Even though senior Jennie Keichline is not one of the basketball team’s starters, she is a leader.
“She could be a starter, but right now I have her coming off the bench to give us a spark,” said women’s basketball head coach Stephanie Flamini. “She’s done a good job at that so far this season.”
Keichline’s teammate Jackie Hardenbergh said: “She sets the tone for how hard we need to work and how motivated we need to be, but she says it with her actions.”
In 2001-02, she was named Guilford’s Most Improved Player and had 37 blocked shots, a school record. In 2002-03, she averaged 1.22 blocks per game, ranking her fourth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).
In 2001 and 2002, Keichline and the rest of her team won the ODAC title. In 2001 they defeated Emory & Henry, and in 2002 they beat Bridgewater.
Keichline started playing basketball in sixth grade on a recreational league in Chapel Hill.
“A friend in the neighborhood asked me to be on her rec league, so that’s how I got into it,” Keichline said. “After that I went to N.C. State basketball camp and then played for my school team until I was a senior in high school.”
Keichline said she loves the city of Chapel Hill.
“With UNC at the center, there are a lot things to do,” she said. “It posed a good situation with rival high schools, downtown activities, and a homey feel.”
She went to East Chapel Hill High School where she graduated with a school-record 1,060 points. She was also one of the school’s first four-year letter winners, and was a four-year All-Triad 3-A Conference performer.
At Guilford, she has continued achieving and receiving recognition.
“She’s very versatile,” Flamini said. “She can post up and shoot from the outside. She has a great attitude and she’s a competitor.”
“We have had a great four years with an excellent record and some great wins,” Keichline said. “This has made us well known on campus which increases support for games.”
Keichline’s favorite things about basketball have less to do with honors and more to do with the game itself.
“My favorite thing is the excitement and intensity of every game and being able to play with such a great group of girls,” Keichline said. “Just about every aspect of the game is great, except it can get frustrating when we are losing.”
She also said that she doesn’t really have any idols in basketball. Instead, her parents are her biggest inspiration.
“They continuously tell me how proud they are of me, and that is the best,” Keichline said.
Keichline said that her teammates are some of her best friends.
“Jennie is the nicest person in the world,” Hardenbergh said. “As a friend, you couldn’t ask for anything more. She’s awesome.”
Keichline is a Computer Information Systems major.
“In the classroom she’s an honor student,” Flamini said. “So she works hard on court and in the classroom.”
Keichline said she is not sure what her plans are after she graduates.
“I have no plans for grad school right now, but I will look into getting a job, probably in this area.”

Guilford
Scores

Kurt Cavanaugh
Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball (11-8, 7-5 ODAC)

Jan. 31 beat Virginia Wesleyan 79-75

Leaders: C. Martin 7 pts, 3 rebs, D. Clyburn 11 pts, 3 rebs, J. Connor 4 pts, 8 rebs, J. Clarke 14 pts, 2 rebs, T. Swindell 16 pts, 5 rebs, R. Spence 2 rebs, G. Lawhorn 10 pts, 5 rebs, E. Williams 8 pts, 1 reb, R. Bradford 9 pts, 1 reb.

Feb. 1 lost to Randolph-Macon 88-51

Leaders: C. Martin 3 pts, 2 rebs, D. Clyburn 5 pts, 1 reb, J. Connor 1 pt, 4 rebs, J. Clarke 2 pts, 7 rebs, T. Swindell 14 pts, 2 rebs, G. Lawhorn 10 pts, 5 rebs, E. Williams 8 pts, 1 reb, R. Bradford 9 pts, 1 reb.

Women’s Basketball (11-7, 9-5 ODAC)

Jan. 27 beat Randolph-Macon 66-42

Leaders: J. Hardenbergh 6 pts, 3 rebs, J. King 11 pts, 2 rebs, D. Burke 4 pts, 3 rebs, C. Hill 5 pts, 5 rebs, N. McCrory 2 pts, 3 rebs, A. Robertson 10 pts, 5 rebs, L. Johnson 2 pts, 4 rebs, J. Keichline 13 pts, 4 rebs, K. Burger 4 pts, 2 rebs, D. Gramah 6 pts, 2 rebs, K. Casey 1 pt, 1 reb, J. Drew 2 pts, 1 reb.

Jan. 31 lost to Randolph-Macon 77-73

Leaders: Robertson 10 pts, 2 rebs, J. Hardenbergh 10 pts, 5 rebs, J. King 12 pts, 4 rebs, C. Hill 5 pts, 1 reb, N. McCrory 5 pts, 4 rebs, L. Johnson 1 reb, J. Keichline 17 pts, 6 rebs, D. Burke 2 pts, 1 reb, D. Graham 2 pts, 1 reb, K. Casey 2 pts, J. Drew 2 pts.

Feb. 1 beat Virginia Wesleyan 64-56

Leaders: Robertson 14 pts, 2 rebs, J. Hardenbergh 8 pts, 2 rebs, J. King 1 reb, J. Keichline 20 pts, 11 rebs, McCrory 5 pts, 5 rebs, L. Johnson 1 reb, D. Burke 2 pts, 3 rebs, K. Burger 8 pts, 2 rebs, D. Graham 5 pts, K. Casey 2 pts.