HARROGATE, Tenn. -  Coming off a lengthy break and adverse circumstances due to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Lincoln Memorial University women's basketball team will look to excel in their first season with a new staff, led by head coach Devan Carter. Carter, who spent the past five seasons at South Atlantic Conference rival Tusculum, will look to get the program back to its winning ways of a few seasons ago.

During his five seasons at Tusculum, Carter accumulated a 79-59 record, including the 2020 South Atlantic Conference tournament championship. The 2019-20 Lady Pioneers finished with a 24-7 (16-6 SAC) record and had secured the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional.

The staff has a distinct Tusculum feel to it as all three other members of the staff were there with Carter a year ago. Jourdan Sanders, who played at St. Andrews University, spent one season under Carter as a graduate assistant and then last season as a full-time assistant.

Ashley Rodriguez spent last season as a graduate assistant under Carter after a distinguished playing career at fellow South Atlantic Conference rival Lenoir-Rhyne. After coming to Harrogate, Rodriguez was elevated to a full-time assistant position.

Graduate assistant Sydney Wilson is no stranger to Carter and his coaching style, as she spent the past five seasons playing in the orange and black. Wilson will add a unique aspect to the coaching staff as she is the only individual to have played under Carter.

Last season saw former head coach Krystal Evans resign before the season, and the program turned to assistant coach Eric Brewton, Jr. to lead the way. Although the team qualified for the postseason as they earned their way to the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference tournament, the program has their eyes on bigger and better goals.

The team returns several key pieces from last year, including seniors Semajia Ogburn, Addi Kirkpatrick, and Maggie Jachimczuk. Lexi Kiser also enters her fourth year in the program, but redshirted earlier in her career and will have one season of eligibility remaining.

Kiser returns the most scoring punch from last season as she averaged seven points and 2.7 rebounds per contest. Jachimczuk held down the fort in the post during her time on the court last season as she averaged 6.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Ogburn, Kirkpatrick, and junior Jordan Maney all provided strong contributions off the bench with the first two providing a post presence and the latter providing consistent energy on the court.

Junior Lindsay Proffitt and sophomore Lauren Flowers will also look to be strong contributors on the court this season. Flowers, who led the team in scoring with 11.3 points per game last season, scored 25 points in her first collegiate game and provides a scoring presence at all times. Proffitt is the team's shooting specialist and is coming off a season where she averaged 7.6 points and four rebounds per contest. 

Similarly to last season, sophomores Harper Russell, Tytiaira Spikes, and Grace Day will look to be contributors off the bench as they each saw limited action last season. So far Day has provided added depth in the post, while Russell and Spikes bring experience and acumen to the guard position.

Newcomers Alex Canady, Nakia Weston, Jaylah Mays, Hallie Treva, and Kassidy Kenny fill out Carter's first roster. Canady has two years of NCAA Division II playing experience as she spent the last two season with the USC Aiken Pacers. During the 2019-20 season, Canady averaged 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Treva and Kenny are freshmen of note as they were committed to Carter at Tusculum before following him to Harrogate.

Season-Opening Tip-Off
On Saturday, Nov. 21, the Railsplitters open up their 2020-21 season with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off against Newbery College inside B. Frank "Tex" Turner Arena. After a mid-week road tilt at Coker on Tuesday, Nov. 24, LMU comes back from Thanksgiving by hosting Tusculum University Saturday, Nov. 28 at 2:00 p.m.
 
Limited Attendance
Due to the ongoing public health crisis of the COVID-19 global pandemic, LMU Athletics has a revised attendance policy for home basketball games during the 2020-21 season. Tex Turner Arena will have a limited capacity of 10% in an effort of promoting and prioritizing the health and safety of student-athletes and game day personnel. The following groups of individuals are the only permitted attendees for home LMU athletic events held inside Tex Turner Arena: student-athlete pass list designees, L Club members, 50 students, dignitaries and game day personnel. In line with LMU's COVID-19 policies and protocols, specific guidelines have been outlined to keep the health and safety of the LMU community the athletic department's top priority. For LMU Athletics' complete COVID-19 game day policies, please click here.

LMU L Club
Register to become an L Club member today. All LMU L-Club members receive basketball season tickets with premium seating available through silver and platinum memberships. Additional membership benefits include discounts at community partner locations, exclusive e-mail communications, VIP basketball parking and Tex Turner Arena hospitality room access. Become an LMU L-Club member today by visiting LMURailsplitters.com.  
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Lady Railsplitter basketball leading up to the 2020-21 season.