Practices Make Perfect
March 22, 2006
By Jacob Messer
Sportswriter, Charleston Daily Mail
Practices at the University of Charleston often can be as entertaining and exciting as games at Eddie King Gym.
Blessed with a roster stocked with reserves that could be starters for other programs, the women's basketball team holds its share of knock-down, drag-out scrimmages.
Those competitive contests make the real ones easier for all of the players.
Just look at the statistics.
The Golden Eagles' five starters senior forward Lisa Lee (18.8 points per game), junior guard Courtney Thomas (13.7), junior center Rachel Pike (11.2), senior forward Laura Kinser (8.1) and junior guard Erica McElroy (7.3) account for 59.1 of their 80.4 points per game.
But they also receive another 20.4 points from their top four reserves sophomore guard Emily Jones (8.6), freshman forward Jihan Williams (5.5), senior center Mandy Ebel (4.0) and freshman guard Veronica Carmen (2.3).
"It all starts in practice," Ebel said. "We don't have set teams when we practice. We don't go Team A versus Team B every day. (UC Coach Sherry Winn) mixes and matches.
"You fight for your life in practice. The scrimmages are intense and competitive. That prepares us for the real thing."
That could be an advantage when UC (31-2) faces Grand Valley State (30-3) in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight quarterfinals at 9 p.m. today at Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark.
1240 AM and 950 AM will broadcast the game live.
"We have some of the most underrated players in the nation," said Lee, a Women's Basketball Coaches Association/Kodak first-team All-American selection who is the star of the team. "Truly in my heart, I believe that."
Winn believes the key is depth.
"We can go deeper than other teams," she said. "That helps us keep up our intensity on the floor."
The reserves don't doubt themselves. Neither do their teammates.
"We are confident and we know we can contribute," said Jones, who ranks fourth in scoring among her teammates despite the fact she comes off the bench. "We know our roles and we are comfortable with them."
"Coach lets everyone know that it's about the team, not the starters," McElroy added.
"Everyone is valuable and we make them feel that way when they get on the court. We know they can help out offensively and defensively and they know that, too."
As a result, there is no letdown when the reserves replace the starters.
"When we come into the game, Coach Winn always wants us to give the team a boost and we usually do," Ebel said. "We can come into the game and produce as much as, if not more than, the starters."
"Everyone is a threat," Jones added.
Winn commented on each of the Golden Eagles' top four reserves, who contribute a combined 13.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals during 14.5 minutes per game.
On Jones, an outside threat who has made 50 3-pointers this season: "I don't think she has done as much as she can do, but she has come on strong. She is such a threat offensively.
"You can't leave her alone or she will drain it. That spreads out the defense and allows others to get open."
On Williams, an inside-outside threat that can stretch the opposing defense: "She is such a talent. I feel sorry for her.
"If this was another program or another season, she would have started and played 30 minutes a game. But she plays behind Lisa Lee. I can't wait until next year. She will be a major player for us."
On Ebel, another inside-outside threat like Williams: "She really picked it up at midseason. She has come into some games and given us a spark by drilling 3-pointers when we needed them.
"She is really smart and does all of the little things defensively."
On Carmen, a versatile guard that can spell either Thomas or McElroy without disrupting the offense: "She knows exactly what she needs to do and she does it. She takes care of the ball and gets it to her teammates.
"We don't lose anything when I put her in the game for them."
Lee received her WBCA/Kodak first-team All-American honor Tuesday night at the Elite Eight's Banquet of Champions in Hot Springs, Ark.
The Charleston native was one of 10 individuals to earn the selection and also the first-ever from the University of Charleston. She was also the lone representative from the East Region named to the squad.
The All-American selection capped a season filled to the brim with awards and honors for Lee.
The 6-0 power forward previously was named to the Daktronics All-American squad as a first-team selection.
Lee also was voted NCAA East Region Tournament MVP and All-Tournament along with earning West Virginia Conference All-Tournament honors.
She was the WVC Player of the Year, All-WVC first-team and MVP of the WVC Tournament.
Lee also was a five-time WVC Player of the Week selection.
On Feb. 4, she became the fifth player in WVC women's basketball history to break the 2,000-point scoring mark. Lee has 2,240 career points and counting.
She also broke the UC all-time women's basketball scoring mark of 1,750 points on Dec. 14 against Belmont Abbey.
Lee has eight double-doubles this season and has scored in double figures in 31 of 32 games this season. She had season highs of 30 points against regionally-ranked West Liberty State and 16 rebounds also against the Hilltoppers.
She ranks 10th nationally in Division II in field goal percentage (.566) and No. 21 in scoring average (18.8 points per game). Lee is second in the WVC in shooting percentage, No. 2 in scoring, No. 5 in rebounding (8.4 per game), No. 7 in blocked shots (1.2) and No. 7 in steals (2.2).