After finishing last season with a 21-10 record and an NCAA Tournament bid the lady eagles are bound and determined to reach new heights and set loftier goals. With the return of eleven letter winners and four starters these lady eagles are poised and ready to make another NCAA Tournament run with hopes to push past the first round.

The lady eagles return over 70% of their offense and 85% of their rebounding to set a good foundation to build on for the challenges that lie ahead of them. This is a team that was tenth in the country in rebound margin at 7.7 per game and 28th in the nation in assists per game. Teamwork is what makes this engine run as evidenced by the team's leading scorer averaged 10.8 points per game on a team that averaged 70.3 points per outing. Inexperience should not be an issue with this season's squad at the guard or forward positions as depth will be a plenty. " We are currently at least two deep at every position on the floor with a handful of players able to play two or more positions which will allow us the flexibility to match up better with our opponents."

Returning at the guard position will be Ashley Kyle, Ashley Tipton, TyKira McDaniel, Angela Volentine, and Abby Evans. Adding to the mix will be transfer Anna Lilly and freshman Amber Blackwell.

Ashley Kyle is coming off of a successful freshman campaign in which she averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 assists while playing the point and off guard spots. Kyle also shot 32% from beyond the arc and 76% from the line. Ashley Tipton, a junior, is a deadly shooter who will be counted upon to shoulder the scoring load from the perimeter. Tipton averaged 8.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest, but was also adept at passing the ball averaging 2.5 assists. Ashley shot 48% from the field, 39% from the three, and 84% from the line. Kira Mc Daniel also a junior returns with an improved shot that will add another dimension to her scoring abilities. McDaniel, a strong, physical guard averaged 7.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game last year while shooting 73% from the line. Angela Volentine will be asked to step her game up to a new height if this team is to achieve their goals. The 5'8" junior averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest last season.

Rounding out the returners is sophomore Abby Evans. Evans is a solid shooter who can play any of the guard positions. Her knowledge of the system and game are an asset second to none on this team and is vital to this season's success. Newcomer's Lilly and Blackwell will have to step up immediately in order to allow the depth and success of the system to work. Lilly is a 5'6" transfer from Pratt Community College. Anna is a strong, physical point guard who has the ability to knock down the open jumper and loves to push the ball up the floor. Blackwell is a 5'5" freshman who can play the point or off guard positions. Amber is also a strong, physical guard who loves to mix it up. She can penetrate and get to the rim as well as knock down the three. Blackwell averaged 15 points and 4.2 steals an outing last season for Peachtree Ridge High School.

At the forward position the lady eagles have more depth than ever before with Tashea Ledbetter, Emily Mason, Shari Buford, Lindsey Eggleston, Catelyn Dake, Maria Niarchos, and newcomer Nikki James will bring size, strength, and versatility to the mix every time they set foot on the hardwood. Tashea comes to her senior season having averaged 6.9 points and 4.7 rebounds her junior year. Ledbetter shot 47% from the field and comes into her senior year more prepared than ever. Emily Mason the only other senior on this year's team is looking to finish strong. Mason is fully recovered from her season ending knee injury as evidenced by her trip this summer to Italy in which she averaged 22 points and 18 rebounds. Her hard off season work and improvement could make her a force in the paint. Before her injury Emily averaged 10.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4assists, and 2.4 steals in only 22 minutes per game. Shari Buford, a sophomore, stepped in admirably in the absence of Mason last year. Shari was named to the conference all freshman team and to the conference all tournament team. Buford averaged 10.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest while shooting 57% from the field. An improved offseason will only help the teams cause for success.

Arguably the most improved player from the offseason is Lindsey Eggleston. The 6'1" junior improved every facet of her game including her confidence. Eggleston averaged 4.1 points and 4.5 rebounds last year and will be counted upon heavily this season. While also playing in Italy Lindsey averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds a game but more importantly showed a perimeter game that helped her win the Colorado Miss Basketball award her senior year in high school. Catelyn Dake begins her sophomore campaign as an athletic post with the speed of a sprinter. These attributes could cause problems for opponents when trying to defend her. In limited action Dake averaged 1.3 points with a career high of 12 against Brevard College. Maria Niarchos is a versatile 6'0" junior who has the ability to shoot the three, but also the physicality to bang in the paint. Newcomer Nikki James is a 6'1" freshman from Cookeville high school who averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, and two assists per game. Nikki is an athletic, long, physical post player who could make immediate contributions as soon as she gets her basketball legs under her. James, an All State volleyball player, is a member of the lady eagle volleyball squad.

One of the many challenges that face the lady eagles in their quest to reach new heights will be the daunting schedule that they will face. A schedule that includes a preseason slate against Western Carolina University, Auburn University, and the defending national champion Lady Volunteers of Tennessee; the lady eagles then face in non-conference action Peach Belt powers North Georgia, Clayton State- a NCAA Final Four participant-, and Columbus State. They will also face NCAA tournament opponents Pfeiffer College, Anderson College, and the University of Charleston.

Coach Walsh and his staff are hoping that the strength of the non-conference schedule will equip and prepare them for the rigors of a tough South Atlantic Conference season. Another NCAA tournament berth is within reach if they can meet the challenges of this schedule and work through other challenges as they arise.