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Women's Basketball
vs. Florida Memorial
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
2000 Preview
10/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 5, 2000
BOCA RATON, FL -
The Florida Atlantic University women's basketball team looks to build off of last season's unprecedented success under head coach Chancellor Dugan. The 1999-2000 campaign was the best ever at FAU at the Division I level. The team had its first winning season with a 15-14 record, it's best record and finish in Trans America Athletic Conference play (12-6/4th), and, as a result, engineered the best one-year turnaround ever in TAAC games by winning nine more games last season than the year before. In addition, Dugan led the team to the semifinals of the TAAC Tournament.
Last season, Dugan's first at FAU, was a rebuilding effort in terms of attitude and style of play. Inheriting a veteran team, Dugan was faced with the challenge of instilling her basketball philosophy along with a winning mentality. One year later, another rebuilding effort awaits Dugan, but in a different form. That's because only three players return from last year's squad while seven freshmen and one junior college transfer will put on Lady Owls uniforms for the first time.
"We've got three players coming back, and they are a great three," said Dugan "You've got a two-guard, an inside player, and a swing player that can play both inside and outside. So we've really covered all of the bases with veterans except for the point guard position."
The returning core includes LaTorria Matthews (G, 5-3, Sr), Tamala Vaughn (G/F, 5-10, Sr), and Kristy Halvorsen (F/C, 6-1, Jr). Matthews is the team's most potent returnee, averaging 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season, while leading the team with 48 three-pointers. She already is FAU's all-time leader in treys with 159.
"She's just gotten fitter and fitter," said Dugan. "Her game is just elevated. Lo-To is doing some things now that she couldn't do last year just because of her level of physical conditioning. Right now, she's strong and confident, and I think when you have that mix and you're a senior and it's your last go-around, it's a great mix."
Vaughn looks to regain the form she displayed as a sophomore in the 1997-98 season when she averaged 16.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. However, two knee injuries forced her to miss the entire 1998-99 season and the first seven games of last season. In a limited role last year, Vaughn averaged 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Dugan looks forward to the prospect of having Vaughn available for a full season.
"Tammy was slowed a bit by her injury last season," she said. "But she's really come back and looks like she's going to have a breakout year this year."
Halvorsen will provide Dugan a solid inside presence and will once again be the team's predominant shot-blocker. Last year she averaged 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while sending back 22 shots.
"Kristy really worked hard over the summer," said Dugan "She has worked on a terrific jump hook on both the right side and left side which will be difficult to block."
In addition to Matthews, Vaughn, and Halvorsen, Dugan will have eight new scholarship players, seven of which are freshmen. Those seven include Sumika Alexander (F, 5-10, Maysville, KY), Jill Banse (G, 5-11, Jupiter, FL), Janka Deckerova (G, 5-11, Pompano Beach, FL), Julie Goad (G, 5-7, Monticello, IN), DeeAnna Hanscom (F/C, 6-3, Cullman, AL), Jameka King (F/C, 6-2, Oak Ridge, TN), and Yolette McPhee (G, 5-5, Freeport, Grand Bahama). Ruta Griniute (F/C, 6-3, Kaunas, Lithuania) is a senior transfer from Seward County Community College in Wichita, KS.
"I'm very pleased with what we have coming in. Looking at them with the levels of fitness and strength they have along with their individual skills, we're ahead of where we were last year. But, you're talking about trading six seniors for seven scholarship freshmen, and that's a big difference both in age and maturity."
One of the biggest differences for Dugan, aside from the age of her team, will be its depth. She feels this year she will be able to implement the kind of system that has led her to average nearly 20 wins per season in her nine-year coaching career.
"Last year we couldn't implement my style because we didn't have as much depth," she said. "This year we've got depth and we'll be able to utilize that.
"I hope these kids can pick it up quickly. They need to understand they have to play hard all of the time. I think the fans are really going to enjoy what we have to offer his year. Now that we have the personnel, you're finally going to see our style of play."
"We're going to be pressing as well as pushing the ball up the court the whole game," Dugan said. "It's something I've been waiting for all summer long to get going. I finally feel like we've got the quickness to be able to do that and to be able to do that the whole game. It's a great game for the fans because we're going to score a lot of points. We're going to be very exciting. I really can't wait."
Breaking down the Lady Owls by position, the biggest question mark may be at the point. However, while the team lacks experience, Dugan believes the combination of Goad, McPhee, and walk-on Shayla Thomspon will help maintain a level of consistency.
"I feel like we are definitely deeper there than we were last year and I think we have the potential to be a lot stronger than we were last year. Each one possesses something very strong. Julie pushes the ball very well and is really a great passer. Yolette can create things off the move and get to the rim and is a nice passer as well. Shayla brings a little bit more height and size to the position and has a good outside shot. So, each contributes something to the team that can help it."
At the two-guard, Matthews is the anchor. Behind her are Deckerova and Banse. Both are freshmen from Florida and both are great shooters. Dugan says Banse is the better rebounder while Deckerova gets the edge defensively. Both will bring more size in a reserve role at that position.
More depth at the small forward position is something Dugan will enjoy this season. Vaughn can play a key role at that spot as she gives FAU more size and experience. Dugan says her great shooting, as well as an inside punch with scoring and rebounding will be invaluable. Other options at small forward include Alexander, who Dugan says is a better shooter than she thought she would be watching her in high school. Banse can also play at this spot, which just adds to the depth Dugan desires.
The four-spot is what Dugan calls her "best back-to-basket player and quickest post that can get down the floor." Players who can fill that need for Dugan include Griniute Hanscom, King, and Halvorsen. Three are newcomers while the fourth is part of the returning core.
Looking at the center position, one once again notices the depth of this team. Halvorsen looks to spend a lot of her time at the five-spot. Vaughn can also take on that role, as well as Griniute
The schedule, by Dugan's design, is not an easy one. FAU will face some of the nation's toughest teams representing several of the best conferences.
"Scheduling is something that I think you have to be very aggressive with," said Dugan "I like to play anybody anywhere anytime. You're only going to get better if you play the best. The only way you're going to crack the top-twenty is by playing top-twenty schools and seeing how you match up and seeing where your weaknesses are and what you need to do to improve. We've got a very competitive schedule before the TAAC even starts."
Although the personnel has changed, Dugan's overall philosophy has not. Her goal is to have this year's team prepared to play its best basketball once conference play begins exclusively in January. That, she hopes, will lead to another run for the TAAC regular-season crown and FAU's first TAAC championship.
"I like this team," said Dugan. "I really am excited about what we can do and where we're going to be. The bar has been raised so I think the expectation level is up. Nobody puts more pressure on anybody like I put on myself to have a quality team and to have these kids working hard and working together every day."
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