2009-10 Women's Basketball Season Preview

Is the third time the charm for the Hood College women’s basketball team? Head coach Jay Butler is banking on it, as he enters his third season at the helm and the Blazers tackle their third season in the prestigious Capital Athletic Conference.

Hood has the potential to have a breakout season in the league this year and Butler feels confident that this is the group that can help the Blazers turn the corner as a contender in the CAC.

Hood’s top two scorers return from last season in senior forward Jen Willison and junior guard Allyson Lethbridge. Now household names in the Blazer women’s basketball annals, both Lethbridge and Willison have shouldered the load the last two seasons for a Hood squad that in the past has lacked depth and talent. The tandem has witnessed the vast improvement in both the commitment level and athleticism of Butler’s recruiting class during preseason as several newcomers will be called upon to shine at key positions. Butler now has the versatility and flexibility to shuffle his lineup at will, which should enable the Blazers to climb out of the lower third of the conference standings.

Willison and Lethbridge have been two of the league’s top scorers the past two seasons and, together, comprised more than half of Hood’s total scoring output last season. While the duo will continue to factor significantly in Hood’s offensive scheme, Butler has added some additional firepower to complement these mainstays in the Blazers’ starting five.

Not only will Hood’s newcomers bolster the Blazer offense, they have also demonstrated their ability to make the Blazers stronger on the boards, a luxury Butler lacked in previous years.

Freshman Dyanna Prater from Gaithersburg High School stands at just 5-4, but surely has a tall task in front of her. A true point guard, Prater has earned the starting spot and despite her inexperience at the collegiate level, is excited about jumpstarting the Blazer attack. Her quickness and ability to deceive defenders will present matchup problems for her opponents in the backcourt.

Another newcomer, Bethany McCallum, hails from Brunswick High School and also has the ability to earn a starting spot. Her athleticism coupled with her feisty court savvy will help spark the Blazers when she checks into the game.

At the two-guard spot, Hood will look to seniors Jessica Parrish and Brianna Raithel to provide some extra scoring punch. Parrish, who should still average 24-25 minutes as a reserve, is an acrobatic scorer who ranked third on the team in scoring (9.6 points per game) and listed second in steals (28) and assists (65). Raithel is in the best shape of her career and has proven herself as a consistent three-point shooter throughout her career at Hood. A fundamentally-sound player, Raithel has overcome numerous obstacles and has established herself as an excellent student of the game. Her veteran leadership will be invaluable to Butler’s young squad.

Local product Jessica Talley should figure into Butler’s starting lineup at the three. An excellent rebounder at 5-8, Talley is working hard to improve her ability to finish around the basket.
Newcomer Kameran Evans is a swing player who will also benefit the Blazers at the guard position this season. A junior who transferred to Hood from the College of Southern Maryland, Evans is a versatile player who excels at driving to the rim and is an outstanding rebounder.

In the post, Butler has selected freshman Stacey Jones from Perry Hall High School to round out his starting five. Jones is a 5-10 forward who will give the opposition fits both inside and on the perimeter. An exceptionally hard worker whose work ethic is infectious, Jones is relentless in practice and should be exciting to watch come game time.

Freshman Nalla Tejera is an untapped talent whose best basketball is ahead of her. The Hialeah, Fla., native has shown remarkable improvement during preseason and will undoubtedly help the Blazers on the glass and as a defensive stopper.

Butler feels that his squad finally has the tools they need to make a statement in the CAC, a conference which yields multiple NCAA participants each year. But as his underclassman-dominated squad begins to mesh and adapts to the heightened level of play, this could be the year that the Blazers emerge as a force to be reckoned with.

Hood opens the 2009-10 season Nov. 15 hosting Lebanon Valley College at its new home at the Odom Fitness Center at Ft. Detrick, less than two miles from campus.