2003-2004 Women's Basketball Pre-Season Notebook

Oct. 15, 2003

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Georgia will face 24 teams during the upcoming campaign. Morehead State, the Lady Bulldogs' opponent on Dec. 29 at the Comfort Suites Classic in Richmond, Ky., is the only first-time foe on the slate.

The Lady Dogs have compiled a 315-139 record (.694) record against teams on their 2003-04 schedule. Georgia is an even more impressive 172-64 (.729) against those same teams in the locales - home, away or neutral - this year's games will be contested.

Results vs. 2003-04 Oppoents
Opponent	Overall	Locale
Alabama	21-9	10-3
Arkansas	17-2	7-1
Auburn	18-11	6-5
Eastern Kentucky	3-0	1-0
Florida	33-8	32-7
Furman	5-0	2-0
Georgia Southern	16-9	6-6
Georgia State	15-10	8-4
Georgia Tech	24-1	6-1
Houston	2-1	1-0
Kentucky	23-8	19-8
LSU	17-8	8-3
Middle Tennessee	9-0	2-0
Ole Miss	20-7	15-4
Mississippi State	17-10	6-6
N.C. State	7-0	1-0
Santa Clara	1-0	0-0
South Carolina	21-4	19-3
South Florida	3-0	1-0
Stanford	2-5	0-2
Tennessee	13-30	7-7
Texas	3-1	2-0
Vanderbilt	25-15	13-4

Freshmen Starters On Tap?
With a trio of former high school All-Americans joining the Lady Bulldogs' roster this fall, it's almost a certainty that Georgia will feature at least one freshman in its starting lineup at some point during the 2003-04 campaign.

Freshmen in the starting lineup is a long-standing tradition at Georgia.

In fact, Andy Landers has started at least one freshman during all but three seasons - 1994-95, 1995-96, 2000-01. The Lady Bulldogs started lineups consisting of five freshmen at times during the 1987-88 and 1993-94 campaigns.

"We do have a history of starting freshmen," Landers said. "It's not necessarily something that you want to do, but sometimes you need to do it or it can, in fact, be the best thing to do."

Sherill Baker, Marquita Driskell and Alexis Kendrick were relative regulars in the starting five last season. They became the 49th, 50th and 51st freshmen to get the nod during Landers' first 24 seasons in Athens.

Kendrick was the only Lady Bulldog to start all 31 games during the 2002-03 campaign, while Baker and Driskell started 25 and 16 games, respectively.

A total of 18 freshmen have started their collegiate debuts for Landers' Lady Bulldogs: Cynthia Collins in 1979-80; Murray and Lou Sims in 1980-81; Janet Harris in 1981-82; Tammye Jenkins and Adrienne Shuler in 1987-88; Lady Hardmon in 1988-89; Camille Lowe in 1989-90; Kim "K.T" Thompson in 1992-93; La'Keshia Frett and Tracy Henderson in 1993-94; Coco Miller, Kelly Miller and Elena Vishniakova in 1997-98; Kara Braxton, Whitney Law and Jessica Pierce in 2001-02; and Kendrick last year.

Regaining Superiority In GA
Georgia's 65-61 loss to Georgia Tech in last year's Russell Athletic Shootout was not only the Lady Jackets' first win over UGA in 25 tries, it also ended the Lady Bulldogs' 54-game winning streak versus other colleges and universities in the Peach State.

It had been more than two decades since the Lady Dogs had lost to an in-state foe. Georgia's most recent previous such setback to an was a 79-77 overtime loss to Georgia State way back on Jan. 6, 1981 - Andy Landers' second seasons in Athens.

The Lady Bulldogs have three in-state opponents on their 2003-04 schedule. UGA opens the year against Georgia State in Athens on Friday, Nov. 21 and then facing Georgia Southern in Statesboro on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Georgia will meet Georgia Tech in the third annual Shootout on Saturday, Dec. 27 at Philips Arena in Atlanta.

Lady Dogs Remain At No. 5 All-Time
Georgia finished No. 19 in the final edition of the 2002-03 Associated Press top-25 rankings, earning seven points in the all-time AP poll in the process.

Those rankings are compiled by awarding points for a team's finish in each final poll annually and then combining those points. For example, Connecticut collected 25 points in the all-time poll calculations for finishing No. 1 last season, while No. 2 Duke received 24, etc., etc.

During the last nine seasons, Georgia has climbed from No. 12 in the all-time poll to its current position of No. 5. The Lady Dogs have finished among the top-10 teams in 12 of the last 21 years. In addition, two more squads - UGA's 1995 and 1999 Final Four units - completed the year at No. 12.

Since the 1981-82 season, all but two editions of the Lady Bulldogs - the 1992-93 and 1993-94 teams - have earned top-10 rankings at one point during the year.

The updated leaders in the all-time AP poll are listed below, as are as Georgia's final finishes annually since 1983.

Georgia's Final AP Rankings
Year	Rank
1983	No. 9
1984	No. 3
1985	No. 8
1986	No. 2
1987	No. 6
1988	No. 17
1989	No. 10
1990	No. 7
1991	No. 3
1992	NR
1993	No. 21
1994	NR
1995	No. 12
1996	No. 5
1997	No. 6
1998	NR
1999	No. 12
2000	No. 4
2001	No. 4
2002	NR
2003	No. 19

All-Time AP Women's Basketball Poll
1. Tennessee 576
2. Louisiana Tech 504
3. Texas 329
4. Old Dominion 302
5. Georgia 286

Looking To Climb On Career Lists
Several Lady Bulldogs enter the season looking to make their marks among Georgia's career statistical leaders.

Christi Thomas and Kara Braxton open the campaign already ranked No. 6 and No. 8 on the Lady Bulldogs' career leaders ledger for blocked shots. Their current standings among UGA's top shot swatters of all time are listed at the end of this note.

Thomas has made 432 shots from the floor as a Lady Bulldog, including 180 a year ago. Similar results this season would push her among UGA's career FGs made leaders.

Alexis Kendrick hit a freshman-record 52 three-pointers in 143 attempts from behind the arc in 2003-04. With 15 treys and nine attempts, she will move into the top-10 career leaders in those categories.

Thomas has connected on 248 of 380 trips to the free throw line in her first three seasons in Athens. She is 19 makes and 31 attempts from joining those career top-10 lists.

Kendrick dished out 158 assists last season, the second-most ever by a UGA freshman. The same production this winter would move Kendrick onto the career assists lists.

Blocked Shots
No.	Player (Games Played)	Years
287	Tawana McDonald (124)	1998-02
290	Katrina McClain (125)	1983-87
267	Tracy Henderson (122)	1993-97
179	Barbara Bootz (126)	1983-87
163	Tammye Jenkins (115)	1987-91
143	Christi Thomas (89)	2000-03
104	Wanda Holloway (134)	1980-84
102	Kara Braxton (51)	2001-03
85	La'Keshia Frett (122)	1993-97
59	Brandi Decker (123)	1993-97

Updating Our Greatest Note Ever
The Lady Dogs have added a nice chunk to what is perhaps the greatest statistical indicator in college athletics - bar none.

In nine of its wins, Georgia has improved its astronomical winning record under Andy Landers when the Lady Dogs have scored more than 80 points. Semantically, that means 81 points or more, but "more than 80" is a whole lot easier to say.

The Lady Dogs are now 342-5 when they've scored more than 80 points under Landers - an almost unfathomable winning percentage of 98.55907781.

Georgia's most recent loss when topping the 80 or more plateau was an 84-82 setback to Mississippi State on Jan. 13, 2002.

A Birthday Bonanza On Tap
No matter how the season takes shape, Georgia will definitely have its cake and eat it, too. Six players and associate head coach Michael Shafer will celebrate their birthdays during the campaign as outlined below.

Person (B-Day)
Jessica Pierce (11/30)
Rebecca Rowsey (12/23)
Sherill Baker (12/3)
Alexis Kendrick (1/3)
Michael Shafer (1/4)
Kara Braxton (2/18)
Katie Frye (3/9)

There's some cake at stake for Landers!
Andy Landers enters this season in pursuit of two major milestones. One - his 600th victory at the University of Georgia - is (knocking heavily on wood) a relative foregone conclusion. The second - his 700th career win - would also supply reason to celebrate the most successful season in Lady Bulldog history.

Landers is 585-179 in his first 24 seasons at UGA. Considering the fewest wins by any of his teams is 16, that by his first-ever squad, Landers' chances of reaching No. 600 this winter seem to be a safe bet.

Landers will likely ascend to the milestone at the third-fastest pace in women's hoops history as outlined below.

It would take 33 victories for Landers to attain his 700th victory as a women's collegiate head coach. He compiled an 82-21 mark in four seasons at Roane State College in Harriman, Tenn., from 1975-79 before coming to Athens in 1979.

To date, only Summitt and Conradt have reached the 700-win milestone; however C. Vivian Stringer begins the 2003-04 season 26 victories shy of that mark.

Paces To 600 Wins
Rk.	Coach, School	Games to 600
1.	Pat Summitt, Tennessee	734
2.	Jody Conradt, Texas	746
3.	C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers	785
4.	Rene Portland, Penn State	809
5.	Theresa Grentz, Illinois	843
6.	Kay Yow, N.C. State	846
7.	Sylvia Hatchell, N. Carolina	847
8.	Sue Gunter, LSU	869
Closing in in 2003-04
	Coach, School	Current Wins	Current Games
	Mike Granelli, St. Peter's	592	825
	Andy Landers, Georgia	585	764
	Joe Ciampi, Auburn	585	789
	Debbie Ryan, Virginia	577	800

Lady Bulldog Quick Hitters...
Some information which may or may not be hidden in the player bios but is worth definite mention:

Tina Taylor was within 312 assists of the national prep record entering her senior season at Longview High before injuring her right knee early in the season. FYI, she had 312 assists as a junior.
After 20 years as an only child, Christi Thomas' parents gave her a little brother on May 13, 2003.
Sherill Baker is good friends with Brian Jordan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. A former Atlanta Brave (and Atlanta Falcon), Jordan's children attended Baker's school, Greater Atlanta Christian.
Jessica Pierce led Washington High to a perfect 31-0 record and the 2001 Florida 4A State Championships. WHS was the only undefeated prep basketball team - boys' or girls' - in Florida that season.
Janese Hardrick broke the Cobb County career scoring record by 1,000 points, pouring in more than 2,600 points in four seasons at McEachern High.
Cori Chambers was interviewed for an ESPN edition of Outside the Lines on the development of women's basketball and the emergence of the WNBA.
Alexis Kendrick participated in the inaugural McDonald's All-American High School Basketball game for girls' basketball played at Madison Square Garden.
Katie Frye's parents, Rick and Marsha, both were collegiate student-athletes at Colorado State. Rick played basketball while Marsha was a swimmer.
Ebony Felder was the first second-generation Parade magazine All-American in girls' basketball. Pam (McDonald) Felder was a member of the publication's first-ever girls team in 1977.
Rebecca Rowsey scored on a three-point play in OT as Chester County beat McNairy Central 7-5 in the semifinals of the 2003 Region 6AA Tourney - the lowest-scoring game in the history of the Tennessee girls' state tournament.
Kara Braxton's father, Quentin, starred collegiately at Portland (Ore.) State and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1975.

Which was better...welcoming a baby brother or winning a World Title
Christi Thomas certainly enjoyed an eventful off-season.

On May 13, Thomas ended her 20-year career as an only child when she and her parents Maurice and Delores welcomed a baby boy (Corey). Thomas spent much of last season sharing her excitement of becoming a sister with pictures of ultrasounds.

"It's already amazing being able to see him grow," Thomas said. "Even though he's only five months old, it's unbelievable to see how much he's changed over such a short period of time. Corey will pretty much grow up like an only child, too. I think I'll be more like a second momma to him than a sister."

In July and August, Thomas helped lead the United States win the gold medal at the inaugural World Championships for Young Women (under-21) in Sibenik, Croatia. Thomas earned a spot on the All-Tournament team after averaging 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in the Americans' three medal-round games. She scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to help the U.S. top Brazil, 71-55, in the gold medal game.

"This is one of the best things in the world," Thomas said. "Not many people can say they've played for a gold medal and represented their country. It's an unbelievable honor and privilege."

University of Georgia Athletics

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