Assistant Sports Editor
If, as conventional wisdom suggests, defense wins games, then junior forward Lindsay Seawright should be a big factor in how many wins the Deacons can accumulate in the course of their 1995-96 season.
Last year, the 6-1 Seawright proved to be the Demon Deacons' best answer to opposing scorers, as she was able to defend both close to the basket and on the perimeter. In ACC contests Seawright was especially valuable. In two successive games last season, the junior shut down Clemson guard Tara Saunooke and Florida State guard Allison Peercy, both accomplished scorers.
Thus, Seawright will be an important key to Deacon success this season. Her defensive contributions, as well as her intensity, will be relied upon throughout the season as the Deacons look to improve on their 11-16 record last year.
Two years ago, Seawright assumed a place in the women's team's storied history of injury problems, missing most of the preseason her freshman year and all but one game of the out-of-conference season.
She arrived on the scene for the Deacons in the thick of ACC action that season and promptly went about establishing the high level of performance she has maintained since then. In the 17 games she played her freshman season, Seawright put up an average of 6.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Last season, she continued to develop for the Deacons and began to emerge as the premier defensive talent. Seawright finished the 1994-95 season averaging 8.7 points per game and, perhaps more importantly, boosted her rebounding average to an impressive 6.3 boards per game.
In addition, the forward also finished the season as the Deacon's leading shot blocker -- yet another indication of the profound development she has undergone to become the top defender.
With the Deacons now largely free of the injury problems that have plagued them in recent years, they are looking to rise to new heights in the ACC.
If Seawright can continue to hone the defensive and rebounding prowess she has developed over the past two seasons, while still pumping in eight or nine points per game, the Deacons will be well on their way to going toe-to-toe with the best the ACC has to offer.