BASKETBALL PREVIEW: UMO women play first 7 games on the road

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 11, 2016 9:57 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

CHARLOTTE -- You want to talk about an early-season test in camaraderie among teammates?

Just take a look at University of Mount Olive's basketball schedule.

The Trojan women open a seven-game road swing today against in-state foe Catawba in the annual SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge at Queens University.

Next is a date with Queens.

Then UMO visits Virginia Union, an NCAA Division II Final Four participant a year ago. The Trojan women launch their conference season at Emmanuel (Ga.), followed by trips to Pfeiffer, Lees-McRae and Chowan University.

"I'm trying to find a way in my mind to make it seem like it can be beneficial," said UMO head coach Wendy Lee, who has six freshmen on this year's roster.

"I don't really know when it's so early if being at home would be helpful for young players or would it be best to throw them in the fire."

Lee hopes the schedule toughens up her team.

Mount Olive has four league players to watch on its roster - Daria Simmons, Kiara Jones, Felicity Havens and Ni'Ya Styles. The quartet combined to score 38-plus points a game last season.

Styles is the lone returner who averaged double figures (11.6 points/game) last winter.

"I think the core of who we've got coming back is really good," Lee said. "We don't know how it's all going to hash out...who is going to be the most productive. Who is going to be the best five out there."

A post-perimeter player who can score in bunches, Havens must improve on the other end - rebound and defend at a high level in the post. She pulled down 6.2 boards a game and wiped the defensive glass clean for a total of 105 rebounds.

As expected, UMO's defense will drive its offense.

With quickness on the perimeter and lack of size at the rim, the Trojan women will have to pressure the ball further from the basket. Lee has emphasized team defense in the preseason. Defend the rotations, keep the ball in front and don't sucked in defensively where you need help from a teammate.

"I hope that the whole team is going to be better than in years past," Lee said.

In case you were wondering, UMO opens the home portion of its schedule Dec. 10 against North Greenville. The conference affair begins -- much to Lee's delight -- a stretch of seven straight home contests.

Some notes:

PUNDITS' PICK

* League coaches selected the Trojan women to finish second in the preseason poll. UMO won 19 games last season and return seven players who appeared in the starting lineup on different occasions.

Lee sees some parity this season.

"All the teams seem like they're going to be solid," she said. "Everybody in the league is going to be competitive. I don't think one team is not going to dominate (this season)."

But everybody will chase Limestone, which has won six straight CC titles.

MISS CONSISTENCY

* Jones knocked down 7.4 points and snared 7.8 rebounds per game last season. The criminal justice major from Wake Forest has always displayed leadership and hustle on the court.

However, she'll need to use her 5-foot-8 frame to help Havens on the board.

HOME SWEET HOME

* The Trojan women logged an 11-3 worksheet inside Kornegay Arena last season, including a 9-2 mark against conference opposition.