FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11-15-07
AASU Women's Basketball Opens 2007-08 Season Friday
SAVANNAH, Ga. (November 15) – Head coach Roger Hodge and the Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball team begins the 2007-08 season on Friday when the Pirates take part in the Manwell Produce Lady Blazer Classic, hosted by Valdosta State University, in Valdosta, Ga.
The Lady Pirates face Alabama-Huntsville on Friday at 5:30 p.m., then take on host Valdosta State on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
AASU is looking to improve on a 15-14 season last year and will do so behind the play of senior Kaneetha Gordon, a preseason All-Peach Belt Conference pick this year. The leading rebounder in the league last season, Gordon averaged 15.6 points and 11.6 rebounds and earned honorable mention WBCA All-America honors. Joining Gordon in returning for the Lady Pirates this season is senior point guard Jasmine Herron (6.9 ppg, 3.7 apg) and junior forward Lacey Willis (8.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg).
Nine newcomers join the Lady Pirates this season from a variety of locales - local products Angela Miller and Alandris Griffin return to the Coastal Empire area after playing for FCCJ in Jacksonville, while Dutch 6-2 center Kelly Versluis hails from the Netherlands and 5-9 guard Laura Raatesalmi hails from Finland.
The Peach Belt Conference moves back to a home-and-home schedule for 2007-08, so the Lady Pirates will play 20 league games this season. In addition to the Valdosta State tournament, AASU will also travel to California for games at Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Los Angeles on the week of Thanksgiving; face North Carolina Central in a non-conference matchup, then host the Chatham Orthopedics Holiday Classic in December.
AASU has been picked to finish eighth in a preseason poll of the league's coaches.
The Lady Pirates will play its first three games of the season away from home, then return to Alumni Arena for their home opener on Wednesday, November 28, at 5:30 p.m. against PBC foe North Georgia.
- Pirates -