Members of the University of Georgia women’s basketball team met the media Wednesday, now less than two weeks away from the start of a new season: fifth-year senior Jordan Cole and the Lady Dogs open at home, November 6 against North Carolina A&T.
From Tray Littlefield, UGA Sports Communications...
University of Georgia women’s basketball head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, along with student-athletes Asia Avinger, Chloe Chapman and Jordan Cole, previewed the upcoming season during Wednesday’s Media Day at Stegeman Coliseum.
In its second season under the leadership of Coach ABE, Georgia returns nine players and welcomes four newcomers.
Georgia was the only SEC team to not have a single player enter the transfer portal this offseason. Joining the returners are redshirt-freshmen Savannah Henderson, Stefanie Ingram and Fatima Diakhate, to go along with three transfers (Asia Avinger, Taniyah Thompson and Destiny Thomas) and a true freshman (Miyah Verse).
Single-game tickets went on sale earlier this week. They can be purchased at this link — WBB Tickets — or by calling the UGA Ticket Office at 706-542-1231.
Below are a few remarks from Wednesday’s media session.
Head Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson
On preparing for the upcoming season …
“It has been great. It is a whole new team. We are trying to find combinations. We are trying to find leadership. We are trying to find who is going to be the first up off the bench, and who are going to be the starters. We are really trying to find everything.”
On who has stepped up this season to earn sports in the lineup…
“I think we are going to win by committee. Javyn (Nicholson) is stepping into that role. She has too. She did last year. Same with Jordan (Cole). The guard position is what is the questionable part for us right now … Obviously, I know who I think is going to, but I need to see game situations and how things are going to pan out.”
On the transfers and what they bring to the team…
“They really filled the roles and the spots that we lost. Asia (Avinger) is a point guard. Taz (Taniyah Thompson) is a 2-3 guard that really fills that role. Destiny (Thomas) fills Brittney (Smith)’s role. We kind of filled the spots. I really knew them all before I came to Georgia. I had recruited them all before and liked them. I loved the way they played. I watched them and followed their careers. When they went into the portal, they were a perfect fit for us.”
#20 Jordan Cole || 5th-year || Forward
On the new dynamic of the team…
“It has been exciting learning new people. I think that is the best part with the new coaching staff and them coming last year. We are just learning new people, being open and being ready to adapt to new people. It has been amazing.”
On the expectations for the year…
“They will expect us to play the same. We are going to play by committee. Everybody is going to bring their part to the table. We are still going to be really fiery defensively and really try to get after you and get loose balls. It is the same principle just different team.”
On what she worked on in the offseason…
“For me, it was my midrange shot, getting to the basket, finishing and working on my free throws. My free throw percentage was terrible last year. That is not like me. I was in the gym working on my game. I still want to get after it defensively as well. Going against Javyn (Nicholson), iron sharpens iron. We make each other better every day. All of us, Amiya (Evans) Fati (Fatima Diakhate), Desto (Destiny Thomas), we all make each other better every day as a post group.”
#11 Asia Avinger || Jr. || Guard
On how she is liking Georgia so far…
“I’m loving it so far. I think it’s a great change for me. I’ve definitely been looking for this kind of change, just to be in a new environment and being in a loving family culture, so I’m loving it.”
On why she decided to enter the transfer portal…
“I just feel like I wanted to be on a different stage and a bigger level of competition. I feel like the SEC brings the best level as far as college basketball, so I just wanted to be a part of that in some kind of form. It was a blessing that Coach ABE found me in the portal. I had played them during the season previously, so it was just great having that connection and becoming part of the family.”
#1 Chloe Chapman || 5th-year || Guard
On how impactful last season’s close loss to Iowa was on her decision to return for a fifth year…
“That loss and the LSU loss … I was going to definitely take advantage of the opportunity of being able to play one more year, play with my sisters, teammates I’ve had here for years, and compete one last time in the SEC in this super competitive, really talented league.”
On what it has been like to find a new offensive identity…
“It has been really exciting. We have been doing a couple of different things this year … I think everyone has been adapting well and trying to buy in and learn so we can be really successful this year.”
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