2009-10 Xavier University Women's Basketball Team
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THE PLAYERS | 2009-10 ROSTER Back Row (L-R): Director of Basketball Operations Nicole Like, Assistant Coach Amy Waugh, Assistant Coach Carla Morrow, Stephany Johnson, Megan Askew, Brittney Moore, Ta’Shia Phillips, Amber Harris, Sabrina Johnson, Der-ryka Martin, Assistant Coach Mike Neighbors, Head Athletic Trainer Jody Jenike, Strength Coach Rich Jacobs, Video Coordinator Michele Miller Front Row (L-R): Tyeasha Moss, Special Jennings, April Phillips, Dee Dee Jernigan, Head Coach Kevin McGuff, Maureen Hester, Alesia Barringer, Katie Rutan, Courtney Townsend 2009-10 XAVIER UNIVERSITY WOMEN’s BasketBALL TEAM No. Name Ht. Pos. Elg. Hometown (High School) 0 Moss, Tyeasha 5-9 Guard Sophomore Columbus, Ohio (Africentric) 1 Jennings, Special 5-6 Guard Junior Cleveland, Ohio (Lutheran East) 4 Jernigan, Dee Dee 6-0 Guard Senior East Chicago, Ind. (East Chicago) 11 Harris, Amber 6-5 Forward Junior Indianapolis, Ind. (North Central) 12 Barringer, Alesia 5-6 Guard Senior Columbus, Ohio (Brookhaven) 13 Hester, Maureen 6-1 Forward Senior Bethel Park, Pa. (Bethel Park) 22 Johnson, Sabrina 6-2 Center Junior Jeffersonville, Ind. (Jeffersonville) 23 Askew, Megan 6-0 Guard Junior Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington North) 24 Townsend, Courtney 5-8 Guard Freshman Inkster, Mich. (Martin Luther King) 25 Johnson, Stephany 5-8 Guard Junior Toledo, Ohio (Bowsher) 34 Martin, Der-ryka 6-4 Center Senior Deltona, Fla. (Pine Ridge) 40 Rutan, Katie 5-8 Guard Freshman Ambler, Pa. (Springside) 42 Phillips, April 6-0 Forward Senior Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly) 52 Moore, Brittney 6-3 Center Junior Merrillville, Ind. (Merrillville) 53 Phillips, Ta’Shia 6-6 Center Junior Indianapolis, Ind. (Brebeuf Jesuit) Head Coach: Kevin McGuff Assistants: Mike Neighbors, Carla Morrow, Amy Waugh Director of Basketball Operations: Nicole Like Video Coordinator: Michele Miller Head Athletic Trainer: Jody Jenike Student Trainers: Mark Perkins, Devin Roberts, Kendra Harris Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach: Rich Jacobs Student Managers: Rusty Benton, Todd Cooper, Alysha DeWees, Tylor Hull, Caitlin McMahon, Candyce Offett Practice Players: Ryan Lauf, Anthony Danizio, Charles Dickson, James Laughlin, Travis Roth, Greg Swygart 18 | gOIN’ FOR FOUR | RADIO/TV ROSTER | THE PLAYERS 0 - TYEASHA 1 - SPECIAL 4 - DEE DEE 11 - AMBER MOSS JENNINGS JERNIGAN HARRIS 12 - ALESIA 13 - MAUREEN 20 - SABRINA 23 - MEGAN BARRINGER HESTER JOHNSON ASKEW 24 - COURTNEY 25 - STEPHANY 34 - DER-RYKA 40 - KATIE TOWNSEND JOHNSON MARTIN RUTAN 42 - APRIL 52 - BRITTNEY 53 - TA’SHIA HEAD COACH PHILLIPS MOORE PHILLIPS KEVIN MCGUFF | gOIN’ FOR FOUR | 19 2009-10 PREVIEW The Musketeers come into the 2009- we are going about this preseason. I Harris. Harris was forced to sit out 10 campaign looking for a way to think we are putting ourselves in the the 2008-09 season due to injury but improve on one of the best seasons in position to have a successful year.” should be at full strength for the start school history. Last year, XU finished of the 2009-10 campaign. Harris aver- the year with a 25-7 record, includ- Last season, Xavier rode a 15-game aged 15.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per ing a 13-1 mark in Atlantic 10 games. winning streak up to No. 13 in both the game in 2007-08 and was named to The 25 regular-season wins matched a Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today the All-Atlantic 10 First Team. Harris school record and the 13-1 A-10 record Coaches Poll. and Ta’Shia Phillips, along with April was good enough for XU to take home Phillips, are poised to combine for one the 2008-09 Regular Season Title. The Xavier lost two key components from of the most formidable frontlines in the Musketeers also matched a school the 2008-09 squad as the senior country. XU led the country in field record by securing their third-straight tandem of Tudy Reed and Jerri Taylor goal percentage defense during the NCAA Tournament berth, earning a No. each graduated in May. 2008-09 season and with the addition 5 seed in the Oklahoma City Regional. of Harris, Xavier’s all-time leader in “Tudy and Jerri brought a lot to the blocked shots, the Musketeers should Many prognosticators seem to think table,” said McGuff. They are both be even more stingy defensively in Xavier has what it takes to surpass its great kids, great teammates and really 2009-10. accomplishments from 2008-09. Slam provided our team with leadership Magazine has ranked Xavier No. 5 in but we have a team with 12 juniors “Our goal is that our post players its preseason poll while Athlon has and seniors so I think we are going are looked at as the best group in tabbed the Musketeers No. 7. Sports to replace them collectively and you’ll America,” said McGuff. “I think with Illustrated has XU ranked No. 10 in see a veteran group now really come the summer Ta’Shia and April had, you its preseason poll and both Lindy’s together.” will see amazing things out of them. and The Sporting News recognize XU Amber Harris coming off the injury has as the 13th-best team in the country. 2008-09 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year worked really hard to get back to the The Sporting News has also recognized Ta’Shia Phillips is back for her junior player that she was and I’m very op- Ta’Shia Phillips as one of 10 Preseason season after averaging team highs of timistic about what she will add. Also First Team All-Americans. 13.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per throw in Sabrina Johnson who is a re- game. Phillips ranked fourth nationally ally athletic, hard-working post player “We are really focused on making sure in rebounds per game and her .613 and then with Brittney and Der-ryka every day right now is a great day,” field goal percentage was also fourth- we not only have talent but we have said head coach Kevin McGuff. “Our best in the country. great depth.” kids are working really hard in the weight room. We are doing a great job Phillips will be joined in the paint The backcourt will also be a strength in conditioning and I really like the way by fellow Indianapolis native Amber this season as junior point guard Special Jennings continues to improve year after year. Jennings was one of the top point guards in the league last season, averaging 8.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. She started in all 32 games for the Musketeers and led the league in 3-point field goal per- centage at 43.4 percent. With XU so reliant on its forwards for production, it is important for Jennings to continue to improve in order to stretch out the opposing defense. Jennings will also be looked upon to fill the leadership void left by Taylor and Reed. Jennings took on more leadership responsibili- ties last season and the coaching staff hopes that is a trend that continues this season. One of the Musketeers joining Jen- nings in the backcourt will be senior Dee Dee Jernigan. Jernigan will look to step into Reed’s 2008-09 roll. Al- ready a gifted rebounder, Jernigan will 20 | gOIN’ FOR FOUR | 2009-10 PREVIEW need to connect on a few more shots big shots in her career at Xavier and March.” from long range for XU to reach its po- I think she’s going to really help give tential. Jernigan averaged a solid 5.8 us some depth. Megan Askew has The path to defend it’s 2008-09 Regu- rebounds per game from the backcourt worked really hard to be able to play lar Season Championship will not be and scored 5.6 points per game. She on the perimeter because she had an easy one for XU. The Atlantic 10 shot just 23.0 percent from 3-point previously been a post player and her is coming off one of its best years and range but had a knack for hitting athleticism and energy will allow her the 2009-10 version could be even bet- clutch shots last year. In fact, Jernigan to find a way to impact us in a positive ter. hit big 3-pointers in late-game situ- way.” ations in XU’s road wins against LSU “We are coming off a record year in and Georgia. This year’s schedule will be the most the A-10,” said McGuff. “We had eight challenging in school history. XU will teams in postseason play and it was Sophomore shooting guard Tyeasha play 10 teams hailing from the BIG just a really exciting time for us last Moss could be a key to the Musketeers’ EAST, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 or SEC, year. Everybody in the league lost success this season. The Columbus, including the season opener at South- key players but I also think we return Ohio native put together a solid rookie ern Cal on November 13. The sched- enough to each team. We have some campaign in 2008-09, averaging 4.8 ule does not lack in depth as 17 of great coaches in this league where I points per game and connecting on XU’s opponents finished in the top-100 think you will see an incredibly com- nearly 40 percent of her 3-point field of the 2008-09 RPI and nine teams petitive A-10 race and it should be goal attempts. The Musketeers hope played in last year’s NCAA Tourna- another outstanding season for our Moss can help fill Taylor’s shoes. With ment while another six qualified for the conference.” a year under her belt and a solid sum- WNIT.