BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Campbell women's basketball begins its 30^th season under head coach Wanda Watkins, featuring a promising returning lineup and a talented freshman class.

The Lady Camels return four starters and eight letterwinners to a unit that enjoyed its best season in nearly a decade. Campbell ended the year at 14-16 overall and 9-11 in league play, a vast improvement from two straight seasons at 12 wins.

"I love our team this year," said Watkins. "I'm enjoying them so much in practice. I like our new faces and the hub that we have coming back. Everybody is in it together, working hard. I really like our team. I'm excited about our season and the possibilities of where we can go."

The 2009-10 Lady Camels amassed the program's most overall wins since 2001 (22), and Atlantic Sun wins since 2006 (10), while tallying 70 or more points 11 times, and 80 points on four occasions. Those marks are program single-season highs since Campbell hit 70 points 15 times during the 2001 season and 80 points eight times that same year.

When March rolled around, Campbell was the No. 3 seed in the A-Sun Tournament. The seed was the program's highest since 2001, when CU was the top ranked unit, and its fourth-highest ever.

The year ended in Macon, Ga., however, at the A-Sun Tournament, as the team was ousted by Jacksonville, 52-46, in the quarterfinal round.

The Lady Camels started the year 4-1, began conference play 3-0 for the first time in four seasons and were in position to lock up the tournament's second seed, a strong start, but ended the season losing seven of their last eight games, including that first round A-Sun Tournament loss at the hands of the Dolphins.

"Our team was really disappointed with the way we finished last year," said Watkins. "We went into the tournament in a good spot, playing a tough opponent in Jacksonville. When we lost out in the tournament our kids were really disappointed, which is a great sign. When we came back from break, we started right back to work. Our kids started back with just a different type of work ethic."

The Lady Camels will be without a pair of key contributors from last season, losing Ashley Williamson and Geami Britt to graduation. Williamson was the team's leading rebounder and second leading scorer, posting eight double-doubles last season, while Britt was a top shooting option, nailing 50 three-point attempts over two seasons in Buies Ceek.

"Ashley brought us a strong sense of leadership and Geami was a tremendous scorer," said Watkins. "Ashley helped so many kids grow up before she left. She was a great leader and a tremendous rebounder. Ashley always hustled with anything she did. She carried her weight from an offensive standpoint as well. Geami was a natural born shooter that wasn't afraid to take a close shot. In a situation where we needed points, she was always willing to get them. It's always interesting how you fill the void after graduating players. You pull from different combinations. We'll miss their impact, but hopefully we'll pull from different resources to fill that void."

This season, Campbell is determined for a stronger finish, as evident from its 2010-11 team slogan, "start strong, finish stronger."

"Whether it's a game, a practice, the tournament or the end of the season, you should strive to finish stronger," said Watkins. "We're going to carry that attitude into everything that we do this season."

The A-Sun also has high expectations in CU's last season in the league before making a return to the Big South. The conference's coaches picked Campbell to finish fifth in the preseason polls, and selected sophomore Tonisha Baker to the A-Sun Preseason All-Conference Team.

After a standout freshman season where she was named to the A-Sun All-Freshman Team, Baker returns as a preseason all-conference pick, the Lady Camels' first since Marlena Murphy, now on the CU bench as an assistant coach, in 2007.

Campbell did not have a player average double figures last season, having six average at least 7.0 points per game, and a trio that posted 5.0 or more. Those nine all averaged double digit minutes, with seven Lady Camels recording 18.3 minutes or more per contest.

Baker finished third in A-Sun field goal percentage at .487 percent, leading all guards and freshmen, and ranked second among A-Sun freshmen in scoring. The High Point, N.C. native led Campbell in scoring, field goal percentage and blocks, while ranking second in steals, assists and minutes played.

"As good of a year as Tonisha had last year for our team, she just looks so much better now," said Watkins. "She's much more determined and focused. Tonisha has worked really hard and she's just much more versatile and more confident now. She just adds another dimension of athleticism and speed to our team."

The only Lady Camel to start all 30 games, Baker became the first Campbell freshman to lead her team in scoring since CU great April Cromartie in 1998-99, pacing the team in scoring on seven occasions.

Courtney Cannon, who came to Buies Creek from Itawamba Community College, emerged as a threat almost immediately for the Lady Camels, scoring in double figures twice in her first two games in the Orange and Black. Cannon hit .839 percent of her attempts from the charity stripe this season, ranking second in the A-Sun.Cannon also put up a season-best 19 against league-leading Florida Gulf Coast in a narrow loss, hitting 6-for-6 attempts from the line in that game while nailing three from behind the arc.

"Coco is one of those natural shooters with electricity," said Watkins. "She has the ability to knock the three in, and she also has good strength and size for a guard. She has come back even more focused this year than last, and she was pretty focused then too. Courtney is a very good rebounder for that guard spot, which helps us frequently in that role, along with her scoring. It's nice to have a guard that is strong enough to get to the rim, draw fouls and know that she is going to knock down her free throws when she gets to the line."

At the point, sophomore Kate Cloxton had a breakout season, ranking second in the A-Sun in assists per game at 4.5, tacking on 7.1 point per contest. Cloxton notched five or more assists 13 times, including a career-high nine twice, both coming in home wins against Winston-Salem State and Mercer. CU went 8-5 in those games and 5-2 when the guard scored in double figures. Cloxton also recorded a single-season milestone, becoming just the 11^th Lady Camel in program history to post 100 or more assists in a year.

"Kate Cloxton is a natural leader," said Watkins. "It's interesting to see the impact she can make when you move her around with her floor leadership and communication skills. She has spunk and great leadership skills as a point guard. She can score on the perimeter and most importantly, she makes others around her better. KC is very important to our basketball team."

Lauren Yesh, the team's captain, was the only Lady Camel to earn A-Sun Player of the Week honors last season, taking home the accolade after averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in a 30-point CU win over Winston-Salem State and a gritty 75-72 victory at USC Upstate. Yesh scored in double figures 11 times over the season, making 27 starts in the team's 30 games.

"Lauren Yesh is one of those really underrated players that has done a great job for us, especially with her leadership as a two-year captain," said Watkins. "She does a lot of those little things that go unnoticed in a game. Yesh is one of those players that is well rounded. She can face up and shoot, or play with her back to the basket. She's a physical player, a good role model and a good leader on and off the floor for our team."

The trio of Monique Spry, Jazmine Cooper and Amanda O'Neill combined for 15.4 points per game during the year, while collectively pulling down over 300 rebounds. Spry led the trio in scoring at 5.4 points per game, while Cooper emerged as another low-post threat to score and rebound and O'Neill produced another solid defensive year, leading the Lady Camels in steals.

"Amanda is a great kid that does all the things you want your players to do," said Watkins. "She's moving into becoming a little more vocal now after being groomed for a couple of years and she's becoming more of that vocal leader for us. Amanda is a tremendous defender, understands the game, a good rebounder, and I think she'll make things happen more offensively now. She's just a well rounded player for us that adds so much to the dimensions of our team."

"Jazmine doesn't even look like the same player from last year," said Watkins. "It has been a metamorphosis with her. She's so much more seasoned now, and it's amazing to see her out on the floor now. She has matured and is playing really strong inside on both ends. She is just so improved."

"Monique has come so far along," said Watkins. "She can score, slash and drive. She gets after it. Monique is very aggressive and assertive from a defensive standpoint. She's athletic and helps us in a number of ways."

Katelyn Bass, meanwhile, contributed quality minutes for the Lady Camels, despite injury. Bass twice notched eight points and five boards (vs. Belmont, Lipscomb).

"Kate is a strong, player and hard player that you can always count on to give 100 percent," said Watkins. "No one will outwork her. She is a good rebounder with a knack for scoring. She brings experience to our team off the bench. She's had some injury issues, but she's in such good physical condition that she has fought through them."

On top of that returning depth, the Lady Camels add five freshmen.

"This is a really nice freshman class this year that adds dimensions to our team," said Watkins. "In the post, we'll get versatility with Roslyn, Ashley and Heather, and Casey and Jessica are really good shooters from the perimeter. Our freshmen are great additions to our team in areas we really needed."

Center Heather Beadle averaged a double-double with 13.9 points and 10.7 rebounds as a senior at Crockett High in Austin, Texas. Ashley James, a forward and fellow Lone Star State import who played alongside Beadle in the Dennis Johnson Memorial All-Star Game (James was the game's MVP), averaged 11.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest at Stony Point High in nearby Round Rock.

"Ashley James has unbelievable speed and quickness," said Watkins. "When you put her with Tonisha, Monique, Amanda and some of our others, it's amazing how quick she is; the way she can get the rebound, make the outlet pass and be the first one down to the other end of the floor. Ashley adds a wealth of athleticism, speed and quickness to our team."

"Heather is a physical player who loves that part of the game," said Watkins. "She's aggressive with the ball around the glass. She and Ashley are very different players, both of which we needed, and both of them add great aspects to our team."

The third forward in the class is Roslyn Presley, a former Virginia State Player of the Year who scored over 2,000 career points at the prep level at Appomatox Regional Covenor's School.

"Ros is very athletic, quick, very versatile, and can play a number of positions," said Watkins. "She can go inside with the best of them, and also go out of on the perimeter if you need her to. She has a lot of heart and is a very coachable player."

Casey Elliott and Jessica Moore add even more depth to a strong stable of Lady Camel guards. Elliott, a point guard, is a former high school teammate of Spry at Wilson's Beddingfield High, and led her team's to a staggering 97-14 record over four years. Moore averaged over 16 points per game through her junior and senior seasons, and knocked down a stellar 118 three pointers combined in those two seasons.

"Casey is a tremendous passer, and sees the floor well," said Watkins. "She is a good shooter and a natural leader; being in control on the floor is just natural to her. She comes from a really good, well coached program, so that will certainly help her learn our system."

"Jess is just a really good shooter with good range," said Watkins. "She's getting better every day. Her shooting ability will help us, especially on the perimeter."

This is also the 30^th season for the A-Sun's all-time winningest coach.

"I have enjoyed 30 great years with some great memories," said Watkins. "When I look at the wall in my office with all the team photos, I see 30 great years of women's basketball. It's really fun sometimes to sit down and talk about all the things we've experienced here with our program with people."

Watkins, who took over the Lady Camel program in 1981 after serving as an assistant and a player, and has since won almost 450 games, ranking 33^rd among active Division I coaches and in the top-50 all-time.

"I feel really blessed to have had the opportunity to work with the people that I've worked with here at Campbell and I look forward to this team continuing to climb this year."

Watkins' 30^th season as head coach of the Lady Camels will begin on Nov. 12 at the Longwood Lancer Classic in Farmville, Va. Renewed rivalries, such as a December date with UNC Wilmington, plus 14 home contests and a full 20-game Atlantic Sun slate highlight the 2010-11 Lady Camel schedule.

"Our nonconference schedule tests us in a number of ways," said Watkins. "It will show us some things about our team, hopefully making us better, and it will challenge us in a number of ways and hopefully be good for us."

For the first time in program history, CU will also host two Education Days, bringing area fifth and eighth grade students on campus for a day to educate them about Campbell, and allow the students to attend a Lady Camel basketball game.

"I'm really excited about our Education Days this year," said Watkins. "I think that will be great for us, getting all of those young people on campus. It will be a great recruiting tool for Campbell University and I just see it as a win-win for all of those involved. A lot of people have worked really hard in putting this together and I am so grateful and so excited for those games for what that will bring to our program and to our university."

An exciting season is on the horizon, and even with nearly 40 years of women's basketball under her belt, Watkins is as thrilled as ever for this year's version of the Lady Camels.

"I'm excited about our team," added Watkins. "I love going to practice every day because they're such a fun bunch that works so hard. We're taking steps forward. Meshing the new faces with the hub that we have coming back will be exciting to watch, seeing it all fall into place. We have a lot of potential with this basketball team and I'm looking forward to our season."