By Monty Franks
sports@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College’s ninth-ranked Lady Norse, built around height and experience in the center position, launch their season tonight against visiting Coffeyville.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. — the men’s teams clash at 8 — in the NEO Fieldhouse.
NEO, which has six sophomores, finished the 2008-09 regular season ranked 20th in NJCAA Division I. The Lady Norse wound up 23-8 overall with a 73-63 loss to Arkansas-Fort Smith in the Region II semifinals at Shawnee.
Jelena Cerina, a 6-foot-5 veteran from Vrsac, Serbia, is projected as the top center in the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference and one of the top 10 in the country.
Said NEO coach Jim Rowland: “Everything we’re going to do will funnel through Jelena (Cerina) at center. There’s not going to be any secrets, because at 6-5, she’s a pretty dominating force.
“Jelena really matured during the summer,” Rowland said. “She still needs to learn to finish shots. But she has become so much tougher and her understanding of the American style of play really has improved.”
Cerina averaged 9.8 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. The rebounding and blocked shots — a total of 54 — paced the ballclub.
“When you return a big post player the caliber of Jelena, you’re going to get noticed around the country,” Rowland said. “I think that’s a big part of why we’re ranked No. 9 in preseason.”
Another veteran returning in the middle is 6-5 Andrea Marinho of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She averaged 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13 games.
Freshmen Ashley Jordan (5-11, San Antonio) and Kayla Gardner (5-11, Little Rock) are expected to share playing time in the four spot. Talihina freshman Ciera Mathews, 6-0, will add depth at center or the four spot.
Ashley McKeel (5-9 sophomore, Snow, Okla.) and Ashton Pitman (5-8 freshman, Washington, Okla.) have been battling for the three spot in the scheme. Regan Oaks (5-8 freshman, Muskogee) could see duty at the three.
Starting guards are uncertain after 5-4 veteran Carla McKinney (DeSoto, Texas), expected to open at point, suffered a torn ACL and will miss the season.
Veteran Kashei Hopkins (5-7, Rockwall, Va.) has been moved to point from shooting guard. She averaged 4.3 points last season and sank 22 of 55 treys.
She also dished out 31 assists.
Freshman Shea Bowden (5-4, Oklahoma City Millwood) provides depth at point.
Candidates at shooting guard include 5-7 freshman Roni Jefferson (Tulsa Union), 5-9 freshman Brianna Manuatu (Australia) and 5-8 sophomore Brittany Woodard (Houston, Texas).
Woodard averaged 4.5 points and 1.7 rebounds last season. Jefferson, as a junior at Union, played on a state championship team.
Rowland has compiled a 93-33 record in four previous seasons at the helm.
The 2006-07 edition finished seventh in the nation.
