Twin towers provide one-two punch

Alexis, Dobbins play in post gives Dukes vast rebounding advantage

File Photo Freshman forward Meredith Alexis (40) was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week for the second time.

One of the main elements that helped the women's basketball team reach the Women's National Invitational Tournament Final Four during the 2000-'01 season was dominant front court duo, Stacey Todd ('01) and Hollee Franklin ('02).

Todd was a 6-foot-2-inch forward who could battle in the paint and knock opponents around. Franklin, a 6-foot-5-inch center, almost made it impossible for opposing players to shoot over her. She finished her career with a school record of 186 blocks.

Since the two graduated, the Dukes hadn't had that one-two punch in the paint — until now.

Freshman forward Meredith Alexis averages about 10 points and 10 rebounds a game this season. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, Alexis provides the Dukes with a scoring and rebounding force at the power forward, as well as someone who can bang around in the paint, just as Todd once did.

While Alexis has been consistent all season, the second half of the duo didn't surface until about a month ago. Sophomore center Denae Dobbins returned from a stress fracture injury that kept her out of the preseason, but has landed her a spot in the starting lineup anyway. At 6-foot-5-inches tall, Dobbins has given JMU another presence inside with her ability to block, rebound and score.

Coach Kenny Brooks has said the emergence of the two has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of the team's success.

"It's a great physical presence for us because I think we are bigger than everyone in the league," coach Brooks said of the Dukes' size in the paint. "We're starting to be able to take advantage of that. They can't double on Denae because she can dump it off to [Alexis], or vice versa."

Even though Alexis and Dobbins both are early in their careers, coach Brooks said he thinks they will be better than the combination of Todd and Franklin.

"No offense to Hollee (Franklin) and Stacey (Todd) — because they were both very good players who did a lot for the program, — but with Meredith (Alexis) and Denae (Dobbins), the sky is the limit," he said. "You look out there at what they are doing, and sometimes you forget they are a freshman and sophomore. Denae (Dobbins) is really (like) an older freshman because she didn't play a whole lot last year."

Dobbins' improvement throughout the season was not a surprise to coach Brooks. He said she made huge strides during the off-season. However, the injury was a setback. Early in the season, coach Brooks said he could tell Dobbins wasn't happy with the way she was playing once she returned to the court.

"I think she had a distorted sense that she was going to come out and be in shape like everyone else," he said.

The two had a meeting in early December to discuss Dobbins' frustrations, and coach Brooks told her she wouldn't be hitting her stride until mid-January.

"From that day on, I think she understood," he said. "She focused on improving daily and, as a result, right now she is hitting her stride."

Since Jan. 29, Dobbins has started every game, and is averaging over 11 points and over seven rebounds in the last three games. She said she is playing the best basketball of her career.

"The guards are starting to get confidence in getting the ball in to me so I can finish it," Dobbins said.

Alexis said, "It's really easy to find her in the low post, especially passing. We get that high/low going, and it's unstoppable."

Dobbins has helped solve the Dukes' problem in the middle. Junior center Krystal Brooks began the season as the team's starter, but nagging injuries midway through the schedule helped Dobbins take advantage of the starting job.

Coach Brooks said having Dobbins step up has helped JMU tremendously on the offensive glass.

"When a shot goes up, we're limiting opponents to rebounds. It's helping us solidify our defense," he said. "A lot of times during the middle of the year or beginning of the year, we would play decent defense and [the other team] would shoot, and they would get an offensive rebound and get another chance to score."

Coach Brooks also said Dobbins has taken on a role of being a leader.

"I've been very pleased with her in the last month and a half," he said. "She's doing a good job for us, understanding what we need to accomplish and raising her teammates' level of play. So, that's been a good thing for us."

Meanwhile, Alexis earned Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week honors for the second time this season after averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds the last two games. She currently is leading the conference in rebounding and, as of Feb. 23, is ranked 26th in the country in rebounds per game.

Coach Brooks said the tandem of Alexis and Dobbins, along with a healthier Brooks off the bench, should cause problems for opponents the remainder of the season.

"If they continue to play well, I think we'll be a force to be reckoned with because we are big and can tower over other opponents," he said.

The Dukes will need a force in the paint against Old Dominion University tonight in Norfolk. The Lady Monarchs, who lead the conference with a 14-1 record, edged JMU 75-73 in the Convocation Center Jan. 9.

ODU is led by forward Monique Coker, who averages 14.5 points a game and 9.1 rebounds a game.

The Lady Monarchs also have two other players in the CAA's top 20 in scoring — guard Max Nhassengo (14.2 points per game) and Shareese Grant (12.9 points per game).

Alexis said the Dukes have to play strong defense against ODU to have a chance.

"I think we have a good shot as long as we play as well as we can," she said. "It's not going to be easy. We're going to have to play for 40 minutes — maybe even more if we go into overtime. But, as long as we play hard, we'll put up some tough competition."