norristown, PA/Kennedy-Kenrick).  Cannella returns for her senior year as a versatile player and will work to contribute in the backcourt.  Kelley played in 17 games as a sophomore, and looks to improve from behind the arc after hitting nine threes last year.

LC's coaching staff is very excited about the four-player freshmen class.  Shannon Allan (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) continues the string of players coming to Lynchburg from New York.  The versatile forward scored over 1,000 points in high school and is expected to continue similar production at the collegiate level.  At 6-1, Allan can be looked at to contribute both in the paint and the along the perimeter.

High school teammates Ashlyn Lindsay (Remington, VA) and Katie Reeves (Fredericksburg, VA) helped Liberty High win the Virginia AA state championship in their senior year.  Lindsay is a forward that averaged close to a double-double last year with 10 rebounds and eight points per game. Reeves will challenge for playing time at the point-guard position.  The 5-5 guard will bring poise and playmaking skills to the Hornets. 

Eleanor Klement (Midlothian, VA/Midlothian) rounds out the recruiting class for the Hornets.  The competitive 5-10 guard will add size and toughness and provide depth.

After dropping six games last year by five points or less, the Hornets will rely on their increased experience to push past those teams.  However, the schedule will be a very tough one.  The ODAC slate includes 20 games against some of the better teams in the region, and Lynchburg travels to an early season tournament at Capital Athletic Conference member Marymount (VA).  Lynchburg also faces a challenging non-league matchup against Christopher Newport.  The Captains, national-semifinalists in 2011, come to Turner Gymnasium on December 30.