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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team has no returning starters and welcomes seven new players to the team, but the biggest change won’t be who is on the court, it will be who is on the bench, specifically at the head of the bench. For the first time in 20 years, the team will have a new head coach. Former Lady Colonel and EKU Athletics Hall of Fame member Chrissy Roberts returned to her alma mater in May to take over the program that had been led by Larry Joe Inman since 1988.

Roberts’ first season opens on Friday with a home game against Ohio Valley University. Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m.

In 28 seasons of coaching in the Ohio Valley Conference, Inman won 480 games, 10 regular-season OVC championships, six conference tournament titles and eight coach of the year awards. At Eastern Kentucky, he won 319 games, five regular-season league crowns, two conference tournament championships and made two trips to the NCAA tournament.

However, Roberts has championship credentials of her own. As a player and coach combined, she’s won four regular-season conference titles, three conference tournaments, and has made three NCAA tournament appearances and a WNIT appearance.

As a player, Roberts led Inman’s squad to the 1997 and 1998 OVC regular-season championships and the 1997 conference tournament crown. As an assistant to Inman in 2002, Roberts helped the Lady Colonels win another regular-season trophy and advance to the Sweet 16 of the WNIT.

After spending the past six seasons as an assistant coach at East Carolina, Roberts is now focused on continuing the championship tradition at her alma mater. Roberts and the 2008-09 Lady Colonels will be looking for the program’s first OVC title since 2005.

Roberts’ first task is finding five new starters. Not a single starter returns from last season’s 14-14 (9-11 OVC) team. Three senior starting guards on last season’s squad, Crystal Jones, Ashley Cazee and Niki Avery, contributed 57 percent of the team’s scoring, 33 percent of its rebounding and 75 percent of its assists. In the post, Shavonne Jones averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds in 2007-08. She scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed a career-best nine boards against Murray State on February 7.

BACKCOURT
A host of new guards will compete to fill the void of the three departed seniors. They include Kayla Drake (5-4, Fr.), Sarah Fraser-Jones (5-10, Jr.), Kaia Kosk (5-10, Fr.) and Jasmine Lewin (5-7, Fr.). Two guards that saw limited playing time a year ago, Laura Becerra (0.6 ppg, 0.0 rpg) and Ilona Muszak (1.6 ppg, 0.1 rpg) will look for more court time this season.

Drake, Lewin and Becerra will handle the point this season. Kosk regularly puts up 500 shots a day on her own and will provide a deep threat from behind the arc. Fraser-Jones battled an injury throughout preseason, but has shown her toughness, rarely wanting to sit out a drill.

“We are very young and inexperienced at the point guard position,” said Roberts. “Kayla, Jasmine and Laura have worked hard and all three have embraced the challenge of running this team. I am excited and looking forward to what they are capable of bringing to this team and that position.”

Muszak, Fraser-Jones and Kosk will anchor the two-guard spot.

“We have a mixture of experience and youth at the wing position,” Roberts said. “Ilona competed last year in the OVC while Sarah Fraser-Jones brings quality junior college experience. Kaia rounds out our guards and has shown great energy and work ethic.”

FRONTCOURT
Forwards Colette Cole (1.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg), Nadia Mossong (1.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and Cherie White (3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) return from last season’s team. Cole and Mossong averaged less than seven minutes per game a year ago. White made an immediate impact as a freshman, playing in all 28 games and starting once.

White can play the small or power forward role. Cole and Mossong both have the versatility to play the three, four or five. Being left-handed makes Cole a difficult player to guard. Mossong has three-point range and aggressively gets to the basket.

“Our forwards bring a lot of game experience and versatility to the table this year,” said Roberts. “Nadia and Cherie gained valuable playing time a year ago. Colette has been through the rigors of conference play and knows what it takes to be successful.”

Sonjia Hoston (6-3, Jr.) earned all-region second team recognition at Mercyhurst North East last season. She averaged 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Hoston set a school record with 85 career blocks and grabbed 10 or more rebounds four times.

SCHEDULE
Non-conference teams that will pay a visit to McBrayer Arena in 2008-09 include Western Kentucky and Wright State. EKU will face Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State on the road.

“Our non-conference schedule will be very challenging for us,” Roberts said. “Playing against three teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament early in the season will help us grow as a team and get us prepared for conference play. In addition, we have some great regional teams that we will be competing against, highlighted by a game against in-state rival Western Kentucky.”

The Lady Colonels will play nine non-conference games and 18 Ohio Valley Conference contests.

After the season-opener on Friday, the Lady Colonels will face Chicago State and Vanderbilt on the road before returning home to play Western Kentucky on Nov. 23.

Ohio Valley Conference play begins with home games in early December. On Dec. 4, Eastern will host the defending OVC tournament champions Murray State. The University of Tennessee at Martin visits McBrayer Arena on Dec. 6. A pair of December home games will be sandwiched around a road trip to face Oklahoma State on Dec. 22. Conference play begins in earnest on Jan. 3. With the exception of a game at Southern Illinois Edwardsville on Jan. 19, the final 17 games will be conference contests.

The Lady Colonels will close out the OVC schedule the same way it began, with games against UT Martin and Murray State on Feb. 26 and 28 respectively. The first round of the OVC tournament gets underway on March 3 at campus sites. The semifinals and finals will be played on March 6 and 7 in Nashville, Tenn. The opening round of the NCAA tournament is set for March 21 and 22.