Belhaven University

Jackson, MS-The Belhaven women’s basketball team is expecting big things for the 2009-10 season which gets underway on October 31st at Wesley College. The 2008-09 season for the Blazers had its ups and downs but overall was a solid year. Belhaven finished the campaign with an overall record of 17-14 and 8-10 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. The Blazers were fifth in the conference standings and earned a first round bye in the conference tournament.

2008-09 Season in Review:
Jaelyn Stringer and Jira Williams turned in outstanding seasons for the Blazers averaging 14.4 and 13.8 points per game respectively. Both players also averaged just under six rebounds per night and were both selected to the GCAC All-Conference team.

Holly Dial had a solid senior season by averaging 8.5 points per game and made 35.7 percent of her three point attempts. Dial set a new school record for most three pointers in a game with seven against Dillard on February 8th. Dial also had a career high 24 points in the win over the Bleu Devils.

As a team last season, Belhaven averaged 64.9 points per game while holding opponents to 60.9 points per contest. Belhaven was a force on the offensive boards pulling down an average of 13.1 offensive rebounds per game. The Blazers ranked second in the GCAC behind only Tougaloo College who posted an average of just under 18 offensive rebounds per night. Belhaven was also effective from three point range finishing the season at 32 percent from behind the arc. That was good for a tie for second in the GCAC with Xavier University while LSU-Shreveport led the league at 34 percent.

Belhaven’s team defense was strong last year with rankings in the upper half of the GCAC in blocks per game, total blocks, steals per game, total steals, and turnover margin. Belhaven was third in the GCAC in blocks per game with 2.23, third in the league in the total blocks at 69, third in steals per game at 11.13, third in total steals with 345, and first in turnover margin at +5.55 per contest. Belhaven’s turnover margin also ranked third best in the NAIA last year just behind Vanguard University and St. Xavier University.

Belhaven is losing seniors Holly Dial, Jaelyn Stringer, Molly Yildirm, Jimesha Rule, Jamie Dominio, and Lauren McDaniel.

The 2009-10 Blazers
Belhaven will return a number of outstanding players for the 2009-10 season. Jira
Williams, a senior forward from New Orleans, LA, averaged 13.8 points per game and pulled down just under six rebounds last year. Williams was also one of two Blazers named to the GCAC All Conference Team a year ago. Williams will be one of the go to players in the paint and will play a huge role in the Belhaven offense.

Courtney Ward, a senior guard from New Orleans, LA, will anchor the back court for the Blazers after having led the team in assists with 101 last season. Ward played in all 31 games for Belhaven in 2008-09 and started 30 of those contests while averaging 3.8 points per game.

Along with Ward and Williams, Belhaven will also have Mallory Hammack, Kimberly Ward, Lindsey Grefseng, Rachenia Powell, Stasha Thomas, and Octavia Mullins back for the 2009-10 campaign.

Mallory Hammack, a senior guard from Brandon, MS, will provide valuable experience and leadership to this season’s team. Last year, Hammack started 30 games and averaged 5.7 points per night while drilling 34 percent of her three point opportunities. With the departure of Dial, Hammack will be one of the Blazers go to shooters from behind the arc.

Kimberly Ward, a senior forward from Jackson, MS, will help anchor the post on this year’s team. Ward played in 28 games last season and averaged 4.9 point and 2.6 six rebounds in 2008-09. Ward tallied 29 of her 72 total rebounds on the offensive side of the ball. Senior guards Lindsey Grefseng and Stasha Thomas will give the Blazers depth in the backcourt and will be offensive threats from three point range. Sophomore guard Rachenia Powell and sophomore Octavia Mullins gained valuable experience and playing time in their freshman seasons last year which should pay dividends in the upcoming 2009-10 season.

"We have a solid group of returning players to this year’s club who will provide valuable leadership to our younger players. Jira Williams had a great season last year averaging 13.8 points per game and just under six rebounds per contest. Courtney Ward had a team high 101 assists last season and will provide great experience in the back court at the guard position."

Belhaven Head Coach Billy Evans brought in a strong recruiting class during the offseason which is comprised of nine new faces for this year’s team.

Courtney Fountain, a 5’9 forward from Baker High School in Crestview, FL, is versatile and fits in well within Belhaven’s offensive and defensive system. “I like the way she carries and conducts herself,” says Coach Evans, “It wasn’t just in how she plays the game, but how she sees the game. I anticipate her playing the two guard, but she also has the ability to play small forward or possibly at the point guard position.

Reneka Thompson, a 5’5 guard from Bassfield, MS, comes to Belhaven after playing at Pearl River Community College where she averaged 9.5 points and four rebounds per game. Thompson played her high school basketball at Bassfield High School. Jordin Mauk, a native of Pelham, AL led her team at Pelham High School in three point shooting at 34 percent and drilled 45 percent of her shots from the field this past season.

Other top newcomers for this season include Sarah Carr, a freshman guard from New Orleans, LA, and Jessica Barlow, a sophomore forward who spent last season at Delgado Community College. Both will players should be tremendous assets on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball this season. Valerie Lee, Brittany Carr, Keishara Rouser, and Jalacia Gullage are also very promising players who are new to the team this season.

"We have a lot of great talent on this year’s team and we are looking forward the season getting started,” says Coach Evans. “We had a solid recruiting class and are excited about what they can do for us this year. We had a good 2008-09 season finishing at 17-14 and expect even bigger things in 2009-10.”

2009-10 Blazer Opponents
Belhaven will open the season on October 31st at Wesley College followed by a trip to Blue Mountain College on November 5th. The Blazers will play their first home game November 10th against Wesley followed by home dates on the 12th with Mid-Continent University, the 14th with Pensacola Christian University, and 21st with Blue Mountain College. Other non-conference opponents include Talladega College, Rust College, and Millsaps College. The Blazers will battle Talladega and Blue Mountain in the Belhaven Classic on December 18th and 19th.

Belhaven will open their final season in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference beginning with a January 7th matchup at Dillard University. The Blazers will play two games each with Dillard, William Carey University, University of Mobile, Spring Hill College, Southern University at New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana, Tougaloo College, LSU-Shreveport, and Loyola University of New Orleans.

Belhaven was picked to finish 6th in the GCAC Pre-Season poll as voted on by the league’s coaches. Loyola was voted to finish first with 77 points and seven first place votes while Xavier garnered 71 total points for second and William Carey University checked in at number three with 65 points.