DURHAM, N.C. – New North Carolina Central University women’s basketball head coach Vanessa Taylor will make her Lady Eagles regular-season debut Saturday in Charlotte, where she spent the past 11 seasons as head coach at Johnson C. Smith University, as NCCU tips off the 2012-13 campaign against the Charlotte 49ers at 6 p.m. inside Halton Arena.

NCCU return only five of the 14 letterwinners from a year ago, but four of those five returning Lady Eagles started 15 games or more in 2011-12.

The Niners, who enter the campaign third in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll, return nine letterwinners and all five starters. In 2011-12, Charlotte posted a 16-14 overall record and 8-6 conference mark on its way to a WNIT berth, the 10th-consecutive postseason appearance for the 49ers.

Fans can listen to the call of the live action on the NCCU Sports Network by visiting “Game Central” at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.


2012-13 NCCU Women’s Basketball Season Preview

North Carolina Central University enters its second season of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition under the leadership of new women’s basketball head coach Vanessa Taylor.

After 18 seasons as a head coach at Johnson C. Smith University and Elizabeth City State University, Taylor joins the Lady Eagles’ program with three conference coach of the year awards, five NCAA playoff appearances, five conference tournament runner-up finishes and a conference tournament championship title to her credit. She has also posted 14 consecutive winning seasons, including six 20-win campaigns, all adding up to 298 career victories.

Besides the coaching accolades, Taylor also brings to NCCU her three keys to building a successful college basketball program – preparation, commitment and competitive greatness.

“It begins with our preparation,” Taylor said about the team goals for the upcoming season. “We are getting an opportunity to see the present work ethic, and they are fully committed.

“Then, beginning with coaches and trickling down to the student-athletes, we must have a strong commitment to what needs to happen this year in terms of preparation, execution, effort and attitude. In those areas we have to make sure that we are all going in the same direction and giving the same level of effort daily.

“Lastly, competitive greatness,” Taylor adds. “We want to give our best when our best is needed, which forces those around us to elevate how they play.”

Taylor says she is not focusing on numbers as targets to reach, since she sees this season as a year under construction.

“We are not focused on numbers,” Taylor said. “We want to make sure we are moving the program forward.”

Only five of the 14 letterwinners from a year ago are returning to this season’s squad, but four of those five returning Lady Eagles started 15 games or more in 2011-12.

Redshirt senior Chasidy Williams tops the list of returners. Williams (6-0, guard/forward, Fayetteville, N.C.) led the team with 426 points (14.7 ppg), 217 rebounds (7.5 rpg), 67 steals (2.3 spg), 20 blocked shots and 985 minutes played (34.0 mpg), while appearing in 29 games, including 28 as a starter.

“Chasidy has taken the lead and has thrown herself into a leadership role,” Taylor said. “She has been working out with a sense of urgency, and you need that from your seniors.”

Other returners include redshirt senior Jasmine Alston (5-10, guard, Greensboro, N.C.), junior Tenika Neely (5-6, guard, Charlotte, N.C.), junior Tiffany Gary (6-1, forward/center, Delray Beach, Fla.) and sophomore Montreshia Perry (5-9, guard, Colerian, N.C.).

Alston appeared in 22 games, including 15 as a starter, in her first season with the Lady Eagles. She led the squad with 29 three-point field goals, converting on more than 38 percent of her long-range shots, while averaging 5.1 points per contest.

Neely played in all 30 games, including 26 as a starting guard, averaging 23.2 minutes per contest. She distributed 42 assists and averaged 3.9 points per outing.

Gary appeared in all 30 contests with 16 starts, averaging 2.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per outing during an average of 14.8 minutes per game.

Perry played in 26 contests with two starts, averaging 13.2 minutes per game. She topped the team by shooting 93 percent from the foul line, converting 13-of-14 free throws, while contributing 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest.

The five veterans welcome three key newcomers to the program - rookies Aja Hoyle (5-8, guard, Hickory, N.C.), Amber Neely (5-5, guard, Charlotte, N.C.) and Tisha Dixon (6-0, forward, Kinston, N.C.).

Hoyle led Hickory High School with 19.8 points per game as a senior, leading the Red Tornadoes to a second regional final four appearance.

Neely, the cousin of NCCU junior Tenika Neely, earned all-conference, all-area and all-region honors after guiding Mallard Creek High School to the state semifinals and a 26-5 record as a senior.

Dixon averaged team highs of 13.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per contest as a senior, leading Kinston High School to 26 victories and an appearance in the regional championship game.

“When fans come to see the Lady Eagles, they can expect to see us play hard, to be prepared, and to play together,” Taylor said. “With those three things, we increase our chance of beating our opponents.”