Confident Lincoln set for new heights

Lady Lions off to 4-0 start and much improved from last season

LOWER OXFORD >> It’s still early in the 2014-15 season, but is there any doubt that fourth-year head coach Jessica Kern has begun to turn around the Lincoln women’s basketball program?

And the transformation has less to do with the Lions’ current 4-0 record heading into Saturday’s cross-county rivalry game with Cheyney, and more to do with a change of culture within a program that’s endured plenty of struggles over the years.

“It’s exciting to watch the girls put on their jersey with pride and walk a little taller than they have in the past,” Kern conceded.

Still admittedly a work in progress, the current Lions exude a new found confidence, renewed intensity and an elevated level of commitment. Last season’s 12-16 mark and fifth place finish in the CIAA Northern Division wasn’t particularly noteworthy, except that it marked a steady improvement from the previous 10-and 7-win seasons.

With five returning players who logged 104 starts a year ago, LU is now poised for a breakout winter. Adding a pair of point guard transfers and two promising freshmen to the mix only enhances the situation.

“We have more depth than we’ve had in the past, but that also means we are still trying to find the right combinations,” Kern said.

“Offensively, we are able to run a lot more different schemes than we’ve ever had in the past. You will see a lot more sharing of the basketball.”

The coaches in the CIAA apparently believe that the program is on the rise as they picked Lincoln, in a preseason poll, to finish third in the division.

“We are starting to get a little more recognition and respect,” Kern said. “As I’ve told the girls, the only way to do that is to get to a microphone, and typically that happens when you win games.”

The Lions have already notched

more wins through four games than they did in the entire 27-outing season before Kern arrived.

Senior post player Zephrah Pam (6-foot) was named to the preseason All-Conference Team, and junior Courtney Smith is thriving after making the move from the point to shooting guard. Pam leads the team in rebounding (9.3) and is second in scoring (11.8). Smith is the team leader in scoring (13.5) and assists (3.5).

“(Pam) is becoming a more complete player who can play any of the frontcourt positions,” Kern said.

“And at shooting guard, Courtney is able to be seen a lot more. She is scoring the ball instead of just distributing it.”

Smith was able to make the move due to the emergence of point guards Jailen Murphy and LeNee Kimball. A sophomore, Murphy is a transfer from Division I Kansas State but sat out last season with an injury. Kimball is a junior transfer from Howard (Md.) Community College.

The rest of the regulars include 6-4 center Mieana Gaines, junior guard Amani Clark and 5-11 wing player Courtney Lucas. Gaines is an accomplished defender who thrives on the offensive end in the high-post, Lucas may be the roster’s most versatile performer, and Kern called the highenergy Clark “our most overlooked player” a year ago.

“Most of our players stayed here this summer and worked very hard,” Kern pointed out. “We’ve used different measures like internships, work studies and camps so that the young ladies were able to stay here and keep their focus on basketball. I think it’s made a huge difference.”

Six-foot sophomore De’jah Taylor is also in the mix up front and Kern is excited about freshmen recruits Teira Pendleton and Vivevca Nwagbaraocha.

Last March, the Lions notched the program’s first CIAA Tournament victory en route to the quarterfinals. This season, Kern is eying a deeper run.

“Our goal is to get a first round bye, which means we have to take care of business in the regular season and finish in the top two (in the Northern Division),” she said. “It’s time to get beyond the quarterfinals.”

In order to get it done, Kern has focused on two primary areas: free throw shooting and taking care of the basketball.

“We were top-10 in Division II for getting to the foul line, but we were bottom five in free throw percentage,” Kern lamented. “That’s not stats we’ve hidden from the girls at all. We have them posted in our locker room.”