LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. –The Lincoln University women's basketball team will start from the ground up this season.
   
The Lady Lions usher in a new head coach and will look to bounce back from a 3-24 season in 2010-2011.
 
Jessica Kern is no stranger to collegiate athletics, having ran track & field at Penn State University and played women's professional basketball overseas. Her knowledge of the sport led her to the collegiate ranks as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin.
 
Kern takes over a program in search of the right winning formula and in the offseason, the first-year coach is on the right path by mixing five key returners with several newcomers. The newcomers feature freshman and several collegiate transfers.

RETURNERS

Lincoln returns five players off last year's team and one member returning from the 2009-2010 season to the hardwood.
 
The Lady Lions will look to none other than senior Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS).
 
DuBose (G, 5-6, Salisbury, Md.) surpassed the 1,000-point plateau as a junior, reaching the feat against Chowan on Jan. 24, 2011. Last season, DuBose had 16 double-digit scoring games, including scoring more than 20 points five times. She led the team in scoring by averaging 13.2 points and shot 37.5 percent (106-of-283) from the floor and was 103-of-134 (77 percent) from the free-throw line.

“Entering her senior season, Sharay will be looked to not only for scoring, but leadership,” Kern said. “Her load will be a bit less this year and she will be able to focus on her trade of creating shots and stroking it from the outside.”
 
Cynthia Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute), who was selected to the All-CIAA Rookie Team last season, will look to settle in at the point position. Johnson (SO, PG, 5-7, Randallstown, Md.) averaged 7.6 points, while shooting 29.7 percent from the floor. She had seven double-digit scoring games, including pouring in a career-high 15 points twice (at Chowan on Feb. 10, 2011 and vs. Shaw on Feb. 28).
 
 “CJ will have help at the point position this year and will settle in to her true position of a slasher,” Kern said. “Her quickness and knack for the fast break will fit in well with our transition offense.”
 
Another key returner is Brittney Waters (Capitol Heights, Md./Charles H. Flowers). Waters (JR, SG, 5-10, Capitol Heights, Md.) was second on the team in scoring by averaging 10.0 points per game. She shot 29.8 percent and had 10 double-digit scoring games. Her biggest output was 26 points on Feb. 24 against Saint Paul's College.
 
 “A true scorer that has yet to reach her potential,” Kern said. “Brittney worked very hard in the offseason and has become a leader thus far in the season. Teams can look forward to more than just 3-pointers from her this year.”
 
Mfon Ekanem (Springdale, Md./C.H. Flowers HS) will be depended on in the middle to bolster the post position. Ekanem (JR, C, 6-2, Springdale, Md.) played and started in all 26 games last season for the Lady Lions. She averaged 2.2 points and scored a career-high six points twice (vs. Millersville on Dec. 12, 2010 and vs. Saint Paul's on Feb. 5, 2011). Although she didn't figure much in the scoring category, Ekanem was a force on the boards, averaging 7.1 rebounds. She registered double-digit rebounds in eight games and pulled down a career-high 16 at Elizabeth City State on Feb. 8, 2011.
 
 “Mfon has committed herself not only to the weight room, but in preseason training,” Kern said. “A rebounding threat last season - she will be a threat on both ends of the court this year. Her ability to find the ball has raised the bar for our other post players.”
 
Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) (JR, SF, 5-8, Pittsburgh, Pa.) saw limited action last season by playing in 11 games and starting in four. She averaged 7.0 points per game and pulled down 5.9 rebound per game. In 217 minutes, McIntosh was 29-of-66 shooting for 44 percent. She scored a career-high 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her only double-double of the season at Washington Adventist on Jan. 4, 2011.
 
 “Tahlar is coming back to us from an ACL tear and has worked very hard in rehab in the offseason and over the summer,” Kern said. “With the diligence of NovaCare and her toughness, we welcome her back as a great rebounder and threat from all spots on the floor.”
 
The last returner didn't play during the 2010-2011 season. Tequila Jimenez (South Jersey, N.J./Cumberland Regional HS) (SR, F, 6-2, South Jersey, N.J.) rejoins the squad after a year off. In 2009-2010, Jimenez played in 25 games, starting in five. She averaged 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds. In 192 minutes, Jimenez was 28-of-68 shooting for 41.2 percent.
 
 “Tequila joins us from the 2009-2010 roster,” Kern said. “Her height and soft touch around the basket assists us in rebounding, extending defenses and depth at the center position.”

NEWCOMERS

Lincoln welcomes seven new players to the team, including four junior college transfers, one Division I transfer, one senior and two freshmen.
 
Synae Williams (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter HS) (JR, G/F, 5-8, Philadelphia, Pa.) comes to Lincoln from North Carolina A&T. Prior to joining the team at North Carolina A&T, Williams scored a career-high 26 points for Imhotep Charter High School against Paul Robeson in 2007.
 
 “Synae comes to us from North Carolina A&T, and we consider her a well-kept secret,” Kern said. “Syane's retention of schemes and plethora of fundamental skills allows her to be a threat at all positions.”
 
Denyse Moore (Hampton, Va./Woodside HS) is another transfer, coming to the Lady Lions from ASA Community College. Moore (JR, PG/SG, 5-7, Hampton, Va.) may have been one of the biggest recruiting steals for the first-year head coach. Moore, who chose Lincoln over Old Dominion, William & Mary and Hampton, has career highs of 26 points, 11 assists, 10 steals and nine boards while at Woodside High School, where she earned back-to-back All-Second Team District honors.
 
 “Denyse is an explosive guard that came to us via ASA College/Delaware State,” Kern said. “Her quickness on both ends of the court, scoring and leadership abilities will help us tremendously this year.”
 
Another solid transfer and teammate of Moore is Darleen McLeod (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy HS). McLeod (JR, SF/PF, 5-10, Bronx, N.Y.) was a First-Team All-City selection while at John F. Kennedy High School.
 
 “Darleen, an ASA College transfer, will be a presence in the post defensively and offensively be able to stretch the defense with her outside presence,” Kern said.
 
The final trio that comes to Lincoln from ASA Community College is Leryencia Miller. Miller (JR, PF, 6-0, Brooklyn, N.Y.), who was a McDonald's All-American nominee, helped guide Saint Peter's High School to a 14th straight Staten Island Championship.
 
 “Leryencia was a highly decorated Division I recruit,” Kern said. “We were lucky to have her as an additional threat in the paint.”
 
Krystal Fluellen (New York, N.Y./Richard Green HS) (JR, SF/PF, 6-0, New York, N.Y.) comes to Lincoln from Mohawk Community College where she helped guide the school to the 2011 Regional Championship with a 30-2 record. She was selected to the All-Regional, All-Conference and National All-Tournament teams.
 
 “Krystal gives a flexibility in that she can defend, shoot the long ball and play in the paint,” Kern said.
 
The pair of freshmen making their collegiate debuts are Courtney Lucas (Washington, DC/Friendship Collegiate Academy) and Alaysia Washington (Washington, DC/Friendship Collegiate Academy)
 
Lucas (FR, G/F, 5-10, Washington, D.C.) played at Friendship Collegiate Academy where she helped the squad to four straight championships, including going undefeated in conference play last season.
 
 “Courtney was a highly sought incoming freshman throughout the CIAA,” Kern said. “We are gracious she chose Lincoln to be her home and her long frame coupled with athleticism and a mature basketball IQ is a threat.”
 
A teammate with Lucas at Friendship Collegiate Academy was Washington. Washington (FR, PG, 5-4, Washington, D.C.) also helped the school to four straight championships and garnered the 2009 MVP at the Carroll Christmas Tournament. She was selected 2010 WCSAA All-Conference and 2010 MVP of Championship game.
 
 “Alaysia will be a quick blur if you blink,” Kern said. “We are anxious to see her push the ball in our free-flowing offense.”
 
Jacque Dorsey (Parkesburg, Pa./Octorara HS) (SR, F, 5-7, Parkesburg, Pa.) is in her final year at Lincoln and will be a solid addition to the squad.
 
 “Although undersized, Jacque plays her role well and is efficient around the basket,” Kern said.

THE SCHEDULE
   

The Lady Lions begin the 2011-2012 season on the road at the Ohio Valley University Conference Challenge and follow that two-day tournament with a road game at Georgian Court.
 
Lincoln's home opener comes Nov. 16 at Manuel Rivero Hall as the Lady Lions take on Washington Adventist. Two days later, the annual rivalry renews as Lincoln meets Cheyney in the “Battle of the Firsts” at the Liacouras Center at Temple University. November ends with a road contest on the 28th against Bloomsburg and a home game on the 30th versus Philadelphia University.
 
Only three games highlight the month of December as Lincoln plays host to St. Thomas Aquinas on the 3rd and then 13 days later, travels to Central State before Christmas Break. The Lady Lions conclude the 2011 portion of the schedule Dec. 30 at Kutztown.
 
Just two days after ringing in the new year, Lincoln plays host to Ohio Valley - it's second matchup between the two schools - on Jan. 2. A road trip three days later awaits as the Lady Lions open CIAA play. Three straight home games from Jan. 7-12 highlight the schedule as Livingstone, Johnson C, Smith and Fayetteville State come to Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
However, Lincoln spends the next five games, including four CIAA contests on the road, first at Winston-Salem State on the 14th. Trips to Shaw, Elizabeth City State, Chowan and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore await. The end of the month features back-to-back home games as Bowie State and Virginia Union come to town.
 
Much like the end of January, the beginning of February features three consecutive home games as Virginia State, Elizabeth City State and Chowan all make an appearance at Lincoln. The following three games will end conference play as the Lady Lions travel to Bowie State, Virginia Union and Virginia State. The CIAA Basketball Tournament, played in Charlotte, N.C., at the Time Warner Cable Arena, begins Feb. 27 and will run until March 3.