South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 55

IMJ If jt nyi ajfl yi-yqiTjgrrqjii iqgf yiy ajiiryny ti.i j'yi iqiJJ Sun-Sentinel, Thursday, November 21, 1996 9C WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW TEAM-BY-TEAM CAPSULES Florida LAST SEASON: 21-9, 6-5 In the Southeastern Conference. COACH: Carol Ross (seventh season at UF and overall, 118-59). TOP RETURNEES: Delisha Milton (6-1, 15.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg); FC Murriel Page (14.4 ppg, 9 rpg); Dana Smith (5-8, 7.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg); Mahogany Hudson (5-6, 7.6 ppg, 4.6 apg); GF Talatha Bingham (5-6, 6.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg). TOP NEWCOMERS: Erin O'Nell (6-3, Winnipeg, Canada); GF Tiffany Travis (5-10, Gulfport, NOTES: The Gators are chasing a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. UF went 9-1 at home last season, its lone lose coming to NCAA runner-up Georgia and NCAA player of the year Saudla Roundtree.

Smith, of St. Cloud, was the state's career scoring leader (3,469 points) until UF freshman Latonya' Washington, who is academically Ineligible this season, broke It with 4,489 points during her career at Paxton Travis was the 1996 Mississippi Player of the Year, after averaging 28.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.9 steals in leading her team to the Class 5A state title Smith needs 34 three-pointers to break the school's career record of 109. TEAM-BY-TEAM CAPSULES Florida Atlantic LAST SEASON: 13-16, 8-8 in TAAC. COACH: Wayne Allen (ninth year, 141-111). TOP RETURNEES: Yonka Moses (5-6, 6.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Sherrl Pla (5-6, 9.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Tee Bias (6-2, 9.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg); CF Roberta Quant (6-2, 5.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Jessie Castaneda (5-6, CF Katrlna Turner (6-2, GF Jill Madson (6-0, TOP NEWCOMERS: Tammy Vaughn (5-11, CF April Gibson (6-0, Rita Mosley (5-7, CF Katrina Turner (6-2, GF Jill Madson (6-0, NOTES: The Owls lost expected starters Amanda Whitney, a former South Broward star 1 2.2 ppg, 6.

1 rpg), to burnout and Kim Newsom (12.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) for personal reasons. Newsom will redshirt. Gibson Is day-to-day waiting on physician's release for a heart murmur. In last year's TAAC tournament, FAU knocked off three-time defending conference champion and, rival FIU and fell one game short of earning a first-time automatic NCAA Division I Tournament bid. Quant Is a much-Improved three-year veteran from the Bahamas.

Schedule Nov. 23-North Florida; 26-at Miami; 30-Lewis; Dm. 2-South Florida; 14-15-University ol South Alabama Classic; 1(-at Florida State; 30-31-FAU New Year's Classic; Jan. 6-at Florida International; 9-Georgia State; 11-Mercer; 16-at Southeastern Louisiana; 18-at Jacksonville State; 23-Central Florida; 25-Stetson; 30-at College of Charleston; Fab. 1-at Campbell; 6-at Georgia State; 8-Jacksonvllle State; 11-Be-thune Cookman; 13-at Central Florida; 15-at Stetson; 20-Campbell; 22-College of Charleston; March 1-Florida International; (-(-TAAC Florida State Miami LAST SEASON: 8-20, 3-13 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

COACH: Chris Gobrecht (First season, 327-181 in 17 seasons overall). TOP RETURNEES: Lysa Moorefield (6-1, 7.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Latrice McLin (6-0, 7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Kristy White (6-4, 6.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Wendy Hampton (5-11, 6.6 ppp, 3.5 rpg). TOP NEWCOMERS: Latavia Coleman (5-10, Southwest Macon High), Jasmine Rodmon (5-8, Miramar High). NOTES: Gobrecht has had to temper dreams of instant success. "I think this Is a team that can be a .500 or better team," she said.

"I think that's realistic." FSU has not had a winning season since going 17-11 in 1991-92, its first year in the ACC. Her idea is to turn a passive team into one that's aggressive on both sides of the floor. Ideally, Gobrecht's teams press. Lacking depth, this team will not. For now, the Seminoles will play man-to-man defense and variations of the motion offense.

Sometimes that means a one-guard set, sometimes a two-guard set. As the season goes only, It's likely that this team will be only eight players deep. A record nine FSU games will be televised, four of them ACC games The team's only walk-on is Catherine Booker of Savannah, Ga. Most of FSU's home games are at Tully Gym on campus. Three are at Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center.

LAST SEASON: 14-13, 9-9 in the Big East. COACH: Feme Labatl (ninth year, 291-201). TOP RETURNEES: Octavia Blue (6-1, 16.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Desma Thomas (5-11, 14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg); Jennifer Jordan (6-0, 11.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg); Cassaundra Wimes (5-10, FC Jill Henne (6-3, FC Kym Hope (6-2, MeChelle Murray (5-11, Beth Barnhart (5-9, Tessa lacoboni (5-5, Tarla Toomer (5-5, So.) TOP NEWCOMERS: Carly Collinson (6-5, Jamie Lilley (5-11, Shannon Drury (5-8, Gina Grazlanl (5-8, NOTES: The Hurricanes begin defense of their Big East 7 title on the road at St. John's, Dec. 4 Blue was named to the preseason All-Big East second team.

The Hurricanes were picked to finish In a tie for third with Providence in the Big East 7 The Hurricanes return nine lettermen, including four starters off last year's squad that won seven of its last 1 1 games to earn a share of the Big East 7 division title. Schedule Nov. 22-23-Dial Classic Florida Four at Sun Dome; 28-Florida Atlantic; Dae. 1-at Old Dominion; 4-at St. John's; 8-Rutgers, 2 p.m.; 14-at Florida International; 18-Oral Roberts; 27-28-UM Holiday Classic; Jan.

2-Boston College; 6-at Pittsburgh; 9-Connectlcut; 12-at Providence; 15-at Georgetown; 19-Seton Hall; 22-at West Virginia; 25-St. John's; 2(-Notre Dame; Feb. 2-Vlllanova; 5-at Rutgers; 12-Pittsburgh; 16-at Connecticut; 19-at Boston College; 22-at Syracuse; 25-Georgetown; March 1-4-Big East Tournament at Connecticut. DIVISION II Start photoROBERT MAYER Central Florida Junior center Gergana Branzova, coming off a knee injury, is being counted on for leadership. FOREIGN POWER Barry FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL LAST SEASON: 15-14, 7-8 in the TAAC.

COACH: Lynn Bria (1st year). TOP RETURNEES: Gylaunda Henderson (5-8, 12.9 ppg); FC Shantrice Saxon (6-0, 11.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Chariya Davis (5-7, 6.9 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.1 spg); Chasity McClendon (6-0, 3.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg); Lakesha Anderson (5-9, 5.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg). TOP NEWCOMERS: Meredith McCall (5-6, Palm Beach Gardens); LaDonna Larry (5-8, Eustis). NOTES: Knights play the Russian National team at the UCF Arena on Saturday at 7:30 p.m First regular-season home game Is against South Florida on Dec. 10 at 7:30 UCF's annual Holliday Classic will be Dec.

28- 30 Saxon is a natural forward but may play post If Sr. 6-4 Stacey Deveaux does not handle that role. Jr. 5-10 Mlchell Tom, a transfer from Phoenix College, left team Fr. 5-10 Kenitra Anthony broke afoot and will be redshlrted Departed Tamlka Coley is school's all-time scoring leader with 2006 points and rebounding leader with 1,211.

Golden Panthers are favored to win 5th consecutive TAAC title. Florida LAST SEASON: 9-16, 3-11 In Sunshine State. COACH: Jan Allen (second year, 120-124). TOP RETURNEES: Jennifer McMillan (5-10, GF Shelnita Jones (5-10, Latoya Simpson (5-4, Janice James (5-7, FC Christine Riedinger (6-0, Trish O'Toole (5-9, Jenny Thole (5-9, Barbara Barnes (5-9, Allna Rodriguez (5-11, TOP NEWCOMERS: Angelina Williams (6-1, FC Sophia Coelho (6-0, Saioa Torrealday (5-7, Heidi Farmer (5-7, Rachelle (5-11, Kelly Mahan (6-0, NOTES: Allen sparked the team's turnaround last season leading the Buccaneers to their most wins In four years All five starters return Honorable Mention Sunshine State Conference selection Jen McMillan returns as the team's leading scorer (17.8 ppg) and re-bounder (9.1 rpg). Latoya Simpson, second on Barry's all-time assist chart (336), returns as a three-year starter at guard.

Barry was invited to two holiday tournaments In Puerto Rico and Tampa. The Bucs play perennial power Bentley College on Jan. 4. Schedule Nov. 23-Warner Southern; 30-at Savannah State: Dae.

1-at Armstrong State; 4-Amerlcan; 10-Lynn; 17-19-Tropical Basketball Fest at San Juan, P.R.; 28-30-Converse New Year's Classic; Jan. 2-Rhode la-land College; 4-Bentley College; 8-Tampa; 11-at North Florida; 15-at Florida Southern; 18-Rolllns; 22-at Florida Tech; 25-St. Leo College; 28-at Eckerd; Fab. 1-Florlda Southern; 5-at Rollins; 8-North Florida; 12-Florlda Tech; 15-at St. Leo; 18-Eckerd; 22-at Tampa; 25-March 1-Sunshlne State Conference Tournament.

Lynn Stall photoROBERT MAYER LAST SEASON: 21-7, 14-2 In the MEAC. COACH: Claudette Farmer (107-64 overall). TOP RETURNEES: Delicia Walker (5-6, 10.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg); Teresa Jenkins (6-6, 14.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg)- TOP NEWCOMERS: GF Damelia Glenn (5-11, FC Tomekla Peterson (6-2, NOTES: Gone from the team is MEAC Player of the Year, FC Cathy Robinson, who led the team In scoring and rebounding. She Is the first FAMU player, male or female, to have 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career The Rattlers' non-conference schedule Includes South Alabama, Florida State, Southern Mississippi, Georgia State and Mercer. Bethune-Cookman LAST SEASON: NA.

COACH: Alvln Wyatt. TOP RETURNEES: Carmen Sanders (5-7, Thy vilathon(5-1, Rosemarle Williams (5-6, Tequila McGahee (5-5, Laquita Sledge (5-11, Keesha Moffett (5-11, Cherrle Jackson (6-5, Vernlc Blandon (6-0, Octavia Jones (5-8, Kelly Franklin (5-11, TOP NEWCOMERS: Cheryl Dixon (5-11, Wenona Allen (5-9, Bamona Kazaldi (5-8, OUTLOOK: Wyatt, who is still coaching the football team which finishes up Its season this weekend, thinks he has found some size to go along with a strong perimeter game. Sanders, Jones, and Williams, are proven outside shooters. Three Junior college transfers (Dixon, Allen, and Kazaldi), should Improve the Wildcats inside. VI-lathon, another JUCO transfer, is expected to take over at point guard.

Jackson, the team's tallest player, is recovering from a knee Injury Incurred In a car accident. The Wildcats open with Florida Memorial (Dec. 2), at Moore Gymnasium. Guard Dalma Ivanyi is the TAAC Preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 14.2 points and 6.6 assists as a freshman.

LAST SEASON: 23-5, 16-0 In TAAC. COACH: Cindy Russo (18th year, 390-154). TOP RETURNEES: Yoana Aramberri (6-5, Gergana Branzova (6-4, Dalma Ivanyi (5-10, So Melissa James (5-11, Crystal Jenkins (5-9, Zuzana Mlchalcova (6-0, Aila Menguc (5-6, TOP NEWCOMERS: Masheika Allen (5-6, Adaya Powell (6-1, Laura Camps (5-11, Donna Carrell (5-9, Maesha Freeney (6-0, FC Viktoria Nagy (6-2, NOTES: The Golden Panthers are picked to win the TAAC regular season championship and their fifth TAAC Tournament title In six years FIU has won the past four TAAC regular season titles Ivanyi is the TAAC Preseason Player of the Year. She earned league Newcomer of the Year honors last season averaging 14. 1 points (eighth In TAAC) and 6.6 assists (led TAAC) per game FIU has had 15 winning seasons in the past 17 years under Russo, who Is 10 victories away from her 400th career win.

Of the 13 players on the roster, none are seniors and two of the three Juniors played junior college basketball last season. The team Is ranked the 15th most successful Division I women's basketball program of the 1990s. Schedule Nov. 27-at Southern Mississippi; M-30-at Shreveport Shootout; Dec. H-Mlaml; 18-LSU; H-at South Florida' 28-2S-FIU Holiday Classic; Jan.

3-4-FIU Sun Fun Classic; (-Florida Atlantic, (-Mercer; 11-Qeorgia State; 1(-at Jacksonville Slate; 1(-at Southeastern Louisiana; 23-Stetson; 25-Cen-Iral Florida 30-at Campbell; Fab. 1-at College ot Charleston; (-at Mercer; (-Southeastern Louisiana; 13-at Stetson; 1(-at Central Florida, 20-College ot Charleston; 22-Campbell; March 1-at Florida Atlantic; (-(-TAAC Tournament. By SHARON ROBB Staff Writer MIAMI As a freshman, Dalma Ivanyi was having a problem understanding a play during a Florida International University practice. She turned to teammate Gergana Branzova and started speaking Hungarian. Branzova, Bulgarian-born, answered in English.

The rest of the FIU team started laughing. If there is one team rule above all team rules on the United Nations of women's basketball, it is to speak English. "In the beginning it is always hard to learn the American game and learn English at the same time," Ivanyi said. "When you are in a strange country for the first time, you feel more comfortable speaking your native language to someone who understands. "Every now and then coach would tell me to stop it and speak English.

That's how I learned the language. I still speak Hungarian, only after practice." Ivanyi is one of seven foreign players on the Golden Panthers' roster. The melting pot includes players from Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. "It's in our name, after all, we are Florida International," Branzova said. "It's a team rule that we are forbidden to speak in our own language.

"The coaches don't know what we're talking about. They probably think we're talking about them sometimes. But it's OK. We're the ones who want to learn English. This is why we come to this country.

We want to learn from each other. "Every one of us has a different style of play because we are from all over. We take a little bit of the Swedish game or Hungarian or Bulgarian and put it all together." FIU coach Cindy Russo, 10 victories from 400, and longtime assistant coach Inge Nissen, have a pipeline to Europe. With a tradition of foreign players, FIU has acquired an international reputation for a winning program and strong academic standards. Russo has a knack for blending international and American players into a winning combination.

"In Europe you are given the choice to play basketball or go to school," Branzova said. "The coaches in Europe don't like you Stetson LAST SEASON: 22-7. COACH: Cheryl Feeney (first year). TOP RETURNEES: Christine Richardson (6-0, 20.4 ppg, 13.9 rpg); Angl Potts (5-7, 8.3 ppg, 5.6 apg); GF Kerry Murphy (5-10, GF Krlsten Moraz (5-10, Katie Katzmark (5-9, Janlsha Craft (5-7, Julie Pavlova (6-0, Debra Williams (6-4, TOP NEWCOMERS: Jennifer Beckman (5-7, Yashlca Jackson (5-9, NOTES: Richardson Is a preseason NCAA Division II honorable mention pick Katzmark will Join the team late since she is playing In the NCAA Division II Final Four In soccer this weekend. The women's program started In 1993 The Knights lack depth Tannlsha Stevens, one of the last season's top players who lost an eye during a freak bus accident while playing for Michigan In the Church's Holiday Classic, transferred.

Feeney makes her college coaching debut after turning Suncoast High School into a state girls basketball power. Schedule Nov. 22-at Mercer; 29-30-Lynn Nations Bank Tip-Off; Dm. 2-Amerl-can (Puerto Rico); 6-7-Sheraton Cap Stone Classic; 10-at Barry; 12-at Florida Southern; 16-Saglnaw Valley State; 18-LSU; 30-31-Lynn Doubletree Shootout; Jan. 2-Bentley College; 8-Wlsconsin Lutheran; 10-St.

Thomas; 15-at Florida Memorial; 20-Albany State; 27-al Valdosta State; 20-at Georgia Southwestern; Fab. 5-Florida Memorial; 15-at Bowie State; 17-at District of Columbia; 1t-Claflln College; 21-22-at University ol Virgin Islands; March 6-8-NCAA Division II Junior college Broward Community College LAST SEASON: 17-12, 8-4 In the FCCAA. COACH: Janette Mendoza (second year). TOP RETURNEES: Terrell Roach, FG Tiffany Stephenson, Prlscllla Smith, Melissa Torres, FC Allene Walton, GF Jodl Brown, Jackie Smith, So. TOP NEWCOMERS: Bree Summer (Fr Lisa del Rio, CF Kenyatta Thompson, Dlone Mobley, GF Tiffany Arthur, (Fr.) NOTES: The Seahawks finished second In the Southern Conference of the Florida Community College Athletic Association last year.

Terrell Roach, the team's leading scorer and state's top rebounder, returns plus veterans Tiffany Stephenson, Prlscllla Smith and Melissa Torres. The Seahawks had one of their best freshman recruiting classes, Including Ely's Kenyatta Thompson and Miami High's Dlone Mobley. Schedule Nov. 23-Hlllsborough; 28-Valencla; SO-St Petersburg CC; Dm. (-at Hillsborough; 7-at St.

Petersburg CC; 28-Unlverslty of Wlsconsln-Waukeaha; Jan. 1-at Valencia; 6-lndian River; 15-Palm Beach CC; 16-at Miami Dade Kendall; 22-at Miami Dade North; 25-at Indian River; 29-at Palm Beach CC; Feb. 1-Mlaml Dade Kendall; 5-Mlaml Dade North; 8-lndlan River; 10-Palm Beach; 17-at Miami Dade Kendall; 18-at Mlaml-Dade North; 22-25-Southern Conference Tournament SHARON ROBB LAST SEASON: 19-9. COACH: Dee Romine (4th year, 50-32). TOP RETURNEES: Liz Hufford (5-6, 8.7 ppg, 6.1 apg); Cheryl Patton (10.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Shannon Menapace (5-4, 4.7 ppg); Cynthia Fair (5-8, 7.9 ppg); Melissa Monroe (5.2 ppg).

NOTES: Stetson Is coming off Its best season In nine years and Its best preseason ranking ever, picked second in the TAAC behind FIU. The TAAC Tournament comes to Stetson in March, and the Hatters think they can play to the end, provided they find some presence In the post. All-TAAC forward Lamllla Ford (14.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg), a Dr. Phillips High alumnus, and starting forward Melody Schindler (8.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg) graduated. With them gone, Romine is concerned about rebounds and Interior defense.

The team's strength is on the perimeter, led by Hufford. Expect the Hatters to run and press more than Romine's previous teams. studying, they want you to play and practice all the time. Here, you are given the opportunity to do both." Ivanyi, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard, was named Trans America Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year after an outstanding freshman season. She earned the league's Newcomer of the Year honors last season after averaging 14.2 points (eighth in TAAC) and 6.6 assists (led TAAC) per game.

Ivanyi and Branzova, a 6-4 junior center coming off knee injuries sustained in a preseason pickup game, are being counted on for leadership on a team with no seniors. Branzova's sister Albena played for FIU. "The injuries taught me a lot, I think I am stronger mentally and physically," Branzova said, "I know coach is expecting a lot out of us this year. We are playing a very tough schedule, which will bring us national recognition." Despite its youth, FIU is picked to win the Trans America Athletic Conference regular season championship for the fifth consecutive season In addition to a tough TAAC schedule, the Golden Panthers play Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Virginia and St. Mary's of California.

"If we can win some of our non-conference games, we can get ourselves into the top 10, but that might take us a year to do," Russo said. "We may win some and we might get blown out of some others but we need to gain confidence in ourselves by playing these types of teams." South Florida LAST SEASON: 6-21, 2-12 in Conference USA. COACH: Jerry Ann Winters, (First year; 21st overall, 304-240). TOP RETURNEE8: Jenny Koeppel, 5-6, Sr. (9.6 ppg, 4.0 apg); Haylee Ahu, 5-8, Sr.

(8.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg). NOTES: Winters takes over a program that has only six winning seasons In 24 years. Winters has a proven track record, highlighted by Arkansas State's 1993 NWIT championship. Eleven players return, but the Bulls remain several notches below the Conference USA elite. A .500 campaign would be a successful year.

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