WOMEN’S HOOPS: Triumph and disappointment

For Virginia women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan, it was a season of returns.
The Cavaliers climbed back into the national rankings - albeit late in the campaign - and played their way into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.
That journey, however, was scarred to a certain degree by a premature ending - Virginia was bounced in the second round of the tournament by Old Dominion inside the Monarchs’ home facility, wrapping up a 24-10 season.
After being picked to finish sixth in the ACC, Virginia overcame the expectations of many, going 10-4 in league to tie for third place. The Cavaliers also won 13 of their non-conference games, including wins over Texas and Minnesota, but failed to register a hat-hanging win.
Ryan, finally headed to the Hall of Fame, was pleased with the progress, but faces life without point guard Sharnee Zoll, who surpassed former Cavaliers great Dawn Staley to claim the ACC’s all-time assist record.
Daily Progress beat writer Jay Jenkins passes out his final 2008 report card in alphabetical order.
Jayna Hartig
Position: forward
Class: sophomore
Analysis: Hartig, expected to provide the team with a legitimate long-range threat off the bench, endured the longest season of her playing career. The Colorado native appeared in the season opener, logging five minutes, before her campaign was spoiled with a high-ankle sprain. The coaching staff elected to pursue a medical redshirt for Hartig, leaving her with three years of eligibility. Hartig said the season on the bench, as painful as it was, helped her learn about her teammates. She must now translate that into success for a team that hit 141 3-pointers.
Grade: INC
Kelly Hartig
Position: forward/center
Class: freshman
Analysis: The younger Hartig started and finished the season in a pleasant fashion. What transpired in the middle, however, spoiled the rookie’s development. At one point, Hartig missed seven games during an eight-game stretch with a high-ankle sprain. While it often depended on the opponent and the game’s speed, Hartig appeared to replace fellow post player Abby Robertson in the rotation off the bench. The 6-foot-4 Hartig will likely remain in a reserve position next year during Aisha Mohammed’s senior season, but her impact needs to be meaningful. The young center must make her minutes - and fouls - count while perfecting her rebounding and shot-blocking skills.
Grade: C+
Paulisha Kellum
Position: guard
Class: sophomore
Analysis: Though inconsistent at times, Kellum scored in double figures in 10 games and finished ranked fourth on the team in scoring. That was to be expected, given the minutes she logged and the decision of many opponents to use their top two backcourt defenders on Zoll and Monica Wright. A fearless offensive player, Kellum’s weakness at times dealt with spotty defensive work. That essentially landed Britnee Millner or Enonge Stovall - or both - on the floor in late-game situations. What the future holds for Kelllum remains a mystery and likely depends on the early performance of incoming point guard Arianna Moorer. Should Moorer struggle, Kellum may be asked to direct the Cavaliers’ offense.
Grade: B-
Lyndra Littles
Position: forward
Class: junior
Analysis: Playing alongside a true center for the first time, Littles’ numbers took an expected hit, albeit a minor slide from her stellar sophomore campaign. Less rebounds were up for grabs and points in the paint were shared by Mohammed. That also allowed Littles, who averaged 16.8 points per game, to showcase her knack for nailing 3-pointers from the top of the key. Although it was not discussed in length at the time, Littles’ two 3-pointers at Miami after a sloppy first half may have salvaged that win and Virginia’s top-four finish in the ACC. Already a 1,000-point scorer, Littles suddenly is looking at the final season at UVa, and with hopes of landing in the WNBA hanging in the balance, most expect Littles to play at even greater level. If Kelly Hartig and incoming post player Chelsea Shine can progress, Littles could see more time at small forward, giving the Cavaliers a tall, versatile lineup.
Grade: B+
Kristen London
Position: guard
Class: junior
Analysis: Many assumed that Virginia officials held Ryan hostage, forcing the legendary coach to take London in a measure that would keep a football coach and prized recruiter at the school from fleeing the coop. Former UVa defensive coordinator Mike London eventually left anyway, becoming the head coach at the University of Richmond in January. Truth be told, Ryan took a two-year gamble on London with hopes of providing depth to a backcourt that was plagued by the untimely defections of former guards Takisha Granberry and Denesha Kenion. The junior-college standout played sparingly in 22 games, scoring just 35 total points, but she drew positive reviews from teammates and coaches and provided Mike London-like energy during games from the bench. 
Grade: INC
Tara McKnight
Position: guard
Class: senior
Analysis: With scholarships to spare, Ryan elected to put the former walk-on on scholarship for her final season. The coach said on numerous occations that McKnight, who competed as a graduate student, epitomized everything what college athletics should mean. Perhaps the team’s most diligent practice player, McKnight seldom saw action in contests unless the games were lopsided. But when McKnight played she shot 3-pointers with precision, often sending roars through John Paul Jones Arena. She will be missed on the scout team and by the fan base. 
Grade: C-
Britnee Millner
Position: guard
Class: junior
Analysis: Millner started the season in the doghouse (and suspended) and returned to that spot at one point. She finished the season, however, on a positive note and on the floor during late-game situations. An Energizer Bunny on defense, Millner also progressed offensively and hit several game-changing shots during the season’s final month. Rumblings have surfaced that Millner is interested in transferring, but sources have squashed that theory of late. While it is easy to see why redshirting Millner as a rookie would have helped, the Martinsville native can be the team’s second-best lockdown defender behind Stovall next season. 
Grade: C
Aisha Mohammed
Position: center
Class: junior
Analysis: The wait was well worth it. After missing the 2006-07 season with a torn ACL, Mohammed stormed onto the scene in the ACC, showcasing a prowess on the glass (9.2 rpg) and left-handed approach around the basket (13.1 ppg) that helped the junior-college transfer earn a spot as an honorable mention All-ACC performer. The native of Nigeria appeared bothered at times by the language barrier and the rules differences from the international game that led to unforced turnovers, but should be credited with helping return the program to the Big Dance. With consistent work on shooting from the right block, Mohammed could be headed for honors reaching the national level.
Grade: B+
Abby Robertson
Position: forward/center
Class: junior
Analysis: It is unclear if Robertson fell out of favor, fell victim to the game’s speed or just didn’t produce enough to warrant extended playing time, but her minutes declined as the season progressed. For the season, Robertson grabbed just 68 rebounds in 374 minutes. To her credit, she appeared to embrace her ever-changing role and provided depth off the bench. With Mohammed returning, Robertson is likely to assume the same role off the bench next season.
Grade: C-
Enonge Stovall
Position: forward
Class: sophomore
Analysis: Often overlooked with the host of talented offensive stars on the team, Stovall’s return after a year away was likely as valuable as Mohammed’s. Eye-catching stats were missing - Stovall shot 38.7 percent from the floor and 57.7 percent from the free-throw line - but few players in the ACC could shut down an opponent with such precision. A lack of playing time was the only justifiable reason that Stovall was left of the All-ACC defensive team. With improved work inside the 3-point line offensively, Stovall could see 20-plus minutes per game next year.
Grade: B-
Monica Wright
Position: guard
Class: sophomore
Analysis: It took Zoll four seasons and Littles three to accomplish what Wright did in two. Yes, Wright is a 1,000-point scorer with the better half of her career perhaps in front of her. In fact, the team’s top scorer is on pace to become the school’s all-time leader. That said, there is obviously room for improvement for an honorable mention All-American. In the NCAA Tournament, Wright struggled to play at a comfortable pace, battled foul trouble and ultimately watched the team’s final minutes from the bench. The obvious poster child for the program, Wright will be asked to score in bunches and do so as an on-court leader. The future of the program, at least in the meantime, likely hinges on how that develops. 
Grade: A-
Sharnee Zoll
Position: guard
Class: senior
Analysis: Luckily for Zoll, her career finished where it started: in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, Zoll ended her career without a trip to the Sweet Sixteen or a victory over Duke or North Carolina. That may tarnish her legacy in the eyes of many, but not with Ryan. Throughout her pass-happy career, Zoll remained loyal to Ryan, often taking the blame for losing skids and rough patches that others placed on the coaching staff. A perfect coach-to-be, Zoll was inconsistent offensively throughout her career, but progressed at the free-throw line and made up for a mid-career slump with a legendary assist total. While her absence will leave at void at point guard next season, Zoll’s leadership skills may be missed even more.
Grade: B

Coach Debbie Ryan
31st season
Analysis: For the first time in three years, Ryan’s preseason promises rang true. Well, most of them. Despite lacking a marquee win over a premier program, the Cavaliers jumped back towards the national spotlight and heard their name called during the NCAA Tournament selection show. Ryan and her staff helped manufacture several late-game wins in swing games, including a double-overtime thriller over Georgia Tech. UVa also swept Virginia Tech, a huge plus with fans, and Ryan even earned seven votes for the ACC coach of the year award. Early-season collapses against George Washington and South Carolina kept the program out of the national polls longer than UVa supporters would have preferred, but the team progressed throughout the season and conquered teams outside the ACC’s top three. At this point, Ryan appears in no rush to take her Hall of Fame plaque into retirement (and will not be forced to do so) and her recent recruiting success supports that. The Cavaliers have what one analyst called a “very underrated” class coming in 2008 and appear in even better position with two elite players verbally committed for ’09.
Grade: B