JACKSON - A year after one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of the program, the Millsaps Majors Women's basketball team prepares to start the 2011-2012 season with the return of tremendous production from upperclassman a year ago, as well as a dynamic incoming freshman.
The Majors, led by second year Head Coach Chuck Winkelman, look to continue their historic turn around as they built last season from 1-25 to 12-13, and aspire to go farther and compete with some of the top teams in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Majors return experience at nearly every position, as the backcourt will see the return of sophomore Shatoya White and junior Lovie Love, both of whom saw significant playing time last season as they played in every game and picked up 22 starts each. The frontcourt will return senior Janice Okeke and junior Shante Morton. The Majors also welcome a mix of youth in freshmen Velvet Johnson, Samantha Perez, and Anissa Allen in the backcourt and Natasha Mbenza and Brittnei Earl in the frontcourt.
The backcourt for the Lady Majors returns the assist leader and point guard from a season ago, Shatoya White, who also finished third on the team with 41 steals which included a career high six steals on January 16th against Centre. She was also fourth on the team with 6.7 points per game. Joining White in the backcourt is junior Lovie Love, who finished second in assists, 39, and steals, 51, a year ago. Love also was third on the team in scoring with 11.3 points per game in her sophomore season. She had a breakout game on December 30th against Warner University as she exploded for 25 points.
Much like the backcourt, the Majors frontcourt has tremendous talent and experience. The frontcourt is led by senior Janice Okeke, who led the conference and the team with 10.5 rebounds per game and 30 blocks a season ago. She put up 11 double doubles a season ago which included a 23 point, 18 rebound performance against Southwestern. Okeke, who returned from injury a year ago, also finished second with 12.5 points per game and fourth with 33 steals. On the other side of the frontcourt is the equally dangerous Shante Morton. Last season Morton, a junior, led the Majors with 13.9 points per game while also adding 17 blocks, 30 steals and 7.7 rebounds per game. This tandem down low could be one of the best duos in the conference. They are going to have to play that way as they look to carry the Lady Majors on the inside during the 2011-2012 campaign.
The Majors add great depth to their bench this season as they welcome many freshman. One year ago, the Majors were dwindled down to only six girls at one point during the season. Junior guard Elizabeth Sigafoose is the lone returning player for the Lady Majors. Sigafoose finished sixth on the team the previous season in both points per game, 4.1, and in assists, 24. The remainder of the depth for the Lady Majors will come in the before mentioned freshmen.
Millsaps was picked to finish fourth in the Eastern Division of the SCAC, which is a much bigger improvement then from a season ago, when they were picked to finish dead last. To see the complete press release, check scacsports.com
The Majors open things up on November 18th against Blue Mountain College at the Sleep Inn Tip Off Classic at The Hangar Dome.
