FLORENCE, S.C. – A year wiser and a year older, the Francis Marion University women’s basketball squad opens its 2006-07 campaign on Wednesday (Nov. 15) with a trip to Greenville to face NCAA Division I opponent Furman University.

The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. in Furman’s 5,000-seat Timmons Arena. Francis Marion is 3-0 all-time against the Lady Paladins: a 54-43 road win on Feb. 12, 1974, in the Patriots’ inaugural season; a 103-64 state tournament win on March 5, 1976; and a 102-76 home win on Dec. 10, 1983.

The game will be FMU’s first against a Division I opponent in 12 seasons, dating back to a 75-71 loss to Coastal Carolina University on Jan. 25, 1995 in Florence. The Patriots’ only win over a Division I opponent in the past 21 seasons (seven games), was an 85-58 victory over Davidson College on Feb. 21, 1993.

For the second straight year, FMU head coach Valecia Tedder welcomes back nine letterwinners, including four starters. FMU was 13-16 last season, but caught fire in the Peach Belt Conference post-season tournament advancing to the title game before falling in double overtime on regional television. The Patriots finished tied for sixth in the regular-season standings, but only one game out of fourth position.

Eight of the team’s losses were by single digits, and nine defeats were to teams that earned invitations to the NCAA Division II national tournament.

Tedder must replace the lone graduating starter, All-PBC swing player Danielle Moore, who led the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals, and ended her career with 1,340 career points. “We won’t look to replace Danielle, just replace her numbers with a team effort, especially from our three junior post players: 6-4 Shavone Mack (4.7 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game), 6-0 Shonelle Downer (6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg), and 6-0 Vanessa Goff (4.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg),” Tedder said.

“These three have consistently given us defense and rebounding, now we will look to them for a few more points.” In only two seasons, Mack has blocked 118 shots, and Downer 99, to stand fifth and eighth respectively on the Patriot career list for blocked shots.

In the backcourt, junior Brittany Young (8.1 ppg, 4.6 assists per game) and sophomore Kirby Marsh (7.2 ppg) both return. In only two seasons, Young has already dished out 282 assists, 12th best in team history.

Junior Renee Guilliams (6.3 ppg), a long-range three-point shooting threat, returns and will likely fill the small forward starting spot. Guilliams led the team with 43 three-point field goals last year.  

This year’s roster includes only one senior: defensive stopper Shaketa Preal (0.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg). Sophomore forward Katherine Kiefer (6.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and junior forward Sienna Gandy-Miller (0.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg) also return.

Newcomers for this season include guards Erin Cook (Princeton, NJ) and Chelsea Quinlan (Camp Lejeune, NC) and 5-10 frontline player Yasmean Dixon, a product of Summerville High School.

“Experience is a strength that we will rely on heavily this year,” Tedder explained. “The majority of our roster knows my system, and most have started at some point during their time at FMU. We are looking to be a more balanced team with the additional inside scoring. That should also take some of the scoring pressure off our backcourt duo of Brittany and Kirby.

“Regarding our newcomers, Yasmean is extremely athletic, and her defensive ability could earn her immediate minutes, while she adjusts to the college game. Chelsea is a southpaw who possesses great scoring ability. Erin has missed time during the preseason with an injury, but she is a slashing type player who can also rebound well.”

The Patriots’ schedule for 2006-07 features 27 regular-season games, including 12 home contests. FMU will open its home slate on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest against Mount Olive College in the second-annual Zaxby’s Tip-Off Clazzic.

The Patriots have won 112 of their last 138 home contests in the Smith University Center.

FMU was picked to finished eighth in the recent preseason PBC coaches’ poll, despite receiving one second-, one third-, and two fifth-place votes. The Peach Belt will have a slightly new look in 2006-07 with the addition of Georgia Southwestern State University.