Wildcats News
Tue, Mar 11, 2008 - [Women's Basketball]

MCKENZIE, Tenn. (March 11, 2008)- The 2007-2008 Bethel College Lady Wildcat basketball team spent more time on the road than at home competing in a tough pre-conference schedule to start the season. The Lady Wildcats traveled to Campbellsville, KY to take on Campbellsville University. The Lady Wildcats lost, 73-94, but bounced back on the following day as they went to Lindsey Wilson College and took the season’s first win, 74-62. Bethel played host to Biola University (Calif.) and the University of the Cumberlands in the McKenzie Rotary Club Classic. The Lady Wildcats defeated Biola 67-47, but lost to Cumberlands 61-66. The Lady Wildcats continued the pattern of a win and a loss in the next few games. The Lady Wildcats dropped three in a row losing to Brescia University (Ky.), Campbellsville University, and Davenport University (Mich.) before picking up a win against Hannibal-LaGrange College (Mo.), 66-61, in the season’s final pre-conference contest.

The Lady Wildcats faced the #1 team in NAIA DI in Union University (Tenn.) in the first game of TranSouth Athletic Conference play and fell short, 75-83. Bethel College went on to pick up wins over Martin Methodist College (Tenn.), 79-54, and Mid-Continent University (Ky.), 83-58. The Lady Wildcats finished out round one of TranSouth Conference play with a three-game win streak defeating Cumberland University (Tenn.), 86-55, Lyon College (Ark.), 66-57, and Blue Mountain College (Miss.), 80-64.

The Lady Wildcats continued to be competitive in round two of TranSouth Conference action. Bethel fell to Union University, 79-89, and went on to defeat Martin Methodist, 74-62. The Lady Wildcats fell again to the 2007 defending National Champions, Lambuth University, 70-85, before picking up a win at home against Mid-Continent, 88-42. Bethel College then went on a three-game skid losing to Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.), 52-67, Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.), 63-72, and Lyon College, 72-74 in overtime. The Lady Wildcats finished out the regular season with wins over Cumberland University, 72-61, and Blue Mountain College, 75-64.

The Bethel College Lady Wildcats took the #5 seed into the quarter-finals of the TranSouth Conference Tournament and traveled to #4 seed Trevecca Nazarene University for a rematch of last season’s final game. The Lady Wildcats were eliminated by the 53-69 loss. Bethel College finished the season fifth in the TranSouth Athletic Conference with a record of 14-16.

Nina Djokovic (Belgrade, Serbia) was named to the TranSouth Athletic Conference All-Conference first team as nine Lady Wildcats picked up TranSouth Scholar-Athlete honors. Djokovic, the 6’1 power forward, averaged 13.32 PPG, 8.25 RPG, 1.86 APG, 0.86 SPG, and 0.43 BPG. Djokovic ranks tenth in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game and recorded a season high 23 points against Lambuth University on January 17, 2008. Bethel College was represented by nine TranSouth Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes for the 2007-2008 season. Receiving this great honor were: Britni Sternard (SR/Clarksville, TN); Nina Djokovic (SO/Belgrade, Serbia); Gretchen Seyerle (SO/Medina, TN); Meagan Price (RS/SO/Gleason, TN); Jenna Roney (JR/Union City, TN); Jessie Dennison (SR/Decaturville, TN); Erin Meyer (SR/Memphis, TN); Jessica Murphy (SR/Trezevant, TN); and Jelena Budimir (JR/Belgrade, Serbia). To receive TranSouth Scholar-Athlete honors, the student-athlete must maintain a 3.0 or above cumulative grade point average and be of sophomore status or above.