October 27, 2006
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
Head Evangel women’s coach Leon Neal continues to put the pieces of the puzzle back together. After his 2004-05 team won the program’s seventh Heart of America Athletic Conference title and advanced to the final four round of the NAIA II national tournament, Neal has been patiently finding players that will help him complete his puzzle and return to the national spotlight.
The 2005-06 team ended its season with a 15-16 record and tied with Baker for fourth place in the conference standings. The EU women put together an impressive eight-game winning streak in the middle of their season and battled Baker in three overtime periods before ending the 2005-06 campaign in the quarterfinal round of the conference post-season tourney.
The returning starters are Rachel Damanskis (5-7, Sr., G), Heidi Kalsbeck (6-2, Sr., C), Katie Leischner (5-9, Sr., G) and Amy Szczepanik (6-2, Sr., C). Damanskis earned honorable mention allconference plaudits last year. She will be in the spotlight in 2006-07 after posting averages of 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game last season. Damanskis also made 38.1 percent of her 3-pointers (32-84). Kalsbeck led the team with a 5.5 rebounds per game average and averaged 8.1 points. Leischner contributed 8.1 points per outing and was successful on 37.9 percent of her treys (55-145). Szczepanik averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.
Coming off the bench last season to add quality depth to the team and returning to contribute to the success of the 2006-07 season are Mallory Allen (5-7, So., G), Abi Brock (5-8, Sr., G), DeAndra Davis (5-9, So., G), Kate Prentice (5-10, Jr., F) and Kristin Metzger (6-1, Jr., C). All return to the 2006-07 EU team. Metzger made her playing time count by averaging 4.4 rebounds per game - third highest on the team. Brock averaged 21.5 minutes per game last season to give the 2006-07 Lady Crusaders added experience at the guard spot.
In addition to his nine returning letter winners from last season, Neal, who is beginning his 13th year in 2006-07 as the EU women’s head coach, has added April Allbritton (6-0, Fr., C, West Palm Beach, Fla.), Samantha Haraldson (6-0, Fr., C, Morrisville, Mo.) and Brianna Mingus (5-6, Fr., G, Rogersville , Mo. ) to his upcoming roster.
The 2006-07 Evangel roster, however, will be without the services of three letter winners, including one starter. The lost starter is Stephanie Lansdown (5-5, G). Lansdown started three years in a row. She earned second team all-conference honors in 2005-06 and was EU’s only double-figure scorer (10.5). Also not returning are Katie Burger (6-0, G) and Debreon Davis (6-1, C). Both players were solid in the paint and Burger, a guard, had an accurate outside shot.
Whether or not the 2006-07 team can find the right pieces to complete Neal puzzle and head back to the national tournament remains to be seen. The one given is that this year’s team plans to play each game as if it is a championship game. With that focus, the 2006-07 team hopes to find all the pieces to help complete Neal’s puzzle.