As the Morgan State Lady Bears prepare to tip off their 2017-18 basketball season, new changes in coaching and two preseason All-MEAC players on the team look to have a successful campaign.
Edward Davis Jr. begins his first full season as the head coach after spending his previous four seasons serving as an assistant coach for the Lady Bears. He was named interim head coach last summer and the announcement came before the semester started.
Davis experience as a head coach has been a success with multiple National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament appearances including a “Sweet 16” appearance in 1995, three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) championships and numerous Coach of the Year awards, while at Bowie State and Delaware State Universities.
Davis will need to continue to implement his winning ways for the Lady Bears, after their underachieving 2016-2017 season. The Lady Bears finished with a 9-21 overall record and finished in ninth-place in the MEAC, with a 7-9 record in conference. The MEAC Preseason poll projected the Lady Bears to finish eighth this season in a conference with 13 teams.
Davis will have some help this season from two familiar players; senior guard Braennan Farrar and senior forward Tykyrah Williams.
Farrar was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Second Team, after leading the Lady Bears in scoring last season with a 12.7 point per game average. Farrar led the team in three pointers (35), free-throw shooting (79 percent), assists (81), and steals (72).
“Being selected to the second team shows the work I have been putting in on the court. Being on the MEAC preseason team shows that I have been recognized from all the coaches throughout the MEAC, and I want to thank all of them for picking me,” said Farrar.
Williams was selected to the Preseason All-MEAC Third Team, after being second on the team in scoring with 10.2 points per game average, while hauling in 5.7 rebounds per contest.
“It is a honor to be selected and recognized for the MEAC preseason poll team this year,” said Williams.
Farrar and Williams, both have high expectations for the Lady Bears this season.
“This season is my last season as a Lady Bear and I wish to make it to the Conference Championship game! That’s the ultimate goal this year. I would like us to grow from everything we learned last year. I want us to turn into the team I know we can become. I want us to take one game at a time to reach our number one goal this season as a team,” said Farrar.
“The plan for the Lady Bears is to accomplish a record of .500 or better this season and to be the number one team in the MEAC conference,” said Williams.
With Davis having a full year to coach these Lady Bears, and with two preseasons All-MEAC members; the team should improve on their past seasons record. Morgan State opens the season on the road against Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 10. They play their first home game at Hill Field House on Nov.13 versus Cheney University of Pennsylvania.
