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Lady Monarchs Favored To Repeat As CAA Women's Basketball Champions

Lady Monarchs Favored To Repeat As CAA Women's Basketball ChampionsLady Monarchs Favored To Repeat As CAA Women's Basketball Champions

Oct. 27, 2004

RICHMOND, Va.-- Old Dominion University, which has won the past 13 CAA women's basketball titles, was chosen to repeat as league champion in 2004-05 according to a vote of the media during Wednesday's CAA Basketball Media Day at the Richmond Coliseum.

The Monarchs received 18 of 19 first-place votes and 189 total points in the poll, while second-place Delaware tallied 162 points. Virginia Commonwealth got the other first-place vote and was third with 133 points, while James Madison was fourth with 121 points. Hofstra was chosen fifth, followed by William & Mary, George Mason, UNC Wilmington, Drexel and Towson.

ODU returns a pair of starters from last season's 25-7 team that continued its dominance in the CAA with a 17-1 mark. Back to lead the Lady Monarchs is senior guard Shareese Grant (12.9 ppg, 4.0 apg), who earned second-team All-CAA honors and was named CAA Tournament MVP for the second year in a row. Also returning are junior wing player Lawona Davis (7.8 ppg) and 6-6 center Corrina Turner, who missed last year with a knee injury.

Delaware has four starters and eight of its top nine scorers back from a 19-10 team a year ago. The Blue Hens' strength is up front with senior forward Tiara Malcom (15.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg), a second-team All-CAA selection, and senior forward Tiffany Young (10.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg). In the backcourt, senior Julie Sailer (9.6 ppg) enters her third season as a starter.

VCU posted a 14-14 overall record and advanced to the semifinals of the CAA Tournament in its first season under coach Beth Cunningham a year ago. Four starters return for the Rams including senior forward Lauren Hogan (11.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg) and 6-8 senior center Kristina Cesnaviciute (8.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg). On the wing, senior Maria Giovannetti (8.6 ppg) is a two-year starter.

JMU should improve on last year's 13-18 mark as five of the team's top six scorers return. The Dukes are led by sophomore guard Lesley Dickinson (15.4 ppg), who was the CAA's Rookie of the Year and a third-team All-CAA pick after scoring a school freshman-record 476 points. Sophomore forward/center Meredith Alexis also made the All-CAA third team after averaging 10.2 points and a league-high 10.4 rebounds per game.

Delaware's Malcom was chosen as the CAA Preseason Player of the Year. She was joined on the preseason All-CAA first team by ODU's Grant, JMU's Dickinson, Hofstra senior forward Amaka Agugua and Towson junior guard Kacy O'Brien. Making the preseason All-CAA second team were JMU's Alexis, VCU's Hogan, Drexel junior guard Catherine Scanlon, William & Mary sophomore guard Kyle DeHaven and W&M sophomore forward Kyra Kaylor.

2004-05 CAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(as voted on by the media)

1. Old Dominion (18 first-place votes) 189
2. Delaware 162
3. Virginia Commonwealth (1 first-place vote) 133
4. James Madison 121
5. Hofstra 113
6. William & Mary 87
7. George Mason 86
8. UNC Wilmington 63
9. Drexel 58
10. Towson 38

(Teams received 10 points for a first-place vote, 9 for second, etc.)

2004-05 CAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
(as voted on by the media)

First Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Hometown/High School
Tiara Malcom, Delaware Sr. F 6-1 Wilmington, Del./Caravel Academy
Shareese Grant, Old Dominion Sr. G 5-8 Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne
Amaka Agugua, Hofstra Sr. F 5-11 Herndon, Va./Oakton
Lesley Dickinson, James Madison So. G 5-10 Queens Village, N.Y./Christ the King
Kacy O'Brien, Towson Jr. G 5-11 Pittsburgh, Pa./Carlynton

Second Team Cl. Pos. Ht. Hometown/High School
Meredith Alexis, James Madison So. F/C 6-3 Hanover Township, Pa./Bishop Hoban
Catherine Scanlon, Drexel Jr. G/F 5-11 Drexel Hill, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara
Kyra Kaylor, William & Mary So. G/F 6-0 Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair
Kyle DeHaven, William & Mary So. G 5-9 Herndon, Va./Herndon
Lauren Hogan, Va. Commonwealth Sr. F 6-1 Prince George, Va./Prince George

CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Tiara Malcom, Delaware