Season-ending playoff loss motivates MOC women's basketball team

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 6, 2013 1:49 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- A taste of the NCAA Division II tournament in 2013 stoked a burning desire deep within the Mount Olive College women's basketball team's soul during the offseason.

Head coach Wendy Lee likes the hunger that she's seen in her players' eyes during daily practices. There is a determination to rectify the disappointment of a season-ending defeat to perennial power Clayton State (Ga.) in opening-round play of the Southeast Regional.

There is a desire, a focus to go one step further.

Four post players graduated, but the core of last year's team returns that claimed the Conference Carolinas tournament championship. Five seniors have the drive to lead the Trojans back to the postseason.

"They've got direction earlier in the other than 'we want to win games, we want to have a good year'," Lee said. "It seems more of a focus on the big picture. They've got it drawn, so it's not just daydreams. Jasmine (McDonald) and Joneiqua (Gary) feel like we have just finished the game with Clayton State.

"They want to have that opportunity again, so their minds are right."

Mount Olive tips off its 2013-14 campaign Friday evening at the Holley Tractor/Crescent Automotive Conference Challenge at USC Aiken. The Trojan women face Lander (S.C.) in the opener at 5 p.m.

The lone underclassman to start all 30 games last season, McDonald emerged the team's second-leading rebounder (8.6 boards/game), averaged almost 10 points and dished out 3.3 assists an outing.

Kirksten Mitchell knocked down 12 points a game during her junior season. The JUCO transfer was one of three MOC players to shoot 30-plus percent beyond the 3-point arc.

Gary collected 12.2 points a game.

Joining that trio are fellow seniors Andrea Jones and East Carolina transfer Katie Paschal. Jones took a medical redshirt last season and is fully healed from an ACL injury. Paschal adds a quality shooter and ball handler to the mix.

"The nucleus that returns is setting a good example for the new players we brought in," Lee said. "Our focus is a little more sharp and not as broad at this stage in the season as in the past. Their chemistry is good and the young people have bought in.

"They have clicked and connected off of the floor earlier, and I think that has helped."

Depth and height are Lee's major concerns.

Junior Ty Wallace, sophomore Anamaria Zjacic and freshman Breanna Williams are the Trojans' tallest players at 5-11. The rest range between 5-7 and 5-9, which can undoubtedly create matchup problems. MOC must box out on rebounds and remain disciplined on defense.

Opposing defenses can't key on just one player when the Trojans are on offense. They proved last season that they can get scoring from different areas on the court and Lee says that's the team's biggest asset.

"Their ability and their offensive talent make it difficult so other teams can't single in on one player," Lee said. "(But) if we just rely on the seniors, it won't be enough to go the distance because we don't have the rebounding with the exception of Jasmine.

"We've got some big challenges (ahead)."