TicketsNov. 9, 2010
By Garrett Sabelhaus
GoBEARCATS.com
After finishing 12-18 in her first year as head coach of the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team, Jamelle Elliott looks to improve from her team's 14th place finish in the BIG EAST standings.
Unfortunately for the Bearcats, she is now without her leading scorer from a year ago in Kahla Roudebush who averaged 14 points a game as a senior in 2009-10.
Shareese Ulis, the team's second leading scorer at 11.4 points per game last season, is back for her senior year though and will be the Cats' main scoring threat.
"A big portion of our offensive scoring threats from last year's team are gone," Elliott said. "Ulis is the one coming back who has the most experience playing throughout the year and she's the point guard so I am going to be counting on her as far as scoring more points for us."
Ulis will have scoring help though, based on the impressive performance put on by freshman guard Kayla Cook in the team's lone exhibition game against Northern Kentucky University. Cook scored 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting. She also tied for team-high with three assists.
"She's kind of like the Energizer Bunny out there," Elliott said. "If I needed her to, she'll be able to play 40 minutes a game. She never stops moving. The good thing about it is she really doesn't play like a freshman, she's poised, she's confident and she's in great shape."
UC was picked to finish 15th in the 16-team BIG EAST and if they want to improve their standing from last year they'll have to find a way to rebound.
"We definitely have to be a better rebounding team, not just necessarily one individual but as a team overall," Elliott said. "That's definitely going to be an emphasis in practice that we need to rebound the ball more on the offensive and defensive end."
One or more of the six incoming freshmen will have to step up on the glass as the Bearcats lost their top rebounder and third leading scorer in Michelle Jones, who was also a senior last season.
One candidate to fill the void could be newcomer Jeanise Randolph who pulled down five rebounds against NKU. Randolph also scored five points in the 57-55 win over the Norse.
Sophomore Daress McClung grabbed six rebounds to go along with her 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the preseason opener. McClung may have been the most impressive player defensively as she also recorded three blocks.
But Ulis is the main threat offensively for the Bearcats. Her 16 points led the team despite shooting just 5-of-19 from the floor including 2-of-8 from beyond the arc.
They may need more efficiency from Ulis though as she only shot 36 percent from the floor last season.
The Cats open up regular season play Friday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. against Southwest Baptist at Fifth Third Arena.
Xavier and Texas are some notable opponents on the Bearcats' non-conference schedule. Louisville comes to Cincinnati for an early conference game December 15 before the conference schedule takes over for good January 5 against South Florida.
UC's final non-conference game will be against the Miami Redhawks Sunday, January 2.