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Erskine Women's Basketball Team Faces Rebuilding Year

A season after the Erskine College Women's basketball team suffered through a rash of injuries, new head coach Maggie Peeler faces a major rebuilding task that will focus on senior shooting guard Mandy Wyatt from Piedmont.

"Mandy will be looked upon to score for us this season, and she’ll have plenty of opportunities," Peeler said. "We plan to push the ball when we can, and this should give her many open looks at the basket."

When Wyatt gets open looks, she has been deadly accurate. She is the leading returning scorer, averaging 12.6 points and 2.7 rebounds a game. She led the team from behind the three-point arc, hitting 40.5 percent of her attempts last year, ranking her second in the Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference in three-point percentage.

But gone from this team are Val Warren, whose senior season was cut short with an ACL injury, after becoming one of the most prolific scorers, rebounders, and defensive players in school history. Also gone are point guard Shea Hall; forward Margot Richards, CVAC Freshman of the Year two years ago, who transferred; and senior post player Shonta McBeth, who left the team for personal reasons.

The other returning senior is center Becky McBroom of Columbia, who averaged 5.4 rebounds and 5.3 points per game last year.

Despite the lack of experience, Peeler remains optimistic. "I’m excited about the season and know we face some serious challenges," she said. "We’ll work hard and run the floor, but our lack of depth will limit what we can do this year. We want to play with passion and enjoy the game. Those two ingredients can make up for our weaknesses."

McBroom will have to play strong in the paint for the Lady Fleet. "Becky has the ability to be a force in the middle for us," Peeler said. "She’ll need to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor for us to be successful."

The only other two returning players for Erskine are junior Anne Marie Dias of Honea Path and sophomore Tre Wylie of Chapin. Dias will handle the point for the Lady Fleet after averaging 2.5 points and 1.4 assists per game last year playing behind Hall. Wylie, a forward who saw limited playing time last year, tore her ACL in a non-contact practice drill after the seventh game of the season, but has looked strong after completing her rehab work.

Peeler has added seven new players, including freshmen Shakela Fuller of Clinton, Amanda Henderson of Ware Shoals, Sherese Coleman of Charleston, and Elizabeth Huckabee of Augusta, Ga.

Peeler said Fuller has had a strong preseason, showing the ability to be an impact player on both ends of the floor. Henderson, Coleman, and Huckabee will see duty during the season in the backcourt.

Tasha James of Inman is a transfer from USC-Spartanburg and will see action as both a guard and forward. Sophomore newcomer Tiffany Mast of Stafford, Va., joins the team for the first time after playing soccer during the fall and has been a pleasant surprise for Peeler.

"She is a fine ball-handler and can both score and pass effectively," Peeler said. "She will see playing time at guard and forward as well."

Senior newcomer Jynne Stowe of Gastonia, N.C. joined the team this season and will provide depth in the backcourt.

"We have our challenges, but I am anxious for the season to begin," Peeler said.