JAMES MADISON FAVORED TO WIN 2010-11 CAA WOMEN?S BASKETBALL TITLE
ARLINGTON, Va. (October 19, 2010) - James Madison, which returns four starters from last year's 26-7 team that won the Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball championship, is picked to repeat as CAA champion in 2010-11 according to a vote of the league's women's basketball coaches. The results of the poll were announced during Tuesday's CAA Basketball Media Day at Champps-Pentagon Row in Arlington, Va.
The Dukes were followed in the voting by Old Dominion, Delaware, Hofstra and VCU. Drexel was picked to finish sixth, followed by William and Mary, UNC Wilmington, Georgia State, George Mason, Towson and Northeastern.
James Madison captured the CAA championship for the first time since 1989 and made its fifth consecutive postseason appearance last year. Back to lead the Dukes is senior All-America guard Dawn Evans, who ranked fifth in the nation in scoring (24.6 ppg) in 2009-10 and has the opportunity to become the all-time leading scorer in CAA history. She will be joined in the backcourt by CAA All-Rookie honoree Tarik Hislop (10.3 ppg). Senior post players Jalissa Taylor (7.1 ppg/6.5 rpg) and Lauren Jimenez (9.0 ppg/5.0 rpg) give the Dukes experience inside.
Old Dominion returned to the postseason for the 18th time in the past 19 years after going 19-14 overall and finishing atop the CAA regular-season standings with a 14-4 mark. Four starters, including three double-figure scorers, are back for the Lady Monarchs. Senior guards Jasmine Parker (11.1 ppg) and Shadasia Green (10.7 ppg/5.3 rpg) both earned All-CAA accolades a year ago. In the post, junior Tia Lewis contributed a team-high 11.2 ppg and ranked eighth in the league in rebounding (7.6 rpg) in her first season at ODU.
Delaware earned a spot in the WNIT last season after compiling a 21-12 overall record. Topping a group of four returning starters for the Blue Hens is sophomore All-American Elena Delle Donne, who was chosen as the CAA Player and Rookie of the Year after ranking third in the nation in scoring with 26.7 ppg. Also back in the starting five for UD are sophomore forward Danielle Parker (5.4 ppg/5.5 rpg) and junior guards Jocelyn Bailey (5.0 ppg) and Kayla Miller (3.5 ppg).
Hofstra advanced to the second round of the WNIT a year ago and has three starters returning from that 20-14 squad. The Pride features one of the league's top inside players in sophomore Shante Evans, who earned 2nd team All-CAA honors after scoring 13.3 ppg and leading the conference in rebounding (9.5 rpg). Also back are a trio of veteran backcourt players in senior Aamira Terry (2.5 ppg) and juniors Candice Bellocchio (7.9 ppg) and Nicole Capurso (9.7 ppg).
The CAA is coming off an outstanding year in which the conference sent a league-record seven teams to postseason play. This season, the league returns 65% of its starters and eight all-conference performers.
Delaware's Delle Donne and JMU's Evans were selected as the CAA Preseason Co-Players of the Year. They are joined on the preseason All-CAA first team by Hofstra's Evans, UNC Wilmington senior guard/forward Brittany Blackwell (12.9 ppg/7.7 rpg) and William and Mary junior guard Taysha Pye (16.4 ppg/5.2 rpg).
Voted to the preseason All-CAA second team were Old Dominion's Green, Lewis and Parker, James Madison's Hislop and VCU junior forward Courtney Hurt (13.7 ppg/7.7 rpg).
2010-11 CAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. James Madison
2. Old Dominion
3. Delaware
4. Hofstra
5. VCU
6. Drexel
7. William & Mary
8. UNC Wilmington
9. Georgia State
10. George Mason
11. Towson
12. Northeastern
2010-11 CAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
|
First Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Brittany Blackwell, UNC Wilmington^
|
Sr.
|
G/F
|
6-1
|
Raleigh, N.C./Cary Academy
|
|
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware*
|
So.
|
G/F
|
6-5
|
Wilmington, Del./Ursuline Academy
|
|
Dawn Evans, James Madison*
|
Sr.
|
G
|
5-7
|
Clarksville, Tenn./Northeast
|
|
Shante Evans, Hofstra#
|
So.
|
F
|
6-0
|
West Chester, Pa./Henderson
|
|
Taysha Pye, William & Mary#
|
Jr.
|
G
|
5-8
|
Bronx, N.Y./St. Anne's-Belfield (Va.)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Second Team
|
Cl.
|
Pos.
|
Ht.
|
Hometown/Previous School
|
|
Shadasia Green, Old Dominion^
|
G/F
|
Sr.
|
5-9
|
Patterson, N.J./Eastside
|
|
Tarik Hislop, James Madison
|
G
|
So.
|
5-7
|
Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch
|
|
Courtney Hurt, VCU^
|
F
|
Jr.
|
6-1
|
Conyers, Ga./Salem
|
|
Tia Lewis, Old Dominion
|
C/F
|
Jr.
|
6-3
|
Poulan, Ga./Worth County/UCF
|
|
Jasmine Parker, Old Dominion#
|
G
|
Sr.
|
5-6
|
Norfolk, Va./Maury
|
CAA Preseason Co-Players of the Year: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware and Dawn Evans, James Madison
Honorable Mention: Kamile Nacickaite, Jr., G, Drexel; Brittany Poindexter, Sr., G, George Mason
*1st team All-CAA in 2009-10
# 2nd team All-CAA in 2009-10
^ 3rd team All-CAA in 2009-10