By Chris Wade, Sports Writer
Charleston Gazette-Mail

West Virginia State women's basketball coach can't make transactions to account for injuries, and the setbacks are piling up.

The Yellow Jackets open their season Friday against Clarion, and Smith wishes he had a quick fix.

"I was even more optimistic about the season until recently when the injuries started happening," Smith said. "We had to cancel a scrimmage because we didn't have enough healthy bodies. We have been losing starters, too."It's tough because we can't sign free agents or make trades. There is nothing you can do. And with us, we only have six scholarships, we are already playing with a short deck. When you lose one of those and have to replace them with a walk-on, that's a big dropoff."

The status of junior college transfer Brianna Hawkins, who suffered a knee injury, is in question.

"Brianna is going in for surgery and they are going to scope it," Smith said. "Best-case scenario, she could be out three weeks. Worst case, out for the year. We don't know. She would have given us more scoring."

Despite not knowing the status of Hawkins, Smith does bring back his top seven scorers from last season, leaving him with higher aspirations than the preseason Mountain East Conference coaches poll that had the Yellow Jackets ranked 10th out of 12 teams.

"We had no seniors last year and have everybody back," Smith said. "I think if we can get everybody healthy and on the court, we can be better than that. We aren't going to be world beaters but I think we will be much improved from a year ago. We only won eight games so I understand why we are down there. I'm hoping for middle of the pack, as high as around fifth or sixth. I think it's going to be very disappointing if we don't have a winning season. I think we are five or six wins better than a year ago."

The seven leading scorers that return include three in double digits.

They are Alexus Hobbs (12.0 points per game), Shealyn Shafer (11.6) and Deyahnna Styles (10.2).Styles and Hobbs were brought in from the same junior college, and Smith believes their second year in his system will pay dividends.

"Deyahnna has improved a great deal and from a talent standpoint, and I think Alexus is our most talented player we have," Smith said. "They come from a successful junior college and once they have bought in, things have gotten easier for them."

Aurreshae Hines, Trina Current, Autumn Ringen, Ashley Current and former George Washington standout Rachel Ward all return.

Smith is also high on freshman Laura Szorenyi, who is from Hungary.

"Laura is a pretty darn good player," Smith said. "She's a 20-year-old freshman with international experience. She can put points on the board. She has established herself already."

Smith likes the depth his team has with having so many players back, and believes his team will score more this season.

"The good thing is we are in better shape with a lot of kids back," Smith said. "We have about nine kids who are back and who have started in games in the past. We have better firepower and perimeter play. I think we are going to score. Last year that was a big part of the problem, but I think we will be a lot better at that. We have a lot of perimeter players. Our biggest question mark is what we are going to do inside."

One of the post players Smith will rely on is Shafer, a former Nicholas County star.

The junior was the team's second-leading scorer and leading rebounder.

"Shealyn is going to be the one who gets pinched," Smith said. "She will have to move to the five [center] and is undersized there. She just plays so hard and we can't afford to not have her on the floor because I could see her in foul trouble at times."

"She is very important to us rebounding-wise. Shealyn is just a coach's dream. If you had five of her on the floor, you wouldn't have any worries at all. You may not be a conference champion, but you're going to be a pretty darn good."

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