11/5/2009 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 11 Days of Atlantic Sun Women's Basketball: Mercer

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Interview with Head Coach Janell Jones

SEASON PREVIEW - (Courtesy Mercer Media Relations)

Last season, the Mercer women’s basketball team made a habit of turning doubters into believers. Prior to the 2008-09 season, the Bears were picked to finish eighth in the Atlantic Sun by both the media and the leagues’ coaches. Four months later, on the eve of the program’s first post-season win in three years, the Bears had posted the biggest RPI turnaround in the country and were slotted as the fourth seed in the conference tournament.

Now in her third season at Mercer, head coach Janell Jones is confident her team has the ability to exceed expectations once again. While Jones faces the challenge of replacing six departed seniors, (a challenge that reflects why the team has been selected to finish fifth this season) the coaching staff is excited about the potential of this year’s squad.

“This year we have more athleticism than we have in years past,” Jones said. “We’ve got more depth and more people who can knock down shots. Of course, our backcourt will be our strength this season. We’re going to expect a lot from our young players early, but giving them a lot of playing time and forcing them to adjust to the college game will pay dividends at the end of the season.”

THE BACKCOURT

One luxury the coaching staff can rely on this season is solid play at the backcourt position. In 2009-10, the Bears return the dynamic senior ball-handling duo LaToya Jackson and Courtney Ford. Jackson returns to the hardwood after an impressive 2008-09 campaign in which the Oklahoma City, Okla. native averaged 13.9 points per game en route to be honored as an A-Sun All-Conference second team member.

“[Jackson] has the ability to score at will,” Jones said. “Every year she has improved her game and now has embraced the role of our floor leader.”

Leading will come easy for Jackson, who started all but one of Mercer’s 31 contests last year and led the team in scoring 11 times. This season, Jackson will have a familiar face as a partner in the backcourt.

Courtney Ford is described by her coaches as an aggressive playmaker with a knack for scoring and getting to the free-throw line. Last season, Ford scored an average of 11.7 points per game and averaged 5.9 rebounds per contest, good for second best on the Mercer roster.

The coaching staff knows that Ford and Jackson, with a year of collaboration under their belt, could be very special.

“Jackson and Ford have developed that relationship to the point where they help complement each other,” said Jones. “While they have the ability to take a game over, they know they can rely on their other teammates.”

Joining Jackson and Ford for their second year in Orange and Black and adding depth at the position are Neicey Lewis, Lorin Hammer and Kara Powell.

Lewis appeared in 29 games last season, averaging 11 minutes per appearance.

“Neicey provides the slasher we need in our backcourt,” Jones said. “In addition to her offensive skill set, she brings tenacity to the defensive end of the court.”

Powell is recognized as one of the most improved players on the roster. Jones said that Powell’s work over the past summer made the entire team better.

“Powell has come back changed,” Jones said. “She’s tougher and committed to helping our team achieve our goals.” Hammer brings a gritty, do what-it-takes attitude to the court. Hammer, a two-sport athlete at Mercer adds athleticism to the position.

In addition to the returning backcourt players, Jones anticipates redshirt freshmen Lindsey Lowrie and Eryka Menzies to see significant time on the court. Menzies is a smooth guard who has a feel for the game, while Lowrie is a lights-out shooter who will force defenders to guard her.

Freshman Keema Blakney, Kendra Grant and Amber Chatmon will round out the minutes in the backcourt for the Bears this season.

THE FRONTCOURT

Junior Kourtney Carter tops the list of Bears competing for playing time at the forward position. Carter has played in 58 games over two seasons with the Bears. One of Carter’s most notable games came in Mercer’s A-Sun tournament win against Stetson last season. In that game, Carter dropped a career-high 16 points to help the Bears advance to the tournament semifinal.

“Kourtney is dead on with her ten-foot jumper,” said Jones. “We expect her to step up her game this year, both rebounding and scoring.”

Another player who the staff expects to have an improved season is Lacy Ramon. Ramon returns for her sophomore campaign in 2009-10, a year removed from a season in which the Norman, Okla. native appeared in 25 games.

“Lacy finds a way to get things done, she is very smart about the game,” Jones said. “Although she may be undersized, she is extremely effective guarding bigger players.”

While Carter and Ramon are expected to lead the Bears’ frontcourt, the addition of freshmen Amber Coleman, Samoana Ingram, Alex Phillips, and Sharmesia Smith will give the coaching staff additional options down low.

“When you lose six seniors, including a lot of solid post players, you are going to rely on the freshman early,” Jones said. “Our freshman are talented enough to play at this level, they all have the skills needed, now we need them to figure out the pace and physicality of the college game.”

THE SCHEDULE

High profile matchups with Big 12 opponents Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech highlight a challenging 2009-10 schedule for the Mercer women’s basketball team as they look to build off of the landmark season they enjoyed last year. The Bears climbed all the way to a spot in the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun tournament last March, finishing the year with a mark of 17-14: the team’s highest win total in nearly two decades.

“Our schedule includes a variety of opponents: from Big 12 schools to regional and local universities,” Jones said. “We also have a stretch of six games on the road which will test our team’s toughness midway through the season. Our team will really be challenged by playing these high-quality teams.”

Following an exhibition at home against GCSU, the Bears open their regular season with a marquee matchup against Oklahoma in Norman on Nov. 13. A Final Four team a year ago, the Sooners finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation with a record of 32-5.

Mercer then shifts its attention to the Palmetto State to close out the opening month, heading to South Carolina for a three-game stretch against SoCon members College of Charleston, Furman and the Big South’s Charleston Southern.

For the second straight year, the Orange and Black kick off their 2009-10 Atlantic Sun slate at home, taking on Nashville rivals Lipscomb and Belmont on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, respectively.

Following a home meeting with in-state foe Georgia Southern, Mercer continues its busy December with road trips to both Oklahoma State (Dec. 19) and Texas Tech (Dec. 21). The Bears then close their non-conference schedule with away clashes against High Point and Winthrop just before the new year.

Starting their A-Sun season with a trip to Jacksonville for tilts against Jacksonville and UNF, the Orange and Black return to the University Center to take on Campbell on Jan. 7 before welcoming conference champions ETSU on Jan. 9 in what should be a heated matchup: the Bears swept the season series against the Lady Bucs last season.

After conference trips to USC Upstate, Stetson and FGCU, Mercer brings nearby Kennesaw State to Macon on Jan. 27. The returning games against the Hatters and the Eagles then come on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 as the season hits the final month. The Bears also host Upstate, UNF and Jacksonville in February, while making trips to Kennesaw, ETSU and Campbell and will close out the regular season on the road against Belmont and Lipscomb.

Mercer wraps up the 2009-10 season by bringing the A-Sun best to the University Center, as the Bears host the conference championship on March 3-6.

11 Days of A-Sun Basketball Schedule
Oct. 28 - Campbell 
Oct. 39 - Lipscomb
Oct. 30 - UNF 
Nov.  2 - USC Upstate
Nov.  3 - Stetson 
Nov.  4 - Kennesaw State
Nov.  5 - Mercer
Nov.  6 - Jacksonville 
Nov.  9 - Belmont 
Nov. 10 - ETSU
Nov. 11 - FGCU