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Next step for UD women's basketball? NCAA tournament

That is the hope of coach Jim Jabir for Flyers, picked 3rd in A-10 preseason poll.

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 3:32 AM Thursday, October 22, 2009

DAYTON — The University of Dayton women’s basketball team reached a milestone last year, producing its first NCAA Division I postseason victory. But seventh-year coach Jim Jabir isn’t one to be satisfied with the status quo.

“We just want to keep building,” he said. “I have this fear, I guess you could call it, of backsliding. We don’t want to go backwards. We want to continue our momentum and keep improving every year.”

The Atlantic 10 coaches certainly expect improvement from the Flyers, who return their top seven scorers and were picked to finish in a tie for third with Richmond in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.

Xavier is the overwhelming favorite to win the league, receiving 12 first-place votes, followed by Charlotte at No. 2.

The preseason A-10 ranking is the highest ever for the Flyers, who were picked ninth a year ago but reached the league tourney semifinals. Junior Kristin Daugherty and sophomore Justine Raterman were both second-team A-10 preseason selections, while sophomore Casey Nance was named to the league all-defensive team.

The Flyers have made back-to-back WNIT appearances, advancing to the second round last season and losing in the final seconds to Indiana. But Jabir has beefed up the schedule and believes his team is ready to compete with the top teams in the nation.

“We want to go to the NCAA tournament,” Jabir said. “I really feel this year — and it’s the first year I can say this — if we don’t go to the NCAA tournament, I think our kids will be very, very disappointed. That says something about where we’ve come and the expectations we have of ourselves.”

The Flyers open the season against Michigan State, a Sweet 16 participant last year, at UD Arena on Nov. 13 and then host national runner-up Louisville on Nov. 15.

Atlantic 10 preseason all-conference

First team
Name	Class	Pos.	Ht.
Amber Harris, Xavier	Jr.	F	6-5
Aysha Jones, Charlotte	Sr.	G	5-8
Dana Mitchell, St. Bonaventure	Sr.	F	6-1
Ta'Shia Phillips, Xavier	Jr.	C	6-6
Brittani Shells, Richmond	Jr.	G	5-7
Second team
Kristin Daugherty, Dayton	Jr.	F	6-0
LaKeisha Eaddy, Temple	Sr.	G	5-6
Shannon McCallum, Charlotte	Jr.	G	5-10
Justine Raterman, Dayton	So.	F	6-1
Amanda Kemezys, Saint Louis	Sr.	C	6-4
Third team
Brittany Ford, Saint Joseph's	Sr.	F	6-1
Special Jennings, Xavier	Jr.	G	5-6
Kristen McCarthy, Temple	So.	G/F	6-0
Samantha Pollino, Duquesne	Jr.	F	6-0
Kerri Pryor, Duquesne	Sr.	G	5-10
All-defensive team
LaKeisha Eaddy, Temple	Sr.	G	5-6
Amber Harris, Xavier	Jr.	F	6-5
Casey Nance, Dayton	So.	C	6-4
Ta'Shia Phillips, Xavier	Jr.	C	6-6
Brittani Shells, Richmond	Jr.	G	5-7