Dayton Flyers
Overall Rank: #43
Conference Rank: #1 Atlantic 10
There were some questions for Dayton heading into the 2016-2017 season. Coach Shauna Green was taking over a program that has not seen a lot of coaching turnover lately. But Dayton won the A-10 and gave Tennessee a very interesting game before falling 66-57 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Losing top scorer Kelly Austria and top rebounder Saicha Grant-Allen hurts, but the Flyers still have the talent to win the A-10. Alex Harris, a 6-3 senior, will need to lead the new look frontcourt after averaging 5.9 points and 8.3 rebounds a year ago. She will likely shoulder much of the load in the frontcourt and will be asked to turn into a more consistent scorer in the paint.
2016-17 Record: 22-10, 13-3
2016-17 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Shauna Green
Coach Record: 22-10 at Dayton, 22-10 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Kelly Austria, Guard, 12.2 ppg
Saicha Grant-Allen, Center, 9.9 ppg
Andrijana Cvitkovic, Forward, 2.2 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Jenna Burdette, Guard, 12.0 ppg
JaVonna Layfield, Guard, 8.3 ppg
Alex Harris, Forward/Center, 5.9 ppg
Lauren Cannatelli, Guard, 7.3 ppg
Jayla Scaife, Guard, 6.1 ppg
Jenna Giacone, Guard, 2.5 ppg
Maddy Dennis, Forward, 1.6 ppg
Jordan Wilmoth, Forward, 1.6 ppg
Ashleigh Parkinson, Guard/Forward, 0.2 ppg
Key New Players
Shakeela Fowler, Guard, Transfer, Junior College
Julia Chandler, Forward, Transfer, Syracuse, not eligible
Araion Bradshaw, Guard, Transfer, South Carolina, not eligible
Tiaera Phillips, Guard, Transfer, Junior College
Projection:
The backcourt is in great shape with Jenna Burdette and JaVonna Layfield leading the way. Burdette is the team’s top returning scorer with 12.0 points per game. She can score from anywhere on the floor and will also run the point for the Flyers. Layfield is not much of a shooter, but she will do plenty of scoring by attacking the basket. Lauren Cannatelli could step into the starting lineup as a junior, but she could again be utilized as a very productive shooter off the bench. With Jayla Scaife and promising sophomore Jenna Giacone joining a couple junior college transfers, Dayton is loaded in the backcourt and that is enough to get this group back to the NCAA Tournament where they can do some damage.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 65.8 (147th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 59.7 (67, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 39.1 (206, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 35.2 (13, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.7 (93, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.0 (73, 3)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.5 (197, 10)
Rebound Margin: 4.8 (55, 2)
Assists Per Game: 13.6 (150, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 15.1 (138, 8)
