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CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY

Sports Information Office

Bryan Blair, Director

1 University Drive

Campbellsville, KY 42718

Work Phone: 270-789-5276

email: bfblair@campbellsville.edu

October 23, 2007

LADY TIGER BASKETBALL WILL LOOK TO DEPTH AND QUICKNESS FOR SUCCESS IN COLVIN’S FIRST YEAR AS HEAD COACH

Campbellsville, Kentucky – In her first season as Head Coach of the Campbellsville University Lady Tigers, Ginger Colvin will look to the depth and quickness of her team to improve on last season’s 15-15 record.

“We’re not going to be big in terms of physical size, but we are going to be extremely quick and I think we have the depth this season to bring this program back up to where Coach Wise built it over her 32 seasons here,” said Colvin.

Colvin, who served for nearly half of Donna Wise’s 32-year career as the top assistant, has also accepted the responsibility that comes with being a head coach.  “The one thing I’ve noticed in being the head coach is that there is just a lot more pressure and a lot more time involved than being an assistant, but it’s a dream come true for me and I’m ready for it,” said Colvin.

The Lady Tigers have played two pre-season scrimmages, getting a win over Trevecca Nazarene University and playing to a tie with Lee University, both teams that have had strong programs and made NAIA National Tournament appearances the past two seasons.

“I’ve been very pleased with what we’ve accomplished in the pre-season,” said Colvin.  “I have been a bit concerned about our post play since we’re not real big but we held our own in the post in our two scrimmages and that’s very encouraging,” she added.

Campbellsville’s two seniors will form the strong guard tandem that will lead the team this season.  

Priscila Alves is a 5’9” senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil.  “She is one of the most athletic guards we’ve ever had here,” said Colvin.  “Priscila has lots of abilities to do lots of things for us.  She shoots the ball well from outside, handles the ball extremely well and is very quick,” said Colvin.  “The main thing we are trying to do with her now is get her to take more shots rather than pass up so many shots,” said Colvin.  “She is fully recovered from her injuries last season and we’re looking for her to have a good season,” added Colvin.

The other senior on the Lady Tiger team is 5’5” Jenna Hedges from Louisville, Kentucky.  “Jenna came back this year about fifteen pounds lighter.  She’s really worked hard over the off-season in the weight room.  She’s very strong and shoots well from the point guard spot.  She’s came out and been the leader I wanted her to be and has had a good pre-season.  Defensively she looks better right now than she’s ever looked for us,” said Colvin.

An experienced junior class could also help the Lady Tigers climb back into the mix in the Mid-South Conference this season. 

Maranda Wilkinson, a 5’10” junior from Belvidere, Tennessee led the Lady Tigers played some at a post position early in her career but has been moved back into her natural position on the wing.   “Maranda has worked very hard on our outside shot and has probably hit as many three pointers for us in the pre-season as anyone for us,” said Colvin.  “She is one of our biggest, strongest guards and is such a hard worker that just gets the job done,” added Colvin.

Juliana Brown, a 5’7” guard from Nashville, Tennessee enters her junior campaign coming off of 9.5 points per game last season.  “She’s probably our best three point shooter,” said Colvin of Brown.  “She’s so smart and has a knack for getting to the basket and we are looking for big things from her this year,” said Colvin.

The third junior on the team is 6’0” transfer Sara Sexton from Elizabethtown, Kentucky.  “Sara is a work horse in the paint.  She’s not big at all but plays very big offensively and defensively,” commented Colvin.  “She really held her own against two big, talented and mobile post players in our Trevecca scrimmage which was good to see,” added Colvin.

Another junior, 5’10” Megan Murphy from Liberty, Kentucky is back for her third season stronger than she’s ever been according to Colvin.  “She’s actually done a lot more offensively for us, passes the ball well from the post spot and can come in and make a stop defensively when we need her.  She’s come back from two ACL surgeries and wants to be out there and those are the kinds of kids you want on the floor,” said Colvin.

Sophomore Kristi Ensminger could become an All-Conference type player this season according to Colvin.  Ensminger, 5’10” from Kingston Springs, Tennessee, averaged nearly nine points and six rebounds last season as a freshman.  “She’s so strong, so physical and so hard to guard,” said Colvin.  “She’s left handed and is a slasher-type player and honestly on a lot of teams will probably play a guard spot and is one of our players to watch this year,” added Colvin.

Shabree Hunter, a 6’2” sophomore from Lake Worth, Florida had ten rebounds in the Lady Tigers first scrimmage this season.  “Shabree has a great knack at blocking shots and we just need to get her more experience.  She came in last year during our Georgetown win she came in and made some huge plays for us.  We just need to get her stronger and I think with continued experience she will be a big asset for us,” said Colvin.

Hillary Prunty is a 5’7” sophomore walk-on from Greenville, Kentucky.  “Hillary is a very good worker and does everything I ask her to do.  Defensively she’s very quick and she can shoot the three.  We just need to get her some experience,” said Colvin.

A heralded freshman class led by four Kentucky High School Region Players of the Year gives Colvin even more reason for optimism this year and in the future.

Wendi Messer, a 5’9 freshman was the 13th Region Player of the Year at Knox Central High School last year.  “She is so focused right now trying to do a good job defensively that I think she’s relaxing a little bit on the offensive end of the court.   She has the potential to score with the ball and she’s really working hard,” said Colvin.

T.J. Thomas, a 5’4” guard was the 4th Region Player of the Year at Barren County High School last season.  “T.J. is a little limited right now because she’s playing behind Jenna Hedges and Priscila Alves,” said Colvin.  “But she is a winner.  She leads her team and does what it takes. She has good quickness and it’s good for her to be working under those two players this year,” said Colvin.

Alexia Williams, a 5’9” freshman from Taylor County High School comes in after being the third all-time leading scorer in Lady Cardinal history.  “Alexia is very long, very lean and has a great knack at scoring. She can do a lot for us defensively as well.  She shoots the three very well too,” added Colvin.

Melly Heaton, a 5’6 guard from Caldwell County was the 2nd Region Player of the Year last season and will see a lot of minutes for the Lady Tigers this season according to Colvin.  “She’s played as many minutes as anyone in the pre-season,” said Colvin.  “She can shoot the ball, has great quickness and she was one of the top five in the state in made three pointers last season,” said Colvin.  “She reminds me a lot of Farah Sullivan, one of our standouts here, and we’re expecting some big things out of her,” added Colvin.

Millie Deason, a 6’2 post player from Elkton, Kentucky has suffered through a pre-season ankle injury for the past three weeks.  “She’s a little bit behind right now because she’s been hampered by her ankle, but Mille has good touch and needs to gain a little strength,” said Colvin.

Courtney Dannis, a 5’9 freshman from Mount Sterling, Kentucky was the 10th Region Player of the Year last year.  “Out of every player I’ve put on the court this year, and I’m talking freshmen through seniors, she’s been the pre-season standout,” said Colvin.  “She does it all, she can defend the post, defend a guard, she can get to the basket and she’s a leader as a freshman.  What she has to bring to the table is outstanding and I can’t say enough good things about her,” added Colvin.

“Overall we are very quick,” said Colvin when asked of her team’s speed.  “I think we can press and get some stuff done and we shoot the ball pretty well,” said Colvin.  “We are going to be outsized quite a bit but again I’ve been pleased with how we stacked up in the post against bigger players in the pre-season,” she said.

Campbellsville was picked fifth in the Mid-South Conference Pre-season Coaches Rankings.  “I don’t think that’s what the ending of the season will result in because I think we’ll be very hard match-ups for some people,” said Colvin.  “Lindsey Wilson has brought in two really good posts and a good guard, Georgetown lost a couple of nice scorers but they do return some key players and have quality depth and Cumberlands was probably hardest hit by graduation but they do return some quality players.  West Virginia Tech is picked to win the league after coming in last year and rolling through the conference tournament and they’ll be deep and talented as well and I think Pikeville will be improved too,” admitted Colvin.

As for the schedule, Colvin has followed in her predecessor’s footsteps in terms of playing top ranked teams.  “We’ve got the defending National Champions in Lambuth in a home game and we’ll go to Union University, the 2006 National Champion,” said Colvin.  “With six teams in our conference, scheduling is tough because you’re pretty much at the will of who will come and play you,” said Colvin.  “Having to schedule twenty non-conference games is tough, but we’ll play a lot of Friday and Saturday nights the way it’s worked out,” she added.

“I’m looking forward to the season starting,” said Colvin.  “I’d like to see us win twenty games and return to the National Tournament to get back on track to what we’ve done here for years and years.  We want to be ranked and stay ranked, and I think with the games we’ve got scheduled this year we have an opportunity to do that,” she concluded.

Campbellsville begins the season at home on November 2nd by hosting Bethel College.