Due West, S.C. – For the last two years, the bulk of the minutes logged by the Erskine Women's Basketball Team has been by underclassmen, befitting the moniker "talented but young." No more. Head Coach Russ Gregg's squad is all grown up now and ready to prove themselves in a competitive Conference Carolinas this season.
The Flying Fleet return all five starters from last season's team that went 14-13 and finished fifth in Conference Carolinas at 9-9. Headlining the group of returners is sophomore
Raygon Hendrix (Summerville, SC, Pinewood Preparatory School), who garnered Freshman of the Year and 2
nd Team All-Conference honors last year. Hendrix led the team in scoring averaging 13.3 points and 3.9 assists per game. Joining her in the back court is fellow sophomore
Kristin Giles (Union, SC, Union County High School), who was third on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game. The top returner in the front court is senior
Tara Potter (Charlotte, NC, Bandys High School). Potter led the team in rebounding at 8.6 boards while scoring 12.0 points per game. Sophomore post player
Naomi Stuger (Marietta, GA, Kell High School) had a solid freshman campaign, averaging 7.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
In addition to all their starters, the Fleet also return their top two players off the bench. If a "Sixth Man Award" were given, senior
Andrienne Bannerman (Wilmington, NC, Pender High School) may have been the recipient. Last season Bannerman came off the bench, playing in all 27 games, to provide a spark, averaging 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore sharpshooter
Ashley Mull (Belmont, NC, South Point High School) is deadly accurate from long range and is capable of punishing any team willing to play zone defense.
Coach Gregg recruited another quality class and while finding minutes for everyone may prove to be his most difficult task, it gives Coach Gregg the most depth he has had in his young coaching career. Sophomore transfer
Ashley Espinosa (Reading, PA, Governor Mifflin High School) is expected to contribute right away in the back court while a couple of freshman could make a mark as well.
The Flying Fleet open their season in the Conference Carolinas-Peach Belt Challenge hosted by North Greenville University on November 14
th and 15
th. The Fleet will face in-state foe Francis Marion University on Friday and the University of North Georgia on Saturday. The Fleet's home opener is Wednesday, November 19
th against in-state, conference foe Limestone College. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
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