Text Box: INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2007-2008 SEASON OUTLOOK The Grenadiers return nine players and four starters from last year’s team that finished second in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) with an overall record of 21-8 (9-2 KIAC). After winning 16 of their last 19 games of the season the Grenadiers lost a tough battle in the conference tournament semifinal to Berea College 80-77. The Lady Mountaineers would eventually go on to win the conference tournament and represent the KIAC in the NAIA National Tournament. RETURNING PLAYERS: Key players returning for the Grenadiers this season are 6’0” sophomore Tiffiani Slaughter, 5’8” junior Andrea Chambers, 5’5” senior Brittany Caple, and 5’8” junior Jenna Richie. Slaughter and Chambers led the team in scoring and rebounding throughout the 2006-07 season and will be looked to in key pressure situations for the Grenadiers throughout the upcoming season. Slaughter averaged 12.1 points a game and 6.6 rebounds while Chambers averaged 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds. Two other key players returning to the lineup for IU Southeast will be the team’s only senior Brittany Caple and junior Jenna Richie. Last year Caple averaged 10.3 points a game and 3.3 assists in her finest season in a Grenadier uniform. Richie averaged 9.4 points a game and two steals while also competing for the school’s women’s tennis program. Other returnees to the team are 6’1” sophomore center Vanessa Stauble, 5’8” sophomore guard Megan Bunch, 5’9” sophomore forward Randi Carrol, and 5’10” sophomore forward Alisha Briner. The Grenadier’s 18 year veteran head coach Robin Farris knows just how important his returning players will be this season, “I have high expectations from our returning players and feel that their leadership and contributions on the court will be critical to the team’s success.” FRESH FACES: Coach Farris and 16 year Grenadier Assistant Coach Bernie Merkel both feel that they have had another fine recruiting class this season adding six new players to the roster. Newcomers to the team include 5’0” Whitney Duncan (Louisville Moore High School.), 5’5” Morgan Hunsaker (Paoli High School), 6’2” Alden Krausse (Louisville Presentation Academy), 5’8” Lauren Brim (Bedford North Lawrence), 5’9” Emily Batliner (Floyd Central High School), and 5’9” Tia Wineinger (Northeast Dubois High School). Coach Farris believes that they have a good blend of talent joining the team this year, “We are bringing in a group of girls who can play a lot of different positions for us. They are strong and aggressive, and will be able to mix it up for us. They could give us a little different look on the court.” KEY’S TO A SUCCESFUL SEASON: Coach Farris feels that the team will have to set the tone with a strong defense and an aggressive style of play. “We will practice hard and aggressively to get us ready for the beginning of the season. I want this team to focus on rebounding and second chance opportunities under the basket. It will be very important to our success on the court,” said Farris. The Grenadiers were one of the better defensive teams in the NAIA last season holding opponents to 57.2 points a game, 35 percent shooting from the field and forcing almost 20 turnovers per game. Coach Farris believes that his team will need to improve on rebounding, 3-point shooting and reducing turnovers. THE SCHEDULE: The Grenadiers will be playing a challenging schedule this year opening play at the St. Francis Invitational Tournament in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. St. Francis advanced to the NAIA Elite Eight last season and has had a consistently solid program throughout their history. The 2007-08 Grenadiers will be playing in the NCAA Division III Hanover College Tournament in mid December and will compete against NCAA Division II Oakland City University in early January. IU Southeast will also play two NAIA Division I basketball programs in Lindsey Wilson College and Campbellsville University. “I believe that our challenging schedule will help our team by letting us know where our weaknesses are early in the season. Our schedule will help us in the long run if we do not lose our confidence from playing tough games every night,” said coach Farris. Fans will need to be watching the win/loss column closely this year because coach Farris is only six wins away from winning his 300 game as the head coach of Indiana University Southeast. With the return of nine players, including four starters, and combined with a strong recruiting class, coach Farris believes that the team will be ready for the challenge. IUS Athletics Homepage