2009-10 Women's Basketball

Experience and health will be two key factors for a Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lion team that is coming off a 29-8 season that included a trip to the NAIA Fab Four in March. While returning two starters, the team has no seniors on the roster and has dealt with a series of injuries in the off-season.

Head Coach Dale Neal enters his 15th season at the helm of the program as the winningest coach in Freed-Hardeman history. Neal has won 365 games at FHU and has led the Lady Lions to 12 straight seasons of 20 or more wins, the third-longest streak of its kind in the NAIA.

The Lady Lions' offense will again go through junior Jana Cross. A two-time All-American, Cross averaged 20.3 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game last season. She reached 1000 points faster than any player in Freed-Hardeman history when she broke the mark in her 53rd game on Feb. 7, 2008. Cross already ranks 15th in school history in points scored and set the program record for single-season field goal percentage last season after shooting 61.4 percent from the floor.

The threat of Cross on the inside helps open the perimeter for a pair of deep threats in juniors Kristal Edney and Tara Deatheridge, both of whom missed time last year due to injury. Edney's season came to an early end after sustaining a knee injury in late February, but before that the 5-foot-8 guard from Linden, Tenn., was second on the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game. She shot 38.4 percent from behind the arc and also set a new program record by shooting 91.9 percent from the foul line. Edney's range extends well beyond the three-point arc.

Deatheridge missed the first 10 games of 2007-08 but finished strong, being named to the All-National Tournament team after putting together some big games during conference play. Last season, she averaged 7.5 points per game while shooting 40.6 percent from three-point range. Like Edney, she is a threat to shoot from several feet behind the arc.

6-foot-2 sophomore Meribeth Boehler progressed well as a freshman and has continued to improve her game over the summer. Her height and aggressiveness give Boehler the chance to make a big impact in the paint and take some of the attention off of Cross. Neal also hopes for productive minutes from 6-foot-3 junior Nicole Duncan. Duncan, who set the Tennessee state record for blocked shots in a game in high school, has the ability to alter opponent's shots and could give the Lady Lions some additional defensive help in the paint.

Sophomore guard Whitney Johnson showed the ability to score in bunches last season and will be relied upon to see more time at both guard positions this year with the graduation of Kori Bledsoe and Megan Thompson. Johnson has amazing quickness that allows her to break down defenses off the dribble, but she can also knock down the three-pointer if opposing defenders sag back into the lane. Junior Chelsie Alsup also figures into the backcourt rotation. Alsup provides the Lady Lions with another threat from behind the three-point arc.

Neal also looks for contributions from 5-foot-10 sophomore Jessica Doran, who has the ability to play perimeter and post positions. A natural scorer, Doran averaged 5.4 points in only 9.1 minutes per game. She can play with her back to the basket, but can also step behind the arc and knock down the three-pointer.

Freshman Hannah Parsley (Rector, Ark./Rector HS) is expected to see plenty of action in the Lady Lion backcourt. A versatile player, Parsley can play both guard spots as well as the three. Fellow newcomer Rakeshia Perry (Trenton, Tenn./Peabody HS) gives FHU a physical presence in the paint and will provide key minutes off the bench when she returns from off-season knee surgery. The Wayne County tandem of Julia Myers and Rachel Melson will add more depth to the Lady Lion backcourt. Myers is a very physical player who does the "little things," while Melson is a solid outside shooter.

As usual, the Lady Lions will play a strong non-conference schedule that includes the Rotary Classic in Jackson before opening conference play at the 2008 NAIA runner-up, Trevecca Nazarene University.