Women's Basketball Opens Season with Montreat

BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Campbell women's basketball will kick off the 2011-12 season Saturday in Gore Arena, taking on Montreat at 6 p.m.

"We're really excited about the upcoming season," said head coach Wanda Watkins. "Our kids are meshing so well and they are ready to get things started."

Last season, CU was 13-17 overall, but went 12-8 in A-Sun games, winning seven consecutive contests and eight overall in the month of January. The Lady Camels earned a No. 3 seed in the conference tournament for the second straight season as well.

Junior guard Tonisha Baker, who has paced the Lady Camels in scoring in each of the last two seasons, is one of 11 returning letterwinners and four starters for Campbell. Baker collected 12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season, earning First Team Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors.

Jazmine Cooper, a junior forward, added 9.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, while senior guard Kate Cloxton tacked on 6.9 points and 4.0 assists per outing last season. Amanda O'Neill chipped in 5.2 points and 4.0 rebounds a contest while tying for the team lead in steals with 48.

The Lady Camels are 17-4 all-time when opening the season at home, coming out on top in each of the last two openers in Buies Creek.

Montreat is 2-0 so far this season, starting off with a 77-69 overtime victory over Voorhees (S.C.) and following with a 100-21 win against Warren Wilson. Saturday's game, the first meeting between the two schools, will be Montreat's first away from home this year.

"Montreat was a very good basketball team last year," said Watkins. "They are a well coached team that returns a good amount of their scorers from last season. They've already played two regular season games, so they've got the jump on us there. It's going to be exciting for us."

Senior guard Ebony Battle leads four Cavaliers averaging double figures at 16.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore Kaitlyn Clontz and senior Mykiea Russell add on 14.0 and 13.5 points per game, while freshman forward Hannah Kolbeck pours in 12.0 an outing. Russell also averages 4.5 steals and 4.5 assists in the early going.

After Saturday's contest, Campbell will take to the road for a Nov. 17 game at North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.

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