Women's Basketball Ready to Run - West Virginia State University Athletics

West Virginia State University Athletics

    Last year Head Coach Charles Marshall brought his brand of fast paced women's basketball to Institute and turned the Yellow Jackets into one of the highest scoring teams in the country.

    The payoff were some good wins over teams high in the standings and a return the Mountain East Conference tournament.

    Now entering his second season at the helm Marshall says to look for more of the same but at a higher level.

    "I think we have a very talented team but we're still very young," he said. "There will be times that we have some growing pains but I love the talent and the work ethic."

     WVSU opens the 2017-18 basketball season in the Indiana University-Pennsylvania Tournament this Saturday and Sunday. The Yellow Jackets' home opener is Saturday, November 18.

     "The system will be the system, we will still be up tempo," Marshall said. "Now we've got more players that fit what we are trying to accomplish in our system."

       The Yellow Jackets averaged 84.7 points a game a year ago, good for fourth best in the country. They also hit 3-pointers at an average of 10.8 a game, second best nationally.

       The squad finished with a 14-15 overall mark and 12-10 record in league play. WVSU was picked to finish third this year in the pre-season MEC coaches' poll.

       Leading the way will be returning starters Shae Hines and Sydney Bates.

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Hines, a senior, led last year's squad in both scoring and assists with averages of 16.7 and 5.3 respectively.

       Bates averaged 1.8 points and 3.8 rebounds and was named the MEC Freshman of the Year.

       Also returning are guard Jordan Miller and forward Jasmine Davis.

        "(Miller) has stepped up and started to show she can lead a team," Marshall said. "I've been extremely impressed with her growth at this point."

        There are several new players on this season's roster.

        "We have several transfers that will come in and play big roles," said Marshall

        Among that group are a pair of junior college All-Americans in 5-9 Kimberly Richburg and 5-6 Alexandra Jackson.

        Others include 6-4 Denisha Bowman and 5-10 Mar Lamadrid Coll.

         Bowman has the potential to give the Jackets a rim protector who can slow or stop opposing teams' fastbreaks.

        "That's what we Denisha is capable of doing," Marshall said.. "That's what we didn't have last year."

          Meanwhile Coll is expected to play a big role immediately.

       "We will be looking for Mar to do a lot of the same things Shealyn (Shafer) did last year," Marshall said.

        Shafer led last year's team in rebounding and was second in scoring.

         In all Marshall is happy with what he has seen so far.

          "I think we have five players we can put out on the court that can compete against anyone in the country," he said.

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