Women's Basketball

Senior Quartet Sets the Tone for UC Women’s Success
March 19, 2006

By Tommy R. Atkinson
Staff writer, The Charleston Sunday-Gazette Mail

When Laura Kinsler came to the University of Charleston four years ago, there was only one goal.

"Just to make it to the Civic Center,’’ the former Parkersburg High School standout said of advancing to the West Virginia Conference tournament. "Now our goal is to win a national championship. That’s how much it’s evolved.’’

Seniors Courtney Blackmon, Mandy Ebel, Kinsler and Lisa Lee have taken the Golden Eagles from the depths of the West Virginia Conference to one of the top teams in NCAA Division II women’s basketball.

The quartet will look to make one final stand in the Elite Eight national tournament at 9 p.m. Wednesday against Grand Valley State (30-3) at Summitt Arena in Hot Springs, Ark. Last year UC lost 73-60 to eventual national champion Washburn (Kan.) in the Elite Eight.

The Golden Eagles (31-2) set school and WVC single-season records for most wins this year and enter Wednesday’s play ranked No. 3 in the nation.

Coming off a No. 12 finish in the 15-team conference in 2002, Blackmon, Ebel, Kinsler and Lee were in UC coach Sherry Winn’s first recruiting class. Since then, the quartet has led the program to a 103-25 record, including this year’s first WVC tournament championship since 1998, and elevated its status to an elite level nationally.

"They taught us how to win,’’ said Winn, who’s in her fifth year. "I think they’ve all evolved to incredibly different levels than they were in high school. I just have to applaud them for how hard they’ve worked and how far they’ve come and their willingness to grow as people and players. They’ve led the way with their work ethic, desire and competitive nature.’’

Lee has matured into one of the top players in the country. The 6-foot former Capital High School standout was named the WVC and East Region player of the year this season. She also became the conference’s and school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,240 points. Lee leads UC in scoring average (18.8), rebounds (8.4), field-goal percentage (56.6), blocks (40) and steals (72).

Kinsler came out of high school projected as no more than a role player, but emerged as a starter. The 5-10 shooting guard averages 8.1 points and 5.5 rebounds and ranks third on the team in assists (90) and 3-pointers made (25).

Ebel, 6-2 center from Cincinnati, came to UC a perimeter player but transformed herself into one of the best post defenders in the league. Blackmon, a 5-7 guard from Wadsworth, Ohio, gives her teammates a shot of energy whether during tough workouts or in crucial situations on the court.

"They taught the next level of players that came in each year what it means to be a Golden Eagle,’’ Winn said. "It takes a lot to create the program. When you think about the number of hours they put into the gym and the weight room and conditioning, it’s just a tribute to the desire they have inside.’’

Winn said the four seniors have been crucial to the program’s development.

"We’re the leaders,’’ said Lee. "Everybody kind of looks to us to communicate and teach. We try to let our actions speak more so than us. If you need help, [the freshmen] can ask us and they know that. Coming in as a freshman, it’s always good to look up to somebody and see them do the right thing and try to learn from them.’’

Ebel said success didn’t come without some growing pains.

"A lot of breakdowns,’’ she said of that first season. "Everybody started with the basics and we’ve built from there.’’

Blackmon said the seniors have added an element to the program that was once missing.

"We’ve just made our team a lot closer off the floor and that’s just showed on the floor,’’ she said. "These are your best friends. You work so much harder for a best friend.

"There’s a special level of friendship. You’ve gone through hard workouts in the fall and you know you’ve done that together. That creates a stronger sense of friendship and unity.’’

Kinsler said she’s still amazed at how far the program has come.

"To see our team evolve from freshmen to being such a great team [and] watching how they’ve improved over time, it’s tremendous,’’ she said.