After cruising to a 96-44, season-opening win at home against Brewton-Parker, the Eagles have faced test after test on the road, dropping away games to Duke, Auburn, Colorado and New Orleans.
All things considered, things could be worse as GSU (1-4) prepares to begin Southern Conference play today at Appalachian State (2-3).
“We’re one win away from where I thought we’d be, looking at the schedule,” said GSU coach Rusty Cram. “We had our chances. I though we let one get away at Auburn and another one at Colorado (against New Orleans).”
With freshman scorers emerging from the pack – Meredyth Frye (6.8 ppg), Krista Tate and Candice Ivy – the seniors have had an easier job leading the team.
Shooting guard Carolyn Whitney enters SoCon play at 9.4 points per game, and J’Lisia Ogburn is leading the squad from the post, with 9.2 ppg and a team-leading five rebounds per contest.
The scoring starts underneath with Ogburn and fellow senior Jessica Geiger.
“That’s where our leadership comes from,” Cram said about the senior post players. “They know what their role is, and that’s what we ask them to do.”
Junior point guard Jamie Navarro has 12 assists and is shooting a cool 17 of 17 from the charity stripe.
Appalachian State enters SoCon play coming off an overtime win against Miami (OH), snapping a three-game losing streak.
Sam Ramirez and Ashlen Dewart each average scoring in double figures for the Lady Mountaineers, while Anna Freeman grabs 9.8 rebounds per game.
The Eagles go deep off the bench, with 10 different players having appeared in all five games and 14 different players making multiple appearances. Each of the 10 who have appeared in every game average at least 10 minutes. Geiger and Navarro have spent the most time on the floor, clocking in at 23 minutes per game.
Georgia Southern looks to avenge a 68-59 loss in Boone, N.C. which split the season series last year.
The Eagles finally return home Saturday, when they host Elon at 3 p.m.
The Phoenix shocked GSU in the first round of the 2009 SoCon tournament to eliminate the Eagles with a 57-54 heartbreaker after Southern swept the regular-season series.
For Cram, it’s less about revenge and more about fixing the mistakes that were made in March.
Today’s tipoff against ASU is scheduled for 7 p.m.
NOTES: Freshman point guard Kayla Dayton has chosen to leave the team for other pursuits.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
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