New-Look Women's Basketball Squad Hits the Court

10/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Oct. 5, 2015

Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Had everything gone as coach Sue Guevara had hoped a year ago, she would be starting almost from scratch in the 2015-16 season.

But, due mainly to injuries, things didn't go as Guevara and so many others had hoped. As frustrating and painful as it was then, it's to the benefit now of Chippewa womens basketball program.

CMU opened practice on Sunday with a 14-player roster that includes just four upperclassmen. The Chippewas open the season on Nov. 13 at home against Indiana State.

"This is the first time in I can't tell you how long that we've had 14 healthy people," said Guevara, who is entering her ninth season as CMU's coach. "When we can work with the whole team it is very competitive."

To be sure, the players at the forefront this season will differ markedly after the graduation of WNBA draftee Crystal Bradford, 2014-15 most valuable player Kerby Tamm, and point guard Jessica Green, who missed the vast majority of the season with a knee injury.

Jewel Cotton, lost for the season to a knee injury in the fourth game a year ago, is back along with the likes of Da'Jourie Turner, who became the quarterback when Green was injured a year ago.

Among the other returnees who saw significant playing time as last season unfolded are Cassandra Breen, Aleah Swary, Karli Herrington and Amani Corley.

Junior Jasmine Harris, a transfer from UMass, also becomes eligible this season, joining Turner, Cotton and senior forward Chelsea Lynn as the veterans of the group.

"This team can score," Guevara said. "I like our inside game, I think people are going to see us go inside a little more than what we have done in the past. Part of that is Tinara Moore, the improvement she has made, a very healthy Jewel Cotton, and our freshman Reyna Frost.

"They have the ability to score down low and step out and hit the shot. I like the fact that we have people that can shoot the three."

The Chippewas were picked to win the league last season in the preseason coaches poll. They finished last in the West and squeaked into the league tournament. They finished 13-18.

There are no such heady expectations this season and, though plenty of players on the roster saw significant playing time a year ago, there has been a getting-to-know-you period.

"That's why we did our Toronto trip, to see what we had, so I could see all the young kids play," said Guevara, referring to a team trip earlier this summer during which the Chippeaws played three exhibition games. "We were able to put in offensively what we wanted to do and we put in a couple little defenses that we tinkered and played with during the summer.

"I think we are going to drive the car a bit different. We are still going to go fast, but how we get to our destination may be a little different. I really like this team, everybody gets along very well, they're very encouraging, there's accountability and positive reinforcement."