DATE: Thursday, November 13, 1997           TAG: 9711100207

SECTION: SPECIAL                 PAGE: Z10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 1997-98 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   61 lines

HOWARD HEADS UP THE MEAC, AND HOPES FOR MORE NATIONAL RESPECT

How lowly is MEAC women's basketball regarded nationally? Consider what happened to Howard last year. The Lady Bison won 24 games, including all 21 against MEAC foes, captured the tournament title with a 19-point victory and were led by second-round WNBA draft pick Denique Graves.

Their reward? A No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament and tickets to travel to top-seeded Stanford for a first-round game.

The Lady Bison appear loaded again. But since a pile of conference victories obviously won't cut them a seeding break, another 3-6 non-league mark won't do. They'll have to impress against a non-league slate that includes North Carolina State, Ohio State and a tournament at Maryland if they hope to leave next year's NCAA tournament with more than just lovely parting gifts.

Norfolk State is ineligible to play in the conference tournament March 4-7 at the Richmond Coliseum because the Spartans don't play all the MEAC teams.

A brief rundown of the conference schools, in predicted order of finish:

Howard: Forward Alisha ``Tuff'' Hill (17 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 65.6 fg pct) is the league's marquee player and should lead the Lady Bison to a third straight NCAA tournament appearance. But the players are making every effort not to appear cocky. This year, they're sporting T-shirts which on the front read, ``The Lady Bison know no fear.'' The back reads ``However, we are concerned with the following . . . '' and lists the team's 1997-98 schedule.

Florida A&M: All-MEAC forward Aquenda Clark (15.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and 6-3 center Shantell Jackson (9.1, 5.8 rpg) help give the Rattlerettes the conference's most imposing frontcourt. The guards are a question mark.

Morgan State: New coach Darcel Estep inherits only one returning starter, but reserve forward Monique Liddell showed enough in limited minutes to be tabbed a preseason All-MEAC selection.

Maryland-Eastern Shore: The returners from last year's third-place team include former Churchland star Nicole Council, who made the All-MEAC rookie team after averaging 9.5 points and 4 rebounds. Three other starters are also back.

Hampton: The Lady Pirates scored a coup when they landed coach Patricia Bibbs, who was a seven-time SWAC coach of the year at Grambling. Bibbs will build around MEAC rookie of the year Danielle Dawson (15.1 ppg, 3.6 ast). A two-week trip to Europe over the summer could portend a fast start.

North Carolina A&T: The graduation of their two leading scorers, both guards, has coach Tim Abney looking to post players Halima Cotwright, Shawanda Horne and Taura Barnes to carry the load this season.

Coppin State: The Lady Eagles have five returners who saw significant minutes a year ago, but none of them averaged in double figures. Well-regarded newcomers Trisha Allen and Liesha Mitchell could contribute right away.

Delaware State: Center Karen Johnson (17.1 ppg, 11.7 rpg) is one of the league's top players but could use some help in the frontcourt. Geanetta Jackson and Keesha Tice are capable guards.

South Carolina State: Keshia Campbell, a former All-MEAC performer for the Lady Bulldogs, is one of four new coaches. All starters return from a group that won just five of 27 games last season.

Bethune-Cookman: Coach Rosina Pearson, a former MEAC player of the year, enters her second year of a major rebuilding job. The Lady Wildcats went 9-16 a year ago. KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION SUPPLEMENT BASKETBALL

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu