Central Michigan University Athletics
Women's Basketball Ready To Open 2002-03 Campaign.
10/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 28, 2002
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University women's basketball team will prepare for the 2002-03 season when it hosts its lone exhibition game of the season.
The Chippewas will host the Ohio Premier All-Stars on Friday, November 1. Tipoff in Rose Arena is set for 7 p.m.
"This will be a great chance to look at this team in a game situation," second-year head coach Eileen Kleinfelter said. "It is an opportunity to put on the floor what we have been practicing since October 12. This will also be a chance to look at the new faces, and see how people react in game-like situations.
"The Premier All-Stars are an extremely competitive team, and we are playing to win. We are going to mix up our offenses and defenses, and we will look at our players in different positions."
CMU is coming off of a 10-18 overall mark in 2001-02, and finished sixth in the Mid-American Conference West Division with a 2-14 record. For head coach Eileen Kleinfelter, it was the beginning of the rebuilding process. The Chippewas won six more games than they did in the year prior. It was also the first 10-win season in three years and their 8-4 non-conference mark was the best tally since the 1990-91 campaign.
Headlining the returnees for this season will be CMU's three seniors. The class is paced by the team's top returning scorer and this season's co-captain, Desiree Eidson (Bowling Green, Ohio). Last season, the 6-1 forward had six 20-point outings and led the Chippewas with a 13.7 scoring average.
Kendra Martin (Muskegon) was second on the team in scoring. She chipped in 12.1 points per outing, and was a standout in conference play. The 5-9 guard had double-digit outings in 10 of the 14 MAC games, and paced the Chippewas in conference play with a 12.6 average.
Co-captain Laurie Henderson (Newark, Ohio) will take the court as the point guard. She has played in all but three games in her three years. She is the top returning assist leader from last season, dishing out 80 assists. She also turned in the best assist-to-turnover ration on the team (1.9). The 5-9 guard had averages of 5.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
Amanda Elwer (Delphos, Ohio/Jr.) returns with the most experience in the middle. The 6-1 forward/center saw action in all 28 games last season, and averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebound.
Also returning with playing experience are guards Raina Harmon (Detroit/Jr.), Lindy Hatfield (Findlay, Ohio/So.), and Emily Gross (Muskegon/So.).
The newcomers are highlighted by junior transfer from Loyola-Chicago, Lauren Yops (Flint). The guard played two seasons for the Ramblers, averaging 7.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in her two seasons.
Returning from injury last season, and adding quickness down low, is redshirt freshman Tiffany Douglas (Lansing).
Other newcomers are Erin Kuhl (Rochester Hills/Fr.), Chasidy Myers (Columbia City, Indiana/Fr.), Casey Manning (Southgate/Fr.), and Lindsay Mecoli (Clarkston/Fr.). All will have the chance to step in and contribute immediately.
Kleinfelter is not concerned about the fact that the tallest member on the team is only 6-1. In fact, she hopes it will be an asset.
"I'm used to having a short team," commented Kleinfelter. "That allows us to pull the team out and play an up-tempo, fast-break type of game.
"No one on this team is a true five. Amanda Elwer and Chasidy Myers will be a five for us. But, other than that, we have a lot fours, and that makes us a little more mobile."
LAST TIME VERSUS THE ALL-STARS - The Chippewas topped the traveling All-Stars with last-second heroics, 58-56, on November 2 of last season.
Back-to-back layups knotted the game at 56 in the final minutes of play, which led to Desiree Eidson's opportunity to ice the victory with one tick left on the clock. Eidson drew the a foul on the final second, and hit both free throws to lift CMU to the two-point win.
Kendra Martin led the Chippewas with 16 points. Eidson chipped in 12 points, and Amanda Elwer (Delphos, Ohio/Jr.) added 10. Vershaun Jones led CMU with nine rebounds.
AT THE HELM - Eileen Kleinfelter is entering her second season as the mentor of the CMU women's basketball team. Under her tutelage, Kleinfelter led the Chippewas to a 10-win season in her first year. It was the first time CMU had turned in 10 wins in three years. She enters her 12th season as a head coach, and has an overall mark of 232-99. Kleinfelter has also been a head coach at Findlay and IUPU-Fort Wayne.
THE CRYSTAL BALL - The Central Michigan University women's basketball team was tabbed to finish seventh in the West Division of the MAC, according the MAC News Media Association. CMU had 39 points in the poll. The preseason favorites were Ball State in the West, and Kent State in the East. Kent State (15), Ball State (11), and Miami (seven) were all tournament-winner favorites.
ON THE AIR - Select non-conference and all conference games can be heard live on WMHW, 91.5 FM. Tune in 10 minutes before tipoff to catch up on the latest news and stay tuned after the game for the postgame show with head coach, Eileen Kleinfelter. Games can also be heard on the internet at www.cmuchippewas.com.
ON THE TELE - The Chippewas will have two games air on the Central Michigan University PBS network this season. Conference tilts versus Western Michigan (January 20) and Bowling Green (February 5) will air on the network.
UP NEXT - The Central Michigan women's basketball team will return to action when it hosts the season opener on Friday, November 22. The Chippewas invite Siena Heights to Rose Arena in a doubleheader with the men's team. Tipoff for the twinbill is at 5:30 p.m. The men will take the floor when they host George Mason at 7:30 p.m.
