Mountaineer Illustrated - WBB2

2011-12 Mountaineer Illustrated

2011-12 Mountaineer Schedule Day

Date

Opponent

Location

Time

Wed.

Nov. 2

Wheeling Jesuit (Exh.)

Morgantown

W, 100-23

Friday

Nov. 11

Youngstown State

Morgantown

W, 69-37

Friday

Nov. 18

St. Bonaventure

Morgantown

L, 48-56

Sunday

Nov. 20

North Carolina Central

Morgantown

W, 97-24

Friday

Nov. 25

vs. UCLA^

Northridge, Calif.

8 p.m.

Saturday

Nov. 26

vs. Cal State Northridge/ Northridge, Calif.

8/10:30 p.m.

Colgate^

Wed.

La Salle

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Saturday Dec. 3

Boston

Morgantown

4 p.m.

Wed.

Dec. 7

at Syracuse

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Saturday

Dec. 10

North Florida

Morgantown

Saturday

Dec. 17

at Duquesne

Pittsburgh, Pa.

2 p.m.

Tuesday

Dec. 20

Mount St. Mary’s

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Wed.

Dec. 28

Bucknell

Morgantown

Noon

Saturday

Dec. 31

Elon

Morgantown

2 p.m.

Wed.

Jan. 4

at Connecticut

Storrs, Conn.

7 p.m.

Saturday

Jan. 7

Villanova

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Tuesday

Jan. 10

Seton Hall

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Saturday

Jan. 14

at Providence

Providence, R.I.

2 p.m.

Tuesday

Jan. 17

Marshall +

Charleston

7 p.m.

Saturday

Jan. 21

at Pitt

Pittsburgh, Pa.

2 p.m.

Tuesday

Jan. 24

Georgetown

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Saturday

Jan. 28

Marquette

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Wed.

Feb. 1

at USF

Tampa, Fla.

7 p.m.

Saturday Feb. 4

Louisville

Morgantown

Sunday

Feb. 12

at Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Ind.

Wed.

Feb. 15

Rutgers

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Saturday

Feb. 18

DePaul

Morgantown

4 p.m.

Tuesday

Feb. 21

at St. John’s

Queens, N.Y.

7 p.m.

Saturday

Feb. 25

at Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

2 p.m.

Monday

Feb. 27

Pitt

Morgantown

7 p.m.

Fri.-Tues.

March 2-6 BIG EAST Championship Hartford, Conn.

Nov. 30

^ Woodland Hills Holiday Inn Thanksgiving Basketball Classic + Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic All dates and times are subject to change All times are Eastern

West Virginia Women’s Basketball

Noon

4 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

TBD

West Virginia Mountaineers

Christal Caldwell

Taylor Palmer

Akilah Bethel

Brooke Hampton

Averee Fields

Jess Harlee

Asya Bussie

Linda Stepney

Crystal Leary

Ayana Dunning

Natalie Burton

Mike Carey

George Porcha

Lester Rowe

M.L. Willis

No. Name Class Pos. Ht. Hometown/Last School 1 Christal Caldwell r-So. G 5-9 Charlotte, N.C./Florida 2 Taylor Palmer So. G 5-9 Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mt. Vernon 3 Akilah Bethel Fr. G 6-0 Baltimore, Md./Academy of Holy Cross 4 Brooke Hampton So. G 5-9 Colts Neck, N.J./Colts Neck 5 Averee Fields Fr. F 6-0 Murray, Ky./Calloway County 14 Jessica Harlee So. F 6-1 Bel Air, Md./Fallston 20 Asya Bussie Jr. C 6-4 Randallstown, Md./Seton Keough 22 Linda Stepney Fr. G 5-7 Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor 32 Crystal Leary Fr. F 6-2 Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor 33 Ayana Dunning r-Jr. C 6-3 Columbus, Ohio/LSU 35 Natalie Burton Sr. C 6-5 Perth, Australia/Carine Senior Head Coach: Mike Carey (Salem, ’80) – 11th season Associate Head Coach: George Porcha (New Haven, ’95) – 4th season Assistant Coach: Lester Rowe (West Virginia, ’85)—1st season Assistant Coach: M.L. Willis (Iowa, ’98) – 3rd season Graduate Assistant: Erin Brady Director of Basketball Operations: Toni Kay Oliverio Video Coordinator: Pat Biondo Assistant Athletic Trainer: Allison Hetrick

2011-12 Mountaineer Illustrated

UP CLOSE WITH...

BROOKE HAMPTON G / 5-9 / So. / Colts Neck, N.J. Birthday: March 7, 1992

Worst Habit: Grabbing my shorts

What’s on TV: Absolutely nothing…TV is broken

Favorite Meal: Mashed potatoes and steak

What’s in my iPod: Every type of genre

Would love to trade places for a day with…Sandra Bullock

Favorite Movies: White Chicks, Salt Superstitions: Listen to music and visualize

Dream Date: On a yaht Dream Car: Bentley Pre-Game Rituals: Visualize and play Best On-Court Moment: A couple game winners at the buzzer Favorite athlete to watch in another sport: Tiger Woods Favorite Sports Teams: NY Jets, NJ Nets and NY Mets Dream Vacation Spot: Anywhere it’s hot , sunny and where there’s water Favorite Physical Attribute About Myself: I don’t know…you tell me Values I admire in Others: Trustworthy and people who make me laugh My Bucket List: Do as many things as possible; travel the globe I chose WVU because…of the support from the fans.

Motto: Live. Laugh. Love.

West Virginia Women’s Basketball

La Salle School Information Location: Philadelphia, Pa. Enrollment: 7,331 Conference: Atlantic 10 Nickname: Explorers Alexis Scott

Jeff Williams

Team Information Head Coach: Jeff Williams (Howard, ’87) Career Record: 10-20, one season At School: 10-20, one season Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2 2010-11 Record: 10-20, 6-8 Atlantic 10 Series Information Today is the 2nd meeting Series vs. WVU: WVU leads 1-0 Last Meeting: 1979; WVU defeated La Salle, 79-76, at La Salle

No. 1

Name Brittany Wilson

Class r-Jr.

2 3 4 5 10 12 13 14 20 21 31 32 40

Siobhan Beslow Fr. Michea Bryant So. Nikki Ortiz Jr. Nadia Duncan Sr. Jordan Mosley Fr. Ruvanna Campbell Fr. Indigo Dickens Fr. Ebonee Jones Jr. Jada Payne Fr. Alexis Scott Jr. Jess Koci So. Omaah Tayong Fr. Michele McCaughern Sr.

Pos. G

Ht. 5-10

Hometown/Last School Pawtucket, R.I./Bay View

F G G G G F F G G/F G F F/C F

6-0 5-5 5-5 5-8 5-9 6-2 6-3 5-10 6-2 5-9 5-11 6-3 5-10

Chantilly, Va./Westfield Cheltenham, Md./Bishop McNamara Manchester, Conn./Manchester Mt. Vernon, N.Y./Mt. Vernon Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek Chicago, Ill./Crane Tech Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake Odenton, Md./Arundel Hickory, N.C./Hickory Somerset, N.J./Franklin Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan Baltimore, Md./Dunbar West Chester, Pa./West Chester East

Head Coach: Jeff Williams Associate Head Coach: Ervin Monier Assistant Coaches: Erin Dickerson, Shayla Scott

2011-12 Mountaineer Illustrated

UP CLOSE WITH...

CRYSTAL LEARY F / 6-2 / Fr. / Norfolk, Va. Birthday: April 11, 1992

Superstitions: I don’t have any

What’s on TV: Lifetime movies

Worst Habit: Getting an attitude when things don’t go my way

What’s in my iPod: Trey Songz, Chris Brown

Favorite Meal: Shrimp, baked potato and tilapia

Favorite Movies: Remember the Titans Bookmarks: Twitter, Pandora

Would love to trade places for a day with…my mother Dream Date: Tyrese Dream Car: Black Impala Best on-court moment: In high school when I scored the last bucket to win the game to go to the playoffs Favorite athlete to watch in another sport: Cam Newton Favorite Sports Teams: Miami Heat Dream Vacation Spot: Las Vegas Favorite Physical Attribute About Myself: My lips Values I admire in Others: Loyalty, trust My Bucket List: Sky diving, bungee jumping I chose WVU because…they made me feel welcome Motto: Hard work beats talent, when talent does not work hard

West Virginia Women’s Basketball

Boston School Information Location: Boston, Mass.

Enrollment: 16,572 Conference: America East Nickname: Terriers Alex Young

Kelly Greenberg

Team Information Head Coach: Kelly Grenberg (La Salle, ’89) Career Record: 210-146, 13 seasons At School: 126-92, seven seasons Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1 2010-11 Record: 17-14, 12-4 America East Series Information Today is the first meeting

No. 4 5 10 12 14 21 22 23 30 32 33 34 42 44

Name Kasie Carbacio Melissa Gallo Alex Young Danielle Callahan Kristen Sims Mollie McKendrick Rashidat Agboola Troi Melton Nicole Tamanosky Chantell Alford Jacqueline Kuczynski Caroline Stewart Whitney Turner Mo Moran

Class Sr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr.

Pos. G G G G G F F G F G F F G G

Ht. Hometown/Last School 5-8 Bridgeport, W.Va./Bridgeport 5-10 Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson 5-9 Hickory, N.C./St. Stephen’s 5-7 Drexel Hill, Pa./LaSalle 5-10 Richmond, Va./Clover Hill 6-0 Mildura, Australia/Red Cliffs Secondary 6-1 Methuen, Mass./Methuen 5-11 Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman 6-0 Camp Hill, Pa./Cumberland Valley 5-8 West Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross 6-1 Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton 6-0 Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet Regional 6-0 Okemos, Mich./Okemos 5-7 Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay

Head Coach: Kelly Greenberg Assistant Coaches: Michael Leflar, Mary Helen Walker, Charmaine Steele Jordan

2011-12 Mountaineer Illustrated

Leaders of the Pack B

eing a team captain is more than just a title. It means representing your team with pride, respect and leadership, while giving up your own self-glory for the betterment of the team.

With the loss of five seniors, the WVU women’s basketball team is going to need a leader to guide this young team.

This is exactly what WVU center Asya Bussie and forward Jess Harlee plan to do this season as co-captains.

Bussie, a native of Randallstown, Md., has started every game she has played as a Mountaineer, and knows what it takes to lead a team to the NCAA tournament.

“I’m more of a lead by example

Asya Bussie

person, so hopefully I can use that to get everyone on the same page,” explain Bussie. “I have to try and be more vocal.

You lose a lot experience with people graduating, and things that you think should be known you just have to say.”

Harlee is from Bel Air, Md. As a sophomore, she is ready to accept the challenge of being a leader on and off the court. She also acknowledges she will have to start playing smart.

“I was really excited when I found out about being a captain,” says Harlee.

“I’m very vocal, so I think that is going to help a lot. I try and keep myself open so my teamates feel they can come talk to me if they need anything.”

Bussie and Harlee have different qualities that will help each of them be good captains. Bussie helps her teammates by setting an example, while Harlee is more vocal. Bussie feels it’s a good balance and is really going to help them work well together. Harlee seems to agree.

“I don’t think people have a preference on who they go to,” says Harlee.

“Asya was a captain all summer, so I feel she is more of the head captain. I just chip in when I think it is necessary, and so far it has worked really well. We are just going to keep doing what we are doing.”

Both the girls described their relationship with their teammates as very close. Bussie says they are basically her only friends on campus because they are together so much. Harlee feels their close relationship helps them work through things together.

“Everyone gets along and no one really argues,” explains Harlee. “If something bad happens we don’t jump

West Virginia Women’s Basketball

on each other. We just try and pick each other up, which is really good.”

When they are not on the court Bussie and Harlee both enjoy relaxing and spending time with their teammates.

Bussie also enjoys shopping online and eating in her free time. Harlee can often be found catching up on her favorite shows like True Blood or Grey’s Anatomy.

When they were young, Bussie and Harlee were involved in a variety of other sports. Basketball stuck out the most to each of them.

“My mom put me in almost every sport,” explains Bussie. “I was doing everything from cheerleading, tennis, volleyball, even swimming. My brothers played basketball and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. They saw that I had a lot of potential, and that’s basically what got me started.”

Everyone told Harlee she should play basketball because she was tall as a child. Her older sister also played the game, which ultimately got her interested in it.

If they weren’t playing basketball, Bussie and Harlee said they would probably be playing volleyball, or trying to be regular students. Bussie is studying communications, while Harlee is studying industrial engineering.

As for the future, both Bussie and Harlee plan to continue playing basketball for a couple years.

“I would like to play overseas for a while. Preferably somewhere that speaks English because I think it would be hard to learn a second language,” says Harlee.

“I definitely want to continue playing basketball after I graduate,” says Bussie.

“After I’m finished, I’ll probably use my degree to get a job.”

Jess Harlee

Until then, Bussie and Harlee are going to work together and help their teammates throughout the 2011-12 season. Both captains have high expectations of getting to the NCAA tournament and ultimately bringing home the national title.

By Andria Alvarez Sports Communications Student Assistant

2011-12 Mountaineer Illustrated

UP CLOSE WITH...

NATALIE BURTON C / 6-5 / Sr. / Perth, Australia Birthday: March 23, 1989

Bookmarks: Facebook

What’s on TV: True Blood

Superstitions: I don’t have any

What’s in my iPod: Electronica and Indie

Favorite Meal: Roast lamb

Music Would love to trade places for a day Favorite Movies: The Matrix, Billy Elliott

with…Coach Carey Dream Date: Dinner on the beach Dream Car: Austin Martin Pre-Game Rituals: Eat fruit Best On-Court Moment: When we upset Louisville at Louisville in 2008-09 Favorite athlete to watch in another sport: Kyle Singler Favorite Sports Teams: WVU football Dream Vacation Spot: Australia Favorite Physical Attribute About Myself: My height Values I admire in Others: Selflessness My Bucket List: Sky diving, white water rafting I chose WVU because…of the fans.

West Virginia Women’s Basketball

North Florida School Information Location: Jacksonville, Fla. Enrollment: 16,621 Conference: Atlantic Sun Nickname: Ospreys Brittany Kirkland

Mary Tappmeyer

Team Information Head Coach: Mary Tappmeyer (Cortland, ’81) Career Record: 367-357, 26 seasons At School: 272-272, 19 seasons Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1 2010-11 Record: 13-16, 11-9 Atlantic Sun Series Information Today is the first meeting

No. 1

Name Fabiola Josil

3 5 10 11 15 20 21 23 24 30 32 34 35 42

Class Jr.

Pos. G

Ht. 5-7

Kim Baker Sr. Destinee Smith Fr. Brittany Kirkland Sr. Molly Grund Fr. Zakiya Chambers-Hunter Fr. Wykieria Brown So. Taylor Smith Jr. Megan Peterson Sr. Chandler Merkerson So. Jasmine Hicks r-So. Octavia Langston So. Raneisha Lamar So. Jadhken Kerr Jr.

G G G F G G F F G/F F G F/C G

5-7 Copperas Cove, Texas/Copperas Cove 5-8 Decatur, Ga./Columbia 5-7 Monroe, Ga./Monroe Area 6-1 LaPlata, Md./St. Mary’s Ryken 5-7 Solomons, Md./St. Mary’s Ryken 5-8 Warner Robbins, Ga./Northside 6-0 Sunrise, Fla./Monmouth 6-0 Seymour, Tenn./Walters State 6-0 Pembroke Pines, Fla./Hialeah 5-10 Miami, Fla./Northwest State 5-8 Panama City, Fla./Mosley 6-1 Coral Springs, Fla./Pompano Beach 5-11 Olathe, Kan./Olathe South

Larkira Jones

F/C

6-2

Jr.

Hometown/Last School Coral Springs, Fla./Illinois

St. Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs

Head Coach: Mary Tappmeyer Assistant Coaches: Nancy Miller, Paula Williams, Keunta Miles

2011-12 Mountaineer Illustrated

West Virginia Women’s Basketball