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Published: Wednesday, October 11, 2006

YSU women's team lacks seniors

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Despite the turnover, Coach Tisha Hill has high expectations this season

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — As Tisha Hill begins her fourth season as coach of the Youngstown State women's basketball team, she once again has a lot of new faces on the roster.

The Penguins, who begin practice Friday night, don't have a senior player on the roster.

"I really wasn't sure just what it would be like without the senior leadership this year and I thought it would be a lot tougher than what it's been," Hill said.

"This group has caught on very quickly, led by a strong work ethic," Hill said.

The Penguins will open the 2006-07 season on Nov. 10 against Cincinnati at the Beeghly Center.

"We [the coaches] are excited about this group and this season," Hill said. "I come into every season expecting to win and based on the ability I've seen, my expectations are very high."

The Penguins have five players who have started at least one game.

Leaders

Leading the way is 5-foot-6 junior guard Lauren Branson of Cincinnati.

Branson started all 28 games as a freshman two years ago and began last season as the veteran point guard, but suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the team's 12th game and sat out the rest of the year.

She led the Horizon League in assists as a freshman with 159 and had 46 through 12 games a year ago.

"It was unfortunate that we didn't have her last year and we struggled at the point without her," Hill said. "I wasn't figuring on having a freshman point guard two years in a row."

The other veteran starter is 6-3 junior forward Jessica Schloemp, who started all 28 games last season, averaging 9.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

She'll be joined by 5-8 sophomore guard Monique Godfrey of East Cleveland, who started 11 games as a freshman, averaging 5.3 points per game to go along with 51 assists.

Sophomore guard Velissa Vaughn (5-8) had four starts and 6-2 sophomore center Nikita LaFleur had one.

More experience

Two others with considerable playing experience are 6-0 sophomore forward Ashley Pendleton from Farrell, and 5-8 sophomore guard Toni Roscoe of Pittsburgh.

The Penguins also will have 5-9 junior guard Kira Mowen eligible to play this year. The transfer from Illinois sat out last season and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Of the five new faces on the roster only one, 5-10 junior Kelsey Gurganus, won't be eligible this year. She transferred from Southern Mississippi and will sit out the season with two years remaining.

Junior Heather Karner, a 5-10 transfer from Western Nebraska Community College, will be eligible immediately along with three freshmen recruits.

They are Ta-Myra Davis, a 6-1 forward from Akron Firestone High; Anjalia Lyons, a 6-4 center from Cleveland Central Catholic; and Kaitlyn March, a 5-8 guard from Rochester, Pa.

mollica@vindy.com

Wednesday, October 11, 2006