2016-17 Season Preview: Cardinals Ready to Defend MEC Title

By: Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Women's Basketball | 11/10/2016 8:01:00 PM

WHEELING, W.Va. - Basketball season is upon us and the Wheeling Jesuit women are ready to defend their Mountain East Conference Tournament Championship from a year ago. The Cardinals return 11 players, including four of their top-five scorers, from a team who finished 27-6 last season, including the program's first ever NCAA Tournament victory over West Chester University.

"As a team, we want to pick up where we left off last season," WJU head coach Debbie Buff stressed. "We aim to lead the MEC in defense for the second consecutive year, but we know the challenge that this will be. Our league is as talented as it's ever been from top to bottom, so we need to stay healthy and collect quality road wins."

Following the Cardinals regional semifinal run a year ago, WJU was voted second in the 2016-17 preseason Mountain East Conference coaches poll and earned the sixth spot in the D2CCA Atlantic Regional rankings released this week.

The Cardinals open the season in the PSAC-MEC challenge hosted on the campus of West Chester University. WJU first faces off with Edinboro on Saturday, November 12 before challenging tournament host West Chester on Sunday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m.

WJU will look to four players to lead the charge in the upcoming season. Seniors Kylie Frizell (Smithville, Ohio/Smithville), Chelsea Richardson (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway), and Jaana Motton (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) are joined by junior Mariah Callen (Morgantown, W.Va./University) as team captains for the 2016-17 season.

"Our captains have been leading by example, and they are as ready as anyone for the upcoming challenges," Buff remarked. "I am excited to see where they can lead us."

Guiding the Cardinals backcourt will be Callen, who has served as the team's point guard each of her first two seasons. Callen earned All-MEC Honorable Mention during her sophomore season in which she averaged 11.4 points per game and shot over 40 percent from the field.

"Mariah is our floor general," Buff stressed. "She has gained a lot of big game experience that can help us win close games. She can shoot, control the game, or get the ball where it needs to be. We look for her to push and guide our tempo of play."

Callen will be joined at the guard position by five returners and six incoming players. Fellow captains Kylie Frizell and Chelsea Richardson return from junior seasons in which each recorded quality minutes at the highly-competitive backcourt positions.

"Chelsea and Kylie give us flexibility at various positions," Buff added. "They are working hard on both ends of the court and we look for them to continue their successes from last season."

Guard Cassi Stein (Newark, Ohio/Licking Valley) returns for her junior season, after starting nearly half of the Cardinals games as a sophomore. Stein looks to continue to excel as a defensive leader, while also improving on the offensive end.

"Cassi will be one of our high energy guards and serve as a defensive stopper," Buff said. "She has also worked on her perimeter jump shot and we look for her to contribute on the offensive end of the court."

Marissa Tucker (Wheeling, W.Va./Wheeling Park) and Aaliyah Sadler (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Finch) each return for their sophomore seasons.

"Marissa has worked very hard on getting healthy after injuries," Buff stressed. "She is one of the most positive athletes I have ever coached. She has a great basketball IQ and will provide perimeter shooting. Aaliyah has improved and will continue to get better on both ends of the court. She is very unselfish and a wonderful athlete to coach."

IUP transfer Monica Burns (New Stanton, Pa./IUP) joins the Cardinals roster as a redshirt sophomore.

"Mo (Monica) is a long range perimeter shooter, and has already made our program better," Buff expressed. "She works as a hard as any athlete and will make an immediate impact in the backcourt."

While the Cardinals do indeed return a talented group of guards, the WJU staff signed five freshmen at the position.

Khira Burton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills), Deja Dabney (Henrico, Va./Hermitage), Reily Sturm (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg Catholic), Lauren Lipscomb (Columbus, Ohio/Pickerington North) and Taliah Cashwell (South Charleston, W.Va./South Charleston) expect to compete for playing time on the deep WJU roster.

"This group of freshman guards are very coachable. I expect for them to learn the system and compete for spots in the rotation to help us immediately," Buff added.

In the front court, the fourth WJU captain, Jaana Motton, looks to lead a talented group of forwards into the upcoming season. As a junior, Motton supplied the Cardinals offense with 9.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

"Simply put, I am glad Jaana is on our team," Buff stressed. "She is a force inside. She came back fit as could be and has matured as an athlete. She's extremely passionate and plays hard every chance she gets."

Joining Motton is WJU sophomore Chenelle Moore (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) who finished her freshman campaign third in scoring (9.2) and second in rebounding (6.3) per game.

"Chenelle has made a big jump into her sophomore year," Buff said. "She's very athletic, runs the floor like a deer, and is working to become a better defender. We expect big things out of her."

Lydia Hyburg (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) and Kiarra Kamarec (Wintersville, Ohio/Indian Creek) also join Motton and Moore as returners to the WJU frontcourt.

"Lydia can score from various spots on the floor, and will compete for minutes at the post. Kiarra is a tall, lefty presence that provides great depth at her position."

Aislyn Hartman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont), a freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio rounds out the Cardinal rotation.

"Aislyn provides great depth and is an extremely athletic post player," Buff added. "We expect good things to come from Aislyn."

The balance of returning players and new faces to the WJU program leaves Buff in a comfortable but not content place.

"We return a deep group of players from last season but we know the season will be completely different. I believe that when healthy, we are a little deeper than last year. This is a new team and therefore we have a new identity. I am excited to see what the season has in store for us."

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Players Mentioned

#13 Monica Burns: G; 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore

#1 Mariah Callen: G; 5' 4"; Junior

#32 Kylie Frizell: G; 5' 10"; Senior

#33 Lydia Hyburg: F; 6' 2"; Senior

#23 Kiarra Kamarec: F; 6' 2"; Junior

#21 Chenelle Moore: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#42 Jaana Motton: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Chelsea Richardson: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#15 Aaliyah Sadler: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#4 Cassi Stein: G; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#13 Monica Burns
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#1 Mariah Callen
: 5' 4"; Junior
: G

#32 Kylie Frizell
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

#33 Lydia Hyburg
: 6' 2"; Senior
: F

#23 Kiarra Kamarec
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F

#21 Chenelle Moore
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

#42 Jaana Motton
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#11 Chelsea Richardson
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#15 Aaliyah Sadler
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#4 Cassi Stein
: 5' 10"; Junior
: G