Akron's Women's Basketball Team Preview

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Akron Preview
AKRON, Ohio - With the start of the season less than a month away, the University of Akron women's basketball team officially tipped off their preseason practice schedule over the weekend.

"I was very pleased with the first three days of practice," said UA head coach Jodi Kest. "Our players have been very enthusiastic, competitive and excited to get the season under way."

For the first time in several years, the Zips will return all five starters this winter - and eight letterwinners overall - from a team that recorded its highest win total in nine seasons.

Leading the list of returners is All-Mid-American Conference First Team honoree Kara Murphy, who led the league in scoring a year ago with an average of 19.3 points per game - the 19th-highest mark in the nation. On top of that, the junior forward became the youngest player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau for a career; accomplishing the feat in just 61 games. Murphy, a local product who starred at nearby St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, also recorded the most prolific scoring season in school with 580 points in 2008-09.

Another local product, Kyle Baumgartner also earned league-wide recognition when she was voted to the MAC All-Freshman Team following a year in which she averaged 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. The center finished the year ranked 30th in the league for scoring, sixth for rebounding, 11th for field goal percentage and seventh for blocked shots.

Also returning to the starting lineup are seniors Ayla Guzzardo (4.1 ppg., 3.5 apg.) and Jolene Tamboue (5.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and junior Amber Witt (6.0 ppg, 43.1 3FG%).

In Guzzardo, the Zips will be returning a veteran point guard for the first time since Kest arrived in 2006. The Louisiana-native started the final 22 games last winter and finished with the 10th-highest assist total in school history with 105 while also leading UA with 51 steals on the campaign.

Tamboue, who like Guzzardo was a junior college transfer a year ago, started all but one game and gave the Zips the defensive post presence that had been lacking in recent years. In a display of her versatility, the power forward finished second on the team for rebounding, assists and steals.

Witt, who played her high school basketball at North Canton Hoover High School, was another newcomer - after tranferring from Canisuis - who made a name for herself in 2008-09. The shooting guard connected on 43.1 percent from three-point range while also proving to be one of the best pull-up shooters in the league.

Guzzardo, Murphy and Tamboue will serve as this year's team captains.

Second-year players center Denver McLean (1.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg), forward Jasmine Mushington (4.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and guard Natasha Williams (0.7 ppg, 0.8 apg) also return after filling reserve roles last winter. All three are expected to see increased playing time in 2009-10 after earning valuable experience as true freshmen. In particular, Mushington, who may also see action at the two-guard, has had a strong offseason.

"Jasmine has shown the most improvement from the returning players," Kest said. "She is working harder this year which in return should give us a stronger backcourt."

Four incoming freshmen - guards Katie Bubna and Taylor Ruper, and forwards Ti'eshia Stubbs, a redshirt in 2008-09, and Rachel Tecca - will round out the Zips roster.

"The freshman are very eager to learn but there are so many new things for them to grasp right now," Kest said. "They have had some good and bad days but that is expected with so much new information thrown at them."

Fans will have an opportunity to see the 2009-10 Zips in action for the first time at their exhibition game against Ashland on Sat., Nov. 7, at Rhodes Arena at Noon. Akron will then official tip off the new season at home against IUPUI on Fri., Nov. 13, at Noon.

Preview Courtesy of Akron Media Relations