Lady Firebirds Basketball Team to Tip Off 2008-09 Season November 1

The University of the District of Columbia Lady Firebirds basketball team returns to action for the 2008-2009 season under 5th year head coach and the 2007-08 Independent Collegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) Coach of the Year Lester L. Butler Jr.  The team finished their 2007-2008 season with an Independent School Division II National Championship with an overall record of 21-8.  The 21 wins are the most by a Lady Firebirds team in more than 10 years.  The Lady Firebirds finished the season ranked in the top 30 in scoring defense, giving up only 57ppg to opponents and scoring over 65ppg.

The Lady Firebirds will face one of the toughest schedules in Division II Basketball.  It will start with a battled test pre-season schedule Nov 1st against cross-town Division 1 member Howard University.  The Lady Firebirds will then hit the road on Nov. 3rd to play Old Dominion University, who advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season, and end their pre-season tour against Radford University on November 8th. The Lady Firebirds schedule also highlights games against perennial Division II powers such as California University of Pennsylvania, Shaw University, Fayetteville State University and Glenville State University.

The Lady Firebirds will be led this year by super sophomore and pre-season honorable mention All-American post player Lillian McGill. McGill averaged a double double 2007-08 season with 13.4ppg and 10.4rpg.  She was also named to the ICAA First Team and was chosen a Freshman All-American in Division II.

In addition to McGill, the Lady Firebirds will be returning a nucleus of players especially in the backcourt with seniors Devaughn Hailey (8.3ppg, 2.9apg), Deyshia Williams (7.4ppg, 4.7rpg) and Jessica Edwards (2.6ppg). While juniors Nicole Cooper (6.9ppg, 40 3-pointers), Tiffany Church (5.5ppg, 2.6rpg.) and Tamara Watkins (4.4ppg, 3.1rpg) all expect to play bigger roles this year with the loss of Ashley Alexander (9.1ppg), Robin Williams (5.3ppg) and Eniola Bakare (4.1ppg, 5.0rpg), to graduation.

Coach Butler and his staff also welcome six  newcomers to the Lady Firebirds roster this season. Laquanda Brandon a 6'0” Guard/Forward and local product from Dunbar High School (DC) is a transfer from the University of Rhode Island by the way of West Virginia University. Coach Butler says “I expect big things from Laquanda this year. She has the ability to play 3 to 4 positions and cause a mismatch for other teams when she is on the court for us”

Stacy Griffith is a 6'0” Post player from Virginia Commonwealth University where she sat out last year. Coach Butler says “Stacy’s greatest assets are her ability to run the floor and be a superb athlete. I expect her to provide depth to our frontcourt this year.”

Tamonica Brackins is a 6'0” post player from Longwood University where she played sparingly as a freshman.  Coach Butler says “I expect Tamonica to come in with her playing experience and challenge for playing time immediately at both the power forward and center positions.”

Shahara Johnson is a 6'3” center transfer from Hampton University where she sat out last year and logged double digits minutes in her freshman and sophomore campaigns.  Coach Butler says “Shahara is going to play a major role for us this year. Her ability to score in the post and to shoot the 15ft jumper will open up other options on the team and in turn makes us as better as a whole.”
 
Ciera Moore is a 6'0” post player from Williamstown High School in Williamstown, New Jersey.  Coach Butler says “Ciera is arguably the most athletic player on the roster this year.  She started slow but turned it on toward the end of pre-season workouts and I expect her to push for quality minutes if she continues to develop”

Jasmine Rich is a 5'7” point guard from Willingboro High School in Willingboro, New Jersey.  She led her high school team to the NJ state playoffs during her four years there. Coach Butler says “Jasmine is a prototype point guard, she gets the team involved and makes great decisions with the ball and just makes everyone around her better. She should challenge for minutes in the backcourt immediately”
“I’m very excited about the nucleus of veterans and newcomers to the program” said Coach Butler “I expect this team to be one of the top teams in the new look Atlantic Region this year and expect nothing less than another Independent Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.”