HARTSVILLE, S.C.- First year head coach Shannon Johnson starts a new era for Cobras women's basketball for 2015-16.
"I want them to compete every game, go out there work hard and try to get better each game and I know we can be successful," said Johnson.
Johnson brings an extensive basketball resume, coming to Coker from being an assistant coach at Division I Northwestern State. Johnson was an All-American and four-time All-SEC selection at the University of South Carolina. A native of Hartsville, Johnson is an Olympic Gold Medalist and seven-time WNBA All-Star. During her 10-year WNBA career she played for the Seattle Storm (2009), the Houston Comets (2008), the Detroit Shock (2007), the San Antonio Stars (2004-06), the Connecticut Sun (2003), and the Orlando Miracle (1999-2002).
The Cobras return several key pieces of the 2014-15 squad that went 11-17 including 7-15 in South Atlantic Conference play. Kiara Shoats returns for her senior season following a year in which she appeared in 27 games including nine starts, and averaged 16.3 minutes per game and 6.3 points per game. Lyric Levester comes into her junior year having played in all 28 games last season including nine starts. She averaged 14.1 minutes per game and 4.4 points per game as a sophomore. Sydney Shull comes into her sophomore season having played in all 28 games averaging 14.3 minutes per game. Her best performance came against Carson-Newman (1/17) where she poured in 20 points and pulled down six rebounds. She was 7-for-10 from the field and 4-for-5 from behind the arc in the game. Sophomore Kendra Lambert played in 25 games including two starts as a freshman. She averaged 8.8 minutes per game. A four-time letter winner in high school, Lambert scored 1,409 career points, averaging 21.1 points and 3.8 rebounds during her senior season. Marie Rothrock enters her sophomore season coming off an injury having appeared in seven games as a freshman. She averaged 14.0 minutes in those games, and looks to up that average this season.
"I'm happy that I have this group with me because the majority of them played all the minutes last year," said Johnson.
Coker welcomes first-year assistant coach Brittany Christian to the staff. Previously at Davis & Elkins, Christian worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator after a solid playing career at Lenoir-Rhyne.
The team also welcomes Jazz Green to the navy and gold after she transferred from the College of Charleston.
"The ball is going to be in her hands and I expect good things to happen," Johnson said of her senior transfer. Green was a standout player at Darlington High School where she earned 3A Player of the Year honors and was also named MVP her last two years. She was also a Ms. Hoop Zone Finalist her last two years. First-year assistant coach Brittany Christian said of Green "She's really stepped up as a leader; she only has one year left and she knows that."
The Cobras are picked ninth in the preseason South Atlantic Conference poll, with Anderson sitting atop the list. Coker will play in the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge and then face Augusta, Barton and UNC Pembroke before starting their South Atlantic Conference slate at Catawba on November 24. The next big dates for the team will be December 16 when they travel to preseason SAC favorite Anderson and February 6 when the Cobras host those same Trojans in Hartsville. The other pair of big dates will be January 6 when Coker travels to Wingate and February 17 when the Cobras face the Bulldogs at home. Wingate is picked second in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll.
Coker opens the season on November 13 when they face Limestone College in the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.