56 @MEACSPORTS MEACSPORTS NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY North Carolina Central 2015-16 Season Preview A young roster eager to fight for four starting positions left vacant from last season has this year’s edition of North Carolina Central University women’s basketball enthusiastic to begin a transformation into the future beginning in the fall. Fourth year head coach Vanessa Taylor has assembled a 13-player roster for the 2015-2016 season. The squad features just five returnees and one redshirt freshman, including only two seniors. The addition of four freshmen and two junior college transfers complete the roster adding talent and depth at all positions. NCCU – voted 10th in the 2014-15 MEAC Preseason Poll – finished one spot ahead of its predicted position last season as the ninth seed in the 2015 MEAC Tournament with a 5-11 league ledger. The Lady Eagles will be looking to once again soar ahead of their predicted placement in the conference this season. “I think we learned a lot,” said Taylor. “But last year we had four seniors that started for us. We have moved into somewhat of a facelift. You will see eight new faces playing on the floor this year.” Junior guard Morgan Jones (Stockbridge, Ga.) is NCCU’s lone starter from a year ago. The sharpshooter ranked second on the team with 9.1 points per game, including a team-high 50 made 3-pointers. She ranked sixth in the MEAC with 1.7 canned trifectas per game. Jones added 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game in her sophomore campaign. Senior forward Tisha Dixon (Kinston, N.C.) will be providing veteran leadership as the Lady Eagles only fourth year letter winner. She has represented the Maroon and Gray in 82 games in her first three years and has accumulated 498 points, 523 rebounds, 52 steals, 31 assists and 29 blocks heading into her final season. The 2013 MEAC All-Rookie team honoree, who averaged 8.0 points and 8.2 rebounds as a freshman, looks to return to form after battling injury. Guard Kristin Askew (Arlington, Texas) joins Dixon as NCCU’s other senior. Askew played in 23 games in her first season with the Lady Eagles after transferring from Southern Methodist University. She will provide leadership and veteran play for NCCU this season. Junior guard Monique Whaley-Briggs (Philadelphia, Pa.) and sophomore Kierona Morton (Paterson, N.J.) are the only other letter winners that have seen court time under Coach Taylor. They both came off the bench to play in majority of games last season but are expected to move into stronger roles this year. Freshman Maya Jackson (Florence, S.C.) will be looking to make an impact after having to medically redshirt last year after suffering an injury at the beginning of the school year. The 6-2 forward is expected to help impact a revamped frontcourt with Dixon, Morton, freshman Deja McCain (Charlotte, N.C.) and junior transfer Tyshay Britten (Norristown, Pa.). Britten is a 6-3 center that comes to NCCU from Manor (Pa.) College. She averaged a double-double in her two season with the Blue Jays (14.3 points and 13.6 rebounds in 2014-15 and 12.8 points and 14.4 rebounds in 2013-14). The Lady Eagles coaching staff anticipates her providing an immediate impact. Jones will also be supported better on the perimeter this year with five new guards, including junior transfer Chantel Thomas (Philadelphia, Pa.). A trio of freshmen will also fight for playing time in the backcourt, comprised of Rodneysha Martin (Olive Branch, Miss.), Dominique Adams (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Jayla Calhoun (Houston, Texas). Thomas totaled 388 points, 238 rebounds, 177 assists and 125 steals in 62 games in her two seasons at Arizona Western College. The way the collection of these 12 promising student-athletes come together, including the 11 underclassmen, to represent the Maroon and Gray on the hardwood gives fans optimism to see the Lady Eagles hoops program progress towards soaring to new heights as NCCU women’s basketball enters its fifth season in the MEAC. Taylor concluded, “It begins with how we have tabbed this year as we say, ‘All In All Year’. We feel we increased our team speed and overall effectiveness with the new additions to the team. Collectively, we will fight to get the job done in the frontcourt because of the experience we bring back on the interior. We will rely on our backcourt for leadership and quality play throughout the season. As a team this season we will operate in truth daily, hold each other accountable, and it sets the stage for the kind of chemistry that will propel us forward and create an exciting brand of basketball for our fans to watch.” NCCU Team Information 2014-15 Overall 7-22 2014-15 MEAC Record 5-11 2014-15 MEAC Finish 9th Letterwinners Returning/Lost 6/7 Starter Returning/Lost 1/4 Newcomers 7 #25 Tisha Dixon F – 5-11, Sr. Kinston, N.C.
2015-16 MEAC Women's Basketball Yearbook
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