LaGrange women hosts Rhodes, Brenau, after break for final exams
Dec 14, 2006

GAME FACTS –
The LaGrange College women's basketball team returns to action after an eight-day break for final exams. The Panthers (5-2) host Rhodes College on Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and NAIA member Brenau University on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. The Panthers are coming off a 88-79 loss to Oglethorpe on Dec. 6 at Mariotti Gym. Rhodes of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (5-3) has been off since defeating Rust 74-39 on Dec. 6. Brenau is 5-6 in its inaugural season of basketball. The Tigers lost 92-74 on the road Wednesday to Tennessee Wesleyan.

FIRST MEETING –
This is the first ever meeting for the Panthers with both schools. Rhodes and Saturday's opponent, Brenau University are the only first time opponents on the Panthers' 2006-07 schedule.

THE COACHES:
LaGrange's Kelly Britsky enters her eighth season as the Panthers' women's head coach. She has a career record of 70-114. Britsky guided the Panthers to a 17-11 record during the 2001-2002 season that included a trip to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Tournament.
Britsky played volleyball and softball for the Panthers while earning a degree in History in 1993 and a Masters in Education in 1999. She stayed on as an assistant coach in 1994 when the Panther softball team won a national championship. She left LaGrange for three years to coach basketball, softball, and track at Perry High School in Perry, Ga. before returning in 1997.

Rhodes' Matt Dean enters his fifth season as the head women's basketball coach at Rhodes and 16th overall. He has led the Lynx to a 60-42 record in the last four seasons. Last season, the Lynx finished 18-8 overall and advanced to the semifinals of the SCAC tournament. The 18 wins tied the school record for the most in a season. In 2002-03, Dean was named Co-SCAC Coach of the Year after the Lynx finished 15-9 and third in the SCAC. Dean returned to Memphis fours years ago after a one-year stint as the head men's coach at Denison University.

Brenau's Gary Bays is the former women's basketball coach at Warner Southern College. He was named Florida Sun Conference Coach of the Year on numerous occasions. Bays won three conference championships and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament from 2002-2005.

ABOUT THE LYNX –
This is the first of three straight games for Rhodes against GSAC opponents. They will play Huntingdon in Montgomery, Ala. on Saturday and again on Jan. 2 in Memphis. Junior guard Ashley Farrell leads the Lynx in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game. She also leads the team in assists (20), steals (23) and is second in rebounding (4.4 rpg). Farrell was a first team All-SCAC selection last season. Senior center Crystal Jessee was a third team All-SCAC selection and on the SCAC all-tournament team last season. She is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.3 points per game. Jessee leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game.

ABOUT THE TIGERS –
The Tigers are 5-6 after losing 92-74 on the road to Tennessee Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Tigers are 5-1 in non-conference games and 0-5 in Southern States Athletic Conference play. The Tigers are very balanced in scoring. Heading into the Tennessee Wesleyan game; freshman Vicky Wilson led the team in scoring, averaging 9.0 points per game. Freshman Paige Cooper, freshman Christine Hollander and junior Anna Frutchey all average more than eight points per game. Cooper had a team-high 14 points in a 65-56 loss to NAIA's #9 Auburn-Montgomery last Saturday. Wilson did not play against Auburn-Montgomery. Sarah Ledford had a season-high 18 points in the loss to Tennessee Wesleyan.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS –
The Panthers had their four-game winning streak stopped in the loss to Oglethorpe. Also, their six-game home winning streak came to an end. Freshman guard Ebonie Johnson earned GSAC Player of the Week honors for her play against Oglethorpe. She had a team-high 15 points in the loss. It was also a personal season-high for Johnson, who had three treys in the game. Senior LaTessa Taylor had 13 points, while fellow senior Kellee Scandrett added 12. Scandrett's points all came on four three-pointers. She is shooting 55 percent from three-point range for the season, hitting 16-of-29 three's. Taylor leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. The Panthers hit 9-of-20 three-pointers against Oglethorpe. The nine treys tied for the second most in a game by the Panthers.

VERSUS THE SCAC
Rhodes is the fourth SCAC (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) member the Panthers will face this season. The Panthers are 2-1 this season against the SCAC. They defeated Millsaps 42-40 in their season opener and Sewanee 87-79. Oglethorpe defeated the Panthers 88-79.

IMPROVED SHOOTING –
The Panthers shot only 50 percent or better in one game in 2005-06. This season, the Panthers have shot over 50 percent in a game twice in seven games. They shot a season-best 59 percent against Sewanee, and 51 percent Saturday against Methodist. Freshman Valeree Williams is shooting a team-best 56 percent, while senior Lindsey Moore is shooting 51 percent. On the season, the Panthers are shooting 41 percent as a team.  

SCORING IS UP –
After scoring 90 total points in their first two games this season, the Panthers have averaged 79 points per game in the last five. The Panthers have scored over 80 points in three of the games. They had not scored over 80 points in a game since the 2003-04 season. The most points in a game last season were 63.

RECORDS WATCH –
Moore is the Panthers' career leader with 113 steals. She is third in points (668); free throws made (189) and attempted (294). Scandrett is the career leader in three-pointers made (94) and attempted (313).

STARTING LINEUP SHUFFLE –
The Panthers have had six different starting line-ups in seven games. Taylor is the only Panther to start all seven games. Nine of the 18 players on the roster have started a game this season.