2003-04 Women’s Basketball Outlook
Fighting back

The 2003-04 University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball season will be about getting back to the top of the GLVC and in the hunt for a national championship.

After finishing the 2002-03 season with an 8-19 record, the Screaming Eagles and head coach Rick Stein have reason to be optimistic in 2003-04 as they return six players and bring in eight newcomers, including NCAA Division I transfers Kennitra Johnson (New Albany, Indiana) and Jamie Truitt (Owensboro, Kentucky).

Leading the list of returnees are senior forwards Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois) and Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana).

In 2002-03, Lindsey was USI’s second-leading scorer, averaging 12.9 points to go along with 5.1 rebounds. Lindsey had a season-high 25 points against the University of Illinois-Springfield and scored in double-figures 19 times, scoring 20 or more points twice.

Wells, the 2002-03 GLVC “Paragon Award” winner for the leagues top female student athlete, made the transition from volleyball to basketball in 2002-03, becoming a starter after seven games. As a starter, Wells averaged 8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. She was the GLVC’s “Player of the Year” for volleyball.

Returning junior forward/center Megan Nelson (Clarendon Hills, Illinois) will be looked upon to provide a strong presence underneath for a USI squad that lost All-GLVC and All-Region performer Africa Sherrod to graduation. Last season, Nelson averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds coming in USI’s 93-69 victory over Saint Joseph’s College.

Sophomore forwards Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) and Hollie Johnson (Bedford, Indiana) look to build on the valuable playing experience they had during their freshmen campaigns and should be a factor for USI in 2003-04.

Green played in all 27 games as a freshman, averaging 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She dumped in a season-high 13 points against the University of Illinois-Springfield.

Hollie Johnson came on strong down the stretch for USI, averaging 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in USI’s last three contests. She had a season-high nine points in a loss to Northern Kentucky University.

Finishing USI’s list of returning players is sophomore guard Amanda Lechlitner (Mishawaka, Indiana). Lechlitner saw limited minutes as a freshman but wasted little time breaking out of the gates as she scored a season-high nine points in USI’s second game of the season.

The Eagles’ list of newcomers is headed up by Kennitra Johnson and Jamie Truitt.

Johnson, a junior guard, transferred to USI from Purdue University where she sat out one semester. Prior to Purdue, she played on the University of Connecticut’s 2000 national championship squad. Johnson averaged 7.2 points per game as a freshman and 5.7 points per game as a sophomore at UConn.

A first-team Parade All-American at New Albany High School, Johnson averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.0 steals in leading NAHS to the 1999 IHSAA 4A state championship.

Truitt, a sophomore guard/forward, transferred to the Eagles from Western Kentucky University where she averaged 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 53 games with the Lady Toppers. She averaged 7.6 points as a freshman and recorded a collegiate career-high of 19 points on four different occasions.

A graduate of Apollo High School, Truitt was a three-time Third Region “Player of the Year” as well as an All-State, All-District, and Kentucky All-Star performer. She averaged 22.2 points per game as a senior at AHS and was a USA Today All-American honorable mention.

Both Johnson and Truitt had the opportunity to practice with the returning players in 2002-03 as Johnson transferred to USI during the summer of 2002 and Truitt transferred to USI at the semester break.

Joining Johnson and Truitt on the list of newcomers is JUCO All-America performer Andrea Engleking (Charlottsville, Indiana). Engleking averaged 17.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Kankakee Community College and helped KCC to an eighth-place finish in the NJCAA II Tournament.

The Eagles also will have the services of 5’8” guard Clarissa Gross (Marion, Illinois), a sophomore transfer from the University of Findlay. Gross recorded 5.1 points and 1.8 assists per game as a freshman for the Oilers in 2002-03.

USI brings in a freshman class of four that includes 6’2” center Emily Meier (Mackinaw, Illinois), 5’10” guard/forward Jessica Williams (Princeton, Indiana), as well as guards Lauren Parrish (Shepherdsville, Kentucky) and Leah Stormont (Haubstadt, Indiana).

Meier earned All-State honors after averaging 13.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while leading University High School (Normal, Illinois) to a 24-4 record and a 10-0 mark in the Corn Belt Conference in 2002-03. As a junior in 2001-02, Meier earned All-Area and All-Conference honors after averaging 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per outing.

Williams averaged 16.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game as a senior at Princeton Community High School. She recorded game highs of 32 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds while earning All-Big 8 Conference and All-County honors three times.

The starting point-guard for the Kentucky All-Star team and a Kentucky Basketball Top 55 player, Parrish was named the KABC VII Region Player of the Year at Mercy Academy. She helped lead Mercy Academy to district championships in 2002 and 2003 while earning All-District and All-Region honors twice.

Parrish, who averaged seven assists and four steals per game, also was named All-State by the Louisville Courier and Journal as well as the Herald Leader.

Stormont helped Gibson Southern High School to a 23-1 record and a Pocket Conference championship as a senior in 2002-03. She helped GSHS to sectional, regional, and semi-state championships as well as the IHSAA 3A State Championship game as a junior in 2001-02.

One thing that hampered the Eagles in 2002-03 was lack of experience. The Eagles lost 66.7 points and 25.7 rebounds off their 2001-02 NCAA II regional finalist squad. In 2001-02, USI lost 10 games by 10 points or less, five of which were by four points or less.

This season, the Eagles will have to find ways to replace its leading scorer, Sherrod, who averaged a double-double at 16.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Also gone due to graduation are Bethany Miller and Sarah McIntosh, who combined for 7.5 points per game.

In 2003-04, the Eagles will waste little time getting acclimated to tough opposition. The Eagles will start off the season with home games against Pittsburg State University (November 15) and 2003 NCAA II Tournament participant Hillsdale College.

After their three-game home stand to start off the season, the Eagles will start a difficult GLVC schedule with four straight road games featuring 2003 NCAA II Tournament participants Bellarmine University (November 29) and Quincy University (December 6).

After a trip south of the border to participate in Cancun, Mexico, the Eagles will return home to face the University Illinois-Springfield (December 29) and open their GLVC home schedule against Lewis University (January 2).

Possibly the toughest trip on USI’s slate will be its journey to the defending GLVC champion University of Indianapolis and defending NCAA II Great Lakes Regional champion and NCAA II finalist Northern Kentucky University.

From that point, the Eagles will play nine of their final 13 games in the friendly confines of the Physical Activities Center before the GLVC Tournament gets underway March 3-6 at Roberts Stadium.

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