Tournament History

Tournament Program

Tournament Live Stats

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University women's basketball team will kick off the 2008-09 regular season by hosting the 11th annual Wolf's Bus Lines Classic from Heiges Field House this Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16.

This year's field consists of the University of Charleston, the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), East Stroudsburg and the host Lady Raiders. The four teams combined for 69 victories on just 43 defeats last season, and each program boasts high hopes for a long postseason this year.

Shippensburg (19-9) heads into the 2008-09 season as the premier team in the PSAC Eastern Division and begins its first season in the new division following a conference re-alignment that includes the addition of Mercyhurst and Gannon to the Western Division.

This season, the Lady Raiders will be vying for a third-straight appearance in the PSAC Women's Basketball Championship and the team's 14th in the last 15 seasons. The team returns six letter winners from last year's squad, including four starters.

Seven true freshmen have joined the squad and complement a group of returning veterans that includes junior Lauren Beckley, the PSAC Western Division Player of the Year last season, senior Elise Mercer and sophomore Kasey Gardner.

Head coach Kristy Trn '93/'94M begins her 10th season at the helm of the Lady Raiders in 2008 and has been a full-time coach at Shippensburg since 1994. The two-time PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year has a career record of 169-91 overall and has guided the team to seven winning seasons.

Charleston (17-11) is a perennially sound regional opponent that is looking to rebound from a 14-6 conference mark that was deemed a disappointment because it ended a five-year run in which the team had at least 20 victories per season.

Eighth-year head coach Sherry Winn has a strong group of athletes in place looking to rebound and obtain a top-three spot in the WVIAC. Seniors Veronica Carman, Jen DeMeyer, and Jihan Williams are returning leaders for the Eagles that worked hard over the summer to help the team return to form.

Carman averaged 11.6 points per game last season, while Williams delivered 10.6 points per game. Junior Kaitlyn Arick averaged 9.7 points per game and is the team's leading returner in three-point shooting, having made 39 triples last year. 

East Stroudsburg (12-15) features one of the conference's impact forwards in Jackie Yandrisevits. The senior is a two-time first team All-PSAC East selection and was the top scorer in the PSAC East last season with 16.0 points per game while leading ESU with 6.4 rebounds per game. She enters her senior season with 1,240 career points, within reach of the school record of 1,733 held by Claudine Simard (1988-92).

Yandrisevits is joined by three other returning starters for the ESU women - senior guard Keri Cahill, junior forward DeAnna Rayam and junior guard Mel Villano. Sophomore Kristen Murray will also be a key contributor in the backcourt.

Juliene Simpson begins her eighth season as head women's basketball coach at East Stroudsburg University after leading the Warriors to consecutive PSAC East championships in 2005-06 and 2006-07 and earning PSAC East Coach of the Year honors both seasons.

UDC (21-8) won the Independent School Division II National Championship last season after posting an overall record of 21-8, the most victories for the program in over 10 years. The Lady Firebirds boast a solid defense, finishing last year among the nation's Top 30 teams in scoring defense.

The Lady Firebirds are guided by the 2007-08 Independent Collegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) Coach of the Year, Lester L. Butler Jr. The fifth-year head coach has guided the team to 38 victories over the last two seasons and installed a quality environment where his players can thrive.

The Lady Firebirds return several talented athletes, including pre-season honorable mention All-American Lillian McGill. The sophomore post presence averaged a double-double in her freshman season with 13.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game and was named to the ICAA First Team and was chosen a Freshman All-American in Division II.

Like host Shippensburg, UDC is receiving votes in the USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Tournament Schedule:

Saturday, November 15
East Stroudsburg vs. Charleston, 1 PM 
Box Score

UDC vs. Shippensburg, 3 PM
Box Score

Sunday, November 16
East Stroudsburg vs. UDC, 1 PM

Charleston vs. Shippensburg, 3 PM