RICHMOND, Ind. — Liana Coutts starts her sixth campaign with the
Earlham College women’s basketball team by welcoming back six players from last year.
“Offensively, we are looking for a balanced attack from the inside and the perimeter,” Coutts said. “We also believe that the first year players complement the returnees in regards to their skills. This has put us in a position to have more depth and will allow us to increase the tempo of our games.”
Nikki Darrett is the top scorer returning at 13.5 PPG, while
Jayana Sims (4.6) and
Katy Buda (5.6) are the two seniors on the squad. They are the three players back who shared the staring lineup with All-North Coast Athletic Conference Second Team performer Tasha Merrill (15.6) and Tracy Hill (7.7).
“Our returning players have started out of the chute giving us great leadership and this is a definite need with so many new faces,” Coutts said. “We need our returning players to put together consistent performances and to continue to show good leadership.”
Darrett was second on the team in rebounding a year ago behind Hill with 5.9 a game. Sims, who was selected as Earlham’s Best Defensive Player last season, led the team in assists at 3.3 per game and added 3.2 rebounds per contest. Buda was named the Most Improved Player as a junior.
Starr Gary has decided to return to the team after two seasons.
Gary has earned several All-North Coast Athletic Conference honors in track. She averaged 7.7 PPG for the Quakers in 2006-07, while receiving All-NCAC Honorable Mention.
Other returning players are
Princess Darnell (5.0),
Kate Franks (4.9) and
Erin Litchfield.
The newcomers to the team are
Deborah Adkins,
Karmel Brown,
Amelia Frazier,
Charvonne Long,
Michelle Miranda,
Natasha Norman,
Whitney Sparkman and
Jessica Wooden.
“There is little bit of everything with the new players,” Coutts said. “They are a very diverse group on and off the court, but they already good chemistry. They come ready to play and they challenge their teammates in practice everyday.”
Earlham begins the season with a pair of games at home this weekend. The opener on
Schuckman Court in the Athletics and
Wellness Center is that Friday against
Franklin College. On the following Saturday afternoon the Quakers entertain
Manchester College.
The first road trip of the season is to
Bluffton University on Tuesday, Nov. 24.
The Quakers start their final season in the North Coast Athletic Conference at home against
Oberlin College on Saturday, Dec. 5.