2006-07 Women's Basketball
Outlook

The 2006-07 season will be one of soul searching for the Lake Erie College women's basketball team as they seek out a new identity from years past. In the team's 26-year history, the program has posted a winning record only once; and since joining the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) 10 years ago, has been consistently finishing in the bottom two spots among their league opponents.

Last year saw the initial signs of change for the program always considered to be a non-factor among competitors, as Lake Erie concluded the season in a sixth-place tie, missing out on a first-time playoff berth on a tiebreaker. The league's other nine teams are fully aware of the Storm's emerging presence, especially after LEC took the league's undefeated champion Medaille College down to the wire before eventually losing by only four points last season at home.

This season, the tide continues to turn for the team. The once non-existent respect among opponents is already becoming a thing of the past. Lake Erie was voted to finish fifth in the AMCC according to the preseason coaches' poll, which is five spots higher than the previous season's prediction.

Maintaining the upward progress won't be easy however, as second-year head coach Bob Booher is faced with the challenge of youth and inexperience. His 12-player roster includes two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen. Of the 12 players, only one is entering her fourth season with Lake Erie - guard Sarah Miller (Covington, Kentucky/Holmes) and only one is entering her fourth year under the guidance of Booher - guard Melissa Woods (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) - after having transferred from Lakeland Community College where she spent two years playing for Booher as a Laker.

Although maturity, both physical and mental, is lacking in this year's lineup, natural ability and raw talent is quite abundant. LEC has put together what could be considered the most athletic group ever assembled in the history of the program. Once the team chemistry develops, the Storm could easily make a run at one of the top five positions in the league, as well as earn their first-ever invitation to the conference playoffs.

Two-time All-AMCC Honorable Mention selection Loni Sargent (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) returns at forward this season after averaging 12.2 points and 9.6 rebounds. With 16 career double-doubles to her credit, the wiry junior is expected to be a leader once again this season in both scoring and rebounding. Sophomore guard Angela Bethel (Beavercreek, Ohio/Miami Valley) was the team's second leading scorer last year behind Sargent at 11.9 points per game and should see that average increase with her sharp-shooting from long-range.

Miller (9.0 ppg./6.0 rpg.), Woods (8,3 ppg./3.1 rpg) and junior Stephanie Sample (Cleveland, Ohio/East Tech) will also factor into the perimeter. Sample (6.1 ppg./6.5 rpg.) will use her athleticism to create mismatches with her defenders and her leaping ability should allow her to be one of the team's top players on the glass.

Sophomores Melissa Greco (Kirtland, Ohio/Kirtland) and Kelsey Lackey (Guysville, Ohio/Federal Hocking) round out the list of returners, Greco as a guard and Lackey as a post player. Both work hard at practice and will provide the Storm with key minutes off the bench.

Newcomers to the program include guard Jalisa Mitchell (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights) and forwards Tayla Parnell (Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Warrensville Heights), Ashley Steele (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg), Tiffany Stevenson (Atwater, Ohio/Waterloo) and Amanda Stover (Athens, Ohio/federal Hocking). Regarded as the program's most talented recruiting class in years, the five will provide the Storm with much-needed depth, especially in the paint.

Mitchell is one of the team's best ball handlers with a knack for scoring. Parnell has quite a presence in the paint, while Stover and Steele can step away from the key and score with ease. Stevenson likes to fire from the outside and is an unselfish player.

The Storm's success this season will be based on how well the youthful squad adapts to the collegiate game. There is no set starting lineup as the roster boasts a number of possibilities, with the new players having the same opportunities as the veterans to earn minutes on the hardwood. Although the starting five is uncertain, the ability for the Storm to become a quality basketball team this season is inevitable.