Nov. 4, 2005

The youth movement will again be served in Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis' second season, as she continues the transformation process of her Lady Eagle basketball club. For the second year in a row, Southern Miss will not have any seniors on the roster. Although the word "rebuilding" is one that many coaches would love to wipe out of their vocabulary, some coaches, like McNelis, welcome the process and have a successful record of turning programs around at a fairly quick pace.

As an assistant coach for Southern Miss from 1986-1991, she helped guide a 12-16 team during the 1987-1988 season to a 26-5 team the very next year (1988-1989). That team would go on to win the Metro Conference Championship, as well as earning a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

After becoming the head coach of Memphis in 1991, it only her took three seasons to build a winning reputation at that school, which would continue to have a winning record for the next eight seasons. During those eight seasons as head coach, her teams won four conference championships, made four trips to the NCAA Tournament and three trips to the WNIT Tournament, which included one WNIT Final Four appearance.

Rebuilding is definitely a word in Coach McNelis' background and is something that she knows how to do and is quite good at indeed.

"We're going to be young again," McNelis said. "We're going to have one junior, four sophomores and the rest of the team will be freshmen. So we will be a very young team once again, but I think that's expected when you have a change in coaching staff. It happens because you've got to get players that fit your system, fit your philosophy and have the same level of will to win and the same passion that you do. That's what we're looking for. I truly believe that the players that we have on our team right now are in the process of learning what passion and commitment is all about."

The team returns five players to the roster, including Kelsey Gurganus, Hallie Prest, Shannon Stueber, Emer Foley and Liz Biland, all of whom found plenty of playing time on the court last season as freshmen. As the veterans of the program, the sophomores will be expected to anchor the team.

"I think what's really going to benefit us this year are the ones (Gurganus, Prest, Stueber, Foley, Biland) who gained valuable experience last year," McNelis said. "They were difference makers in our program last year."

Of the returnees, McNelis believes that the leadership will fall squarely on the shoulders of sophomores Biland, Gurganus, Foley and Stueber.

"Those four (Biland, Gurganus, Foley and Stueber), will be the anchor of this team," McNelis said. "They will be the ones who will lead this team. Yes, they're only going to be sophomores, but they played more minutes last year than the returning members of the 2003-2004 team had going into last season (2004-2005)."

Along with the returnees, the team welcomes six newcomers for the 2005-2006 season, including guard Ashley Boehnel of Kiln, Miss., guard Kristin Chaney of Little Rock, Miss., guard Amber Eugene of St. Rosa, La., guard Ashley Harrell of El Dorado, Ark., center Rachael Manuel of Grayslake, Ill., and forward Kendra Reed of Bay St. Louis, Miss., all of whom look to further enhance the quality of the team. Gone from last year's team are Deondra Carter, Dianca Jones, Kimberly Rigg, Erica Grant, Jenae Jackson and Ashley Huffman. Of the losses, two were starters, including Carter, who averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds, and Jones, who averaged 9.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals.

"The recruiting class that we signed for this season is going to be a tremendous asset to this program," McNelis said. "I firmly believe that each of these young ladies will step in and make a difference in our program."

Overall, McNelis uses three adjectives to describe what to expect from the Lady Eagles this season: versatility, youth and talent.

"The one thing about this team that makes it a very unique team is its versatility," McNelis said. "We have players who can play point guard and who also can play the wing. We have some who can play the wing and also play in the post. I believe if you combine those three adjectives, versatility, youth and talent, we will have an exciting team this season."

THE BACKCOURT
Gurganus and Chaney both will be responsible for leading the team this season at the point guard position. Gurganus finished her freshman season averaging 3.2 points and 2.2 assists in 24 starts and 27 games played.

"Kelsey matured as a point guard throughout last year," McNelis said. "I think her biggest asset she brings to this team is her leadership on and off the floor. She must understand that her major responsibility, obviously, is to make everybody else better around her and in turn, create opportunities for her teammates and get the ball into the hands of the right people."

Chaney was a two-year letterwinner at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss. After averaging 13 points, 5.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds last season, she was named as a Junior College second Team All-American.

"Kristin comes in as a Junior College All-American and has played point guard all of her life," McNelis said. "I think the thing that really makes her a special player is her grit and the fire that she has, which is why I call her a 'little firecracker.' She has a tremendous amount of ability and a great upside."

The shooting guard, or two guard position, will consist of Steuber, Prest, Eugene, Harrell and Boehnel. Steuber is expected to be the anchor at the position after leading the team in points (15.1) and three-point field goals made (37) in 28 games and 27 starts, as well as being named as the team's most outstanding player last season.

"Shannon has the ability to score off the dribble, drive to the basket, get offensive rebounds and has a knack for being around the ball," McNelis said. "I think that's going to be her strength, in being a difference maker for this year's program. There were many games when we wanted Shannon on the free throw line, and wanted her to take the shot. She really matured as a player last year and had to take on a lot of the scoring responsibility."

Prest saw limited action, playing in 15 games last season, averaging 3.3 minutes per game. As she worked to improve her overall game and saw more minutes on the floor, her coach has already seen leadership, one difference in her game that cannot be taught.

"Hallie has really stepped up as a leader, has taken some young players under her wing and has done a good job with them," McNelis said. "Last year, Hallie didn't get to play a lot. Some of our new players can get to the basket, which will create opportunities for Hallie, who is more of an outside shooter. She can shoot the ball, and we're expecting her to be an asset this year."

Eugene led Destrehan High School in scoring last season, averaging 15.8 points per game. The St. Rose, La., native also averaged 8.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.3 steals while being named to the all-district, all-metro and All-River Parish First Teams, respectively, as well as being nominated for the McDonald's High School All-American team, playing wing and even some post at her high school.

"Amber is a combination guard who can play both the point guard and the shooting guard position," McNelis said. "She can play the one, two, or three positions. She is extremely athletic, and has outstanding vertical leap. She can dribble down court, stop and pull up for a jumper. Not many women can do that. She's probably our truest jump shooter on the team."

Harrell averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.0 steals per game at El Dorado High School, in El Dorado, Ark. She was rated as the No. 10 guard in the country by the Adidas All-Star Girls Report and is another player who can play multiple spots, playing at shooting guard or small forward position.

"Ashley is extremely talented," McNelis said. "She can shoot, can pass, and can dribble. Some of the passes she makes I say to myself, 'wow, how did it get there?' She is versatile in what she can do and has a real feel for the game."

Boehnel averaged 14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.2 steals at Hancock High School in Kiln, Miss. Like Harrell, Boehnel will see time at both the shooting guard and at the small forward positions.

"Ashley is a 'tough as nails' kind of kid," McNelis said. "She can shoot the three, score off the dribble and as a freshman is physically a strong kid coming in. She can play a several different spots on the floor. She can play the two, three or four positions for us. She has a tremendous amount of versatility and can do a little bit of everything."

THE FRONTCOURT
The versatility trend continues in the Lady Eagle frontcourt at the small forward positions. The trio of Reed, Boehnel and Harrell are capable of challenging for a starting spot in the lineup. Reed, the 2005 Mississippi Player of The Year, averaged 22.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.0 steals at Bay High School in Bay St. Louis, Miss.

"Kendra is an extremely versatile player," McNelis said. "She can play a little bit of everything, being able to play the two, three, or four positions. She is a winner and will step up to any challenge presented to her."

The power forward position features returning sophomore Foley, along with a possible rotation of Reed and Boehnel. Foley gained valuable game experience in the offseason, playing for her Irish national team in the Under-20 European Championships in Druskininkai, Lithuania and the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey. In the European Championships, she was second the league in scoring, averaging 18.0 points per game, led in the league in rebounds, averaging 14.2 per game and was named as the team MVP at the conclusion of their season. Last year during her first season as Lady Eagle, she averaged 8.4 points per game and led the team in rebounds with 6.6 per game.

"Emer was the most improved player on our team last year," McNelis said. "She has made tremendous strides in our program. She is probably one of the most improved players whom I've ever coached. I've told Emer that we expect a double-double from the get go, and that we're not going to wait until the end of the year again. But if she shows up with the same attitude that she finished last season with, I think we will see a difference in Emer Foley this season."

At the center position, the team returns Biland another sophomore, and welcomes newcomer Manuel. Both players are capable of playing the power forward position, but will be counted on in the trenches at the center position. Biland averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds last season as a freshman, and will anchor at the five spot.

"Liz made some strides as a freshman last season," McNelis said. "She now has an understanding of what it takes to play at the next level in the post. Liz has become a tougher player and just needs to continue to build on that and have a warrior type of mentality going into this season."

Manuel arrives on the team after averaging 10.0 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals at Grayslake Central High School in Grays Lake, Ill., as a senior last season. She is expected to contribute right away at center.

"Rachael is a tremendous athlete and can run with anybody on our team," McNelis said. "She has a knack for being around the ball. She's an outstanding shot blocker and has a knack, defensively, of knowing how to play excellent defense in the post. I think she'll definitely be able to step in and be a difference maker for us as the season goes on."

STYLE OF PLAY
The 2005-06 Lady Eagle team will set out to prove that size doesn't matter, as the team features only two girls on the roster over six feet tall (Biland and Manuel). Instead, this year's team will replace a lack of size with versatility, speed and overall athleticism. This in turn, will lead to a possible faster-paced game, which will ultimately work to the advantage of the Lady Eagles.

"We're going to run a lot of four-guard sets this year, due to our athleticism," McNelis said. "We're going to use our athleticism, in terms of what we're going to be able to accomplish, in our defensive game, as well as fast-break. We're going to be a very small team. Other than Liz (6'2) and Rachael (6'2), everybody else is under six feet tall. As a result, we're going to play an up-tempo game to take advantage of our speed and athleticism."

THE SCHEDULE
The 2005-06 schedule will consist of four teams that played in last season's NCAA Tournament and two teams that played in last season's WNIT. Three of those teams are in Conference USA. The Lady Eagles regular season will include two tournaments, North Carolina State and hosting the Southern Miss Tournament. The North Carolina State Tournament will include Liberty, Elon and host North Carolina State. The Southern Miss Tournament includes Alcorn State, Northwestern (La.) State and Florida A&M.

The regular-season opener will pit Southern Miss against Southern Utah on Nov. 18. Other non-conference foes include South Alabama, Mississippi State, Jackson State, Mercer, Arkansas-Little Rock and Louisiana-Monroe.

In Conference USA home games; Southern Miss will face Tulane, UTEP, East Carolina, Marshall, UCF, Tulsa, Memphis and UAB. The Lady Eagles will be on the road against UCF, Rice, Houston, Memphis, UAB, SMU, East Carolina and Marshall.

THE NEW CONFERENCE USA
With the new Conference USA alignment now official with East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP, McNelis looks for this conference to be one of the more competitive leagues in the NCAA.

"I believe that this league has a tremendous amount of potential to be a very solid league," McNelis said. "The greatest thing about this league is that there are some really good teams in it. It's not going to be a top-heavy league, where there's going to be only five or six good teams; there's about eight teams that are solid teams and can make a difference in postseason play.

"I believe that the competition we'll face, overall, will be a real challenge for us. But at the same time, I think our team will be able to compete and take a step in the right direction of what we want to go. I think we'll definitely be a much improved team over last year."