By Trevor Wenners
Assistant Director of Sports Information
Links: Audio | Video | Live Stats
LaGrange College women's basketball is officially back in action.
The Panthers will begin the 2020-21 season with an exhibition game at NCAA Division I Troy University of the Sun Belt Conference on Monday. The 7 p.m. Eastern Time game at Trojan Arena in Troy, Alabama, will be televised on ESPN+.
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Troy has gone 1-1 on the season, defeating Southeastern Louisiana, 81-69, on Nov. 27 and falling to Alabama A&M, 80-69, on Nov. 28. Alexus Dye is averaging team highs of 18.0 points and 12.0 rebounds.
"This is a great measuring stick game to see how far our student-athletes have come in their brief time together this year," said first-year LaGrange College women's basketball head coach Jasen Jonus. "Our players have worked their tails off in the fall semester during this unprecedented time. I already feel like we are moving in the right direction in terms of building a culture for long-term success. We are looking forward for an opportunity to compete against an exceptional and well-coached program in Troy."
The Panthers started practicing as a team on Oct. 1 in Mariotti Gym, adhering strictly to LaGrange College's return to sports plan. Jonus and assistant coaches Riley Chlupacek and Matthew Snyder have organized creative, safe and competitive practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a year filled with uncertainty, any chance to compete brings a smile to the players' faces.
"We have all been practicing and putting in a great deal of work now and in the preseason with the hopes of having a season, so we are all excited to play someone other than ourselves," said senior forward Megan English. "Having COVID-19 alter our season makes us appreciate every single day that we get to compete, whether it is practice or a game."
The Panthers will have 13 players active on Monday, featuring seniors Adreona Bowen, English, Jahpera McEachin and Nadia Montour, juniors Nia Johnson and Jalaya Lewis, sophomores Alerriya Butler, Breonna Glover, Morgan Grant, Hayleigh Reeves and Jada Strickland and freshmen Maria Riera Soriano and McKenzie Stabile.
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McEachin was a go-to player for the Panthers in 2019-20. She reached double figures in scoring during 15 of 26 games and led the team in points per game (10.6). At the conclusion of the season, McEachin earned USA South West Division second team laurels. The Federal Way, Washington, native scored the game-winning runner with four seconds left in a 67-65 win over Berry on Nov. 10, 2019.
Montour averaged 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in her junior campaign. She ranks sixth on the Panthers' all-time blocks list with 41. Bowen can step out and hit the 3-point shot, in addition to putting immense pressure on the defense in the low post.
On numerous occasions last winter, English drew charges in the Panthers' half-court defense. The Oakwood, Georgia, native has an impressive 3-point stroke and is a strong team defender. Lewis was an instant source of production off the bench. She is a multifaceted player, who knocks down mid-range jumpers, applies relentless on-ball pressure and makes positive things happen in the transition game.
Glover and Johnson excel in establishing position in the paint, generating second-chance opportunities and altering shots. Grant is an efficient player and is fundamentally sound. She rotates well on defense, rarely turns the ball over and is an unselfish teammate.
Reeves can stretch defenses with her long-range shooting, while Strickland is one of the hardest-working players on the team and strives to improve every day. The newcomers are looking to make an immediate impact when their numbers are called.
"We are all focused on starting the season off on the right foot and showing how hard we have been working," said Grant. "We have been preparing to play and having an opportunity gives us much more motivation to keep working hard."
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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