Eaglettes could be challenged, predicted to soar

Nothing is expected to change in Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball circles this year.

Which means that Tennessee Tech is expected to once again dominate the league.

The Golden Eaglettes, who have won or shared four of the past five OVC titles and have captured 14 league championships overall, are solid favorites to add to that total.

Tech received 11 of a possible 16 first-place votes (teams are not allowed to pick their own finish) in a recent poll of the OVC's head coaches and sports information directors.

But Tech coach Bill Worrell, noting that 13 of the conference's top 20 scorers from last year return this season, insisted that he's not expecting an easy path to the crown.

"I thought the league was tough last year," he said. "I thought it was talented last year and that talent is back."

Austin Peay, which stunned Tech in the finals to capture last year's OVC Tournament title, was picked to finish second. The Lady Govs received five first-place votes.

Eastern Kentucky, last year's regular-season runner-up, and Morehead State split the final two first-place votes and were tabbed for third and fourth, respectively.

Southeast Missouri State was picked fifth, Tennessee-Martin nabbed sixth, Murray State and Tennessee State tied for seventh and Eastern Illinois brought up the rear.

The following is a look at the OVC's squads in their predicted order of finish. Last year's overall and conference records are in parentheses.

TENN. TECH (24-6, 15-1)

When dissecting the Eaglettes' prospects for the coming season, most talk centers around senior center Janet Holt -- and with very good reason.

Holt has been OVC Player of the Year the past two seasons and she is favored to make that an unprecedented three straight this year.

Last season, Holt ranked third nationally and led the OVC in scoring at 24.6 points per game while also grabbing a league-best 9.8 rebounds per contest. She was named the 2000-01 OVC Female Athlete of the Year.

And the Eaglettes are more than just the Janet Holt show. They return two other regulars in senior guard Misty Garrett (6.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg), who led the OVC and ranked 10th nationally in assists at seven a contest, and senior guard Allison Clark (12.4 ppg), who was third in the league in 3-point shooting at 45 percent. Garrett and Clark both made second-team all-OVC last year.

Tech also welcomes back sophomore forward Andrea Brown (9.7 ppg, OVC-best 50 percent 3-point shooting) and sophomore guard Jennifer Wilhelm (4.2 ppg).

"I've got four seniors (including forward Leah Bird, who missed all of last season with an injury) who have meant a lot to this program," Worrell said. "I look forward to this year because of the seniors."

AUSTIN PEAY (17-14, 10-6)

Coach Susie Gardner's rising program made the OVC Tournament finals two years ago before capturing the crown last season. With four starters returning, things continue to look up for the Lady Govs.

Leading the list of returnees is junior guard Brooke Armistead, an all-league first-team selection last year who was also named OVC tourney MVP. Armistead ranked second in the conference and seventh nationally in scoring as a sophomore at 22.1 points per game.

Other returning regulars are junior guard Paige Smith (12.3 ppg), senior guard Kelly Chavez (6.7 ppg, 5.7 apg) and sophomore forward Gerlonda Hardin (11.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg). Hardin led the OVC in field-goal shooting at 62 percent and blocked shots with 56 as she was named league Freshman of the Year while Chavez ranked second in assists.

"What's kind of nice is we have experienced the NCAA Tournament," said Gardner. "Before, only the coaches had. But until you've been there, it's hard to convey."

E. KENTUCKY (22-6, 14-2)

The Lady Colonels of coach Larry Joe Inman lost two key players from a year ago, but they return three starters and 10 letterwinners from a high-powered squad that led the nation in scoring at 88.4 points per game.

Senior forward Charlotte Sizemore (12.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.0 apg) returns after earning second-team all-OVC honors a year ago.

Other regulars back are senior guard Mikki Bond (8.2 ppg, 3.9 apg) and junior guard Teresa McNair (8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg). McNair led the league in steals last season with three a contest.

Senior guard Zoey Artist (9.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and senior forward Synisha Smith (6.9 ppg) top the list of other returning letterwinners.

"We've got good quickness, good size and we've got good depth at every position," said Inman. "We expect some good things."

MOREHEAD ST. (10-19, 5-11)

Coach Laura Litter's squad started slow last year but picked up steam by winning four of its final five OVC games to qualify for its first conference tourney since 1997. With all five starters -- and 13 letterwinners returning -- the Lady Eagles are expected to contend for a high league finish.

Four double-figure scorers return for the Lady Eagles: senior forward Travece Turner (15.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 39 percent 3-point shooting), senior center Tasha Gales (14.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg), sophomore guard Kandi Brown (13.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 41 percent 3-point shooting) and sophomore forward Jody Sizemore (12.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg).

Brown led the OVC and was second nationally in free-throw shooting at 90 percent, Sizemore ranked third in the league in field-goal shooting at 58 percent and Gales was second in blocked shots with 45.

The other returning regular is senior guard Amy Spear (5.6 ppg, 5.0 apg), who was third in the OVC in assists.

"The rebuilding process was slow and sometimes painful, but I can honestly say we've rebuilt the program," Litter said. "We're excited to have been given the recognition from the coaches to be picked fourth."

SE MISSOURI (14-13, 9-7)

Like most of the other OVC teams, coach Ed Arnzen's squad returns plenty of experience as all five starters and nine letterwinners are back from a group that placed fourth in the OVC and led the league in scoring defense at 68.9 points a contest.

Two double-figure scorers return in junior forward Lori Chase (14.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and senior guard Veronica Benson (12.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg). Chase ranked ninth in the conference in both scoring and rebounding last year as she made first-team all-OVC.

Other returning regulars are senior center Pam Iversen (9.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg), senior guard LaShelle Porter (9.6 ppg) and junior forward Tiffany Melis (6.6 ppg). Iversen was second in the OVC in field-goal shooting at 60 percent while ranking fifth in rebounding and fourth in blocked shots with 18. Porter was second in steals with 60.

Heading the lost of other returning letterwinners are sophomore guard Christine Rathke (6.6 ppg) and sophomore center Tisa Thomas (6.0 ppg) while also back are junior guard Kristy Roherty (2.1 ppg) and senior center Cindy Bates (0.4 ppg), who suffered through an injury-plagued season.

Arnzen is also high on his four newcomers: junior forward Ta Keela Ball and three freshmen: forward Andrea Koeper, center Tanya Guell and forward Candice Coffey.

"I think we can have a good team," said Arnzen. "We return all five starters, but everybody else also returns a lot of players. The conference was very young last year and it should be very strong and balanced this year."

TENN.-MARTIN (13-16, 6-10)

Co-head coaches Gary and Kim Van Atta return all five starters and 12 letterwinners from a group that was arguably the OVC's youngest team last year.

Senior guard Kelly Pendleton (16.0 ppg, 42 percent 3-point shooting) was the only Skyhawk to average in double figures last year. The second-team all-league pick was fourth in the conference in scoring and second in 3-point accuracy.

Other returning starters are junior guard Amy Watson (9.3 ppg), junior guard Tracy Webb (8.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg), junior center Christi Brinkley (8.4 ppg) and junior guard T.J. Barker (7.5 ppg). Webb was fourth in the OVC in rebounding.

"We're not the most talented team, but the ability to play together makes them special," said Gary Van Atta.

MURRAY ST. (7-21, 5-11)

The Racers of coach Eddie Fields will try to rebound after slipping from 14-15 two years ago to 14 games under .500 last season. Three starters return to help try and get things back on track.

Returning regulars are senior forward Susan Tackett (5.9 ppg), junior guard Khadija Head (4.7 ppg) and senior guard Eniko Verebes (2.5 ppg). The Racers will also be counting heavily on two other returnees: sophomore guard Stacey Holmes (7.1 ppg) and senior center Denise McDonald (6.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg).

TENN. ST. (8-19, 5-11)

Coach Valencia Jordan faces a rebuilding process after the Lady Tigers lost four starters from a year ago.

The only regular back is senior forward LaRissa Thomas (9.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg). Junior center Shavonda Wright (4.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg) heads a group of five other returning letterwinners, but none of the others averaged as many as two points per game.

E. ILLINOIS (7-20, 3-13)

The Panthers of coach Linda Wunder, who finished in the OVC cellar last year, have just two returning starters and there is only one senior on the roster.

Sophomore center Pam O'Connor (13.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and sophomore guard Lauren Dailey (9.5 ppg) are the returning starters. Among the other five letterwinners back, only junior center Brooke Gossett (5.8 ppg) averaged as many as three points a contest.