web Charlotte

Oct. 15, 2009

Charlotte, NC - The 2009 Atlantic 10 Champion Charlotte 49ers women's basketball team begins full-team practices for the 2009-10 season, Friday, October 16 at 5 pm. Charlotte welcomes back three starters and nine letterwinners off last season's A-10 Championship team, which marked the first conference tournament title in the program's history. Charlotte also won 23 games and reached postseason play for the seventh consecutive season with the school's second NCAA Tournament appearance. Joining those nine letterwinners are a junior transfer from Providence College and a five-player recruiting class on the 49ers roster in 2009-10 as head coach Karen Aston embarks on her third season at the helm of the 49ers women's basketball program.

"I am extremely excited about the potential of our team this season," Aston said. "There are some unknowns at certain positions; however, the strength of the team, based on our returning players, leaves me with positive thoughts. Getting a taste of the NCAA Tournament and an A-10 Championship, I hope has left our players hungry for more, and anxious to get back to the court in 2009-10."

Leading the nine returning players are seniors Erin Floyd, Jabrenta Hubbard, Aysha Jones and Ashley Spriggs. Floyd, who has made 71 career starts, averaged a career-high 9.8 points per game last season. Hubbard is one of the 49ers first guards off the bench. Jones, who earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 honors last season, led the 49ers in scoring at 13.8 points per game. Spriggs, who was one of two 49ers to start every game last season, earned MVP honors after leading the 49ers to the Hoops For A Cure Tournament title last Thanksgiving.

Junior Shannon McCallum, who was named A-10 Sixth Player of the Year, finished second on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game last season. She is also the team's leading returning rebounder after grabbing 5.8 boards per game last year. Fellow junior Kelsey McAdoo gives the 49ers another athletic experienced frontcourt player.

Sophomores guards Rachelle Coward and Katie Meador and forward Nicole Hargraves all saw playing time last season and are expected to step up into even larger roles this season.

Junior Kendria Holmes, a 2007 Big East All-Freshman team selection, should make an immediate impact on the court for the 49ers this season after sitting out last season due to transferring from Providence College.

Joining those nine returning players is a talented batch of newcomers. Freshmen guards Jaquaria Forney and Jessica Johnson and forwards Amanda Dowe and Jennifer Hailey are all expected to contribute right away. Junior Ephiphany Woodson, who will sit out the 2009-10 season after transferring from the University of Miami, rounds out the 49ers roster.

The 49ers face another challenging non-conference schedule in 2009-10. The schedule features home games against Western Carolina, a 2009 NCAA Tournament participant, Clemson, South Carolina and Southern Miss as well as road contests against 2009 NCAA Tournament participants Duke and Notre Dame as well as in-state rival East Carolina. Charlotte is also participating in tournaments at Virginia Tech and in the Bahamas, where they play 2009 NCAA Tournament participant South Dakota State and either Virginia or Indiana. Charlotte, who has won at least nine A-10 games in each of their first four seasons in the league, will battle 2009 NCAA Tournament participants Temple and Xavier as well as 2009 WNIT participants Dayton, Duquesne, George Washington, Richmond and St. Bonaventure for the A-10 regular season championship. The 49ers will defend their A-10 Tournament title at the 2010 Atlantic 10 Tournament at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, March 5-8.