Women's Basketball Begins Preseason Practice
October 13, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 13, 2007
GREENVILLE, N.C.--The East Carolina women's basketball team officially began its quest to repeat as Conference USA Champions as the Lady Pirates opened the 2007-08 season with preseason practice this weekend.
The Lady Pirates held their first official practice Saturday morning at Minges Coliseum. "I guess this weekend I was pleased with the effort of the team but our focus needs to get better and we need to do things with a purpose," head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. "We are looking forward to the next couple of weeks to try and get better, but we don't have very long before the season starts."
ECU returns seven letterwinners and four starters off last years' championship squad that tallied a 19-14 record, and the teams first NCAA appearance in 25 years. Joining the team this season will be freshmen Shuanda Ashford, Tiahana Bowens, Kim Gay and Allison Spivey. Ashford, Bowens and Gay will join Nicole Days and Lauren Cochran in the frontcourt, while Spivey will join the experienced backcourt.
The Lady Pirates will hold its first scrimmage at the Purple-Gold Fan Jam on Friday, Oct. 19 at Minges Coliseum. ECU will conduct a brief scrimmage as part of a festival of activities to celebrate the arrival of the new season. The Purple-Gold Fan Jam will be hosted by actor Dennis Haskins, best known for his role as Mr. Belding on the hit TV show Saved By The Bell.
East Carolina officially opens the 2007-08 regular season on Nov. 11 as the Lady Pirates hosts Presbyterian at 2:00 p.m.
