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Emmanuel College Women's Basketball Chosen #1 in GNAC Coaches' Preseason Poll
Emmanuel College, the reigning 2007-2008 GNAC Women’s
Basketball Champions, earned the number one spot in the 2008 Great
Northeast Athletic Conference women’s basketball
coaches’ preseason poll. The Saints earned ten first place
votes for a total of 154 points to outpace the rest of the
field.
Emmanuel returns five players from last season, led by junior
co-captain and 2008 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of
the Year, Iman Davis. Davis led the Saints, averaging 17.5 points
and 7.7 rebounds per game last season. The Saints’
other two returning starters are sophomore point guard Casey
Shevlin and junior center Abby Brenkach. Other returning
veterans include sophomore Kristin LeBel and junior Meredith
Shaw.
2007-2008 GNAC Runner-Ups, Suffolk University, earned second place
in the preseason polls with 134 points followed by Norwich
University at 120 points.
Poll Results
1 Emmanuel 154
2 Suffolk 134
3 Norwich 120
4 Emerson 118
5 Johnson & Wales 115
6 Saint Joseph’s (ME)
108
7 Simmons 90
8 Rivier 87
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2008-2009 PREVIEWS
ALBERTUS
This year will feature the most depth the Lady Falcons have seen
in years. The Lady Falcons return their entire team from last
season and feature 9 newcomers to this year's team. Rookie of the
year and 1st Team All Conference center Nikki McClease and junior
Krystal Bryant will pace the offensive attack this season.
Sophomore Bianca Brown has returned from injury after appearing in
just 3 games last season before requiring ACL surgery.
Freshman 5'11" Forward Collette DuBose, 5'10" Katelyn White, and 5'9" Tegan Bedard will add strength to the Lady Falcons Front Court. Freshman 5'8" Liz Williams, 5'7" Chantel Davis, 5'7" Shay Anderson, and 5'6" Aly Camden should add firepower to the Lady Falcon offense. Senior Co-Captain Guards Gia Paturzo and Dena Mental will add leadership and experience along with junior guard Alyson Medeiros.
The Lady Falcons open their season Saturday as they travel to
York College for a 2:00 PM Tip-Off.
EMERSON
Emerson College women’s basketball coach Bill Gould’s
team made great strides over the first year of his tutelage, and
looks for even better results in 2008-2009. Although the
Lions lost four seniors, the most impactful of which is four-year
starter Lindsay DeStefano, Gould has the core of his team
returning.
Senior guard Maude Okrah was the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year
in 2008. Okrah averaged 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per
game. Senior Lauren Vassallo was an All-Conference selection
following her junior year when she averaged a double-double (11.9
points/10 rebounds). Sophomore Kathy Andrade had a solid
first year with averages of 10.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in the
front court. Junior Andrea Kosek returns at the point. The
key newcomer is Lauren Zaniboni, a sophomore transfer from North
Carolina State University. Zaniboni was a volleyball player at N.C.
State and led Emerson to its best volleyball season ever in the
fall.
Emerson will open the season by hosting a tip-off tournament on
Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th and will face
Curry College on Saturday.
EMMANUEL
Graduating seven players and coming off a 22-7 campaign last year,
the Emmanuel Women’s Basketball Team is optimistic about the
upcoming season. Head Coach Andy Yosinoff returns for his
32nd season with the Emmanuel program. The esteemed coach
enters the 08-09 season just four wins shy of 600 for his
career. Yosinoff will be just the fifth NCAA Division III
women’s basketball coach to ever accomplish the feat.
Despite returning just five veterans from last season’s GNAC
Championship squad, Yosinoff will be looking to lead the Saints to
their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance.
Among Emmanuel’s five returners, is junior co-captain and
2008 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Iman
Davis. Davis led the Saints, averaging 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds
per game last season. The Saints’ other two returning
starters are sophomore point guard Casey Shevlin and junior center
Abby Brenkach. Other returning veterans include sophomore
Kristin LeBel and junior Meredith Shaw. The freshman class is
Yosinoff’s largest recruiting class in program history,
adding eleven freshmen and one sophomore.
The team opens up play with a home game against Wentworth
Institute of Technology on November 18th.
JOHNSON & WALES
In just his second year as head coach, T.J. Ciolfi plans to have
the team competing for the conference championship. “We
have three returning all-conference players and all five starters
back this year,” said Ciolfi. “We’re going
to rely on our experience and conditioning to keep us in every
game.”
Junior Alexia Ramirez averaged a double-double with 15.2 points
and 11.4 rebounds per game and was a first-team all-GNAC selection
in 2007-08. Senior point guard Johanna Santosuosso earned
second-team accolades last season after averaging 12.9 points and
5.9 assists per game. Senior Alyse Ragaglia rounds out the
returning all-conference performers, chipping in with a team-high
15.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest last year. Senior
Maria Valletta notched 9.1 points and was second on the team with
5.1 rebounds per game while junior Jeniphr Moxley had 7.7 points
and 4.6 boards for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats open their season on the road at Roger Williams on
Saturday, November 15th.
LASELL
The Lasell women’s basketball team looks to carry last
year’s late success over to the 2008-2009 season. The
Lasers finished last year winning 4 of their last 5 games, ending
with an 8-17 overall record. This year, second year Head
Coach Kelly Stubbs will look to her returning veterans, including
three talented seniors, to lead the team to success.
Seniors Shauna Kelly, Katie Schumitz, and Katie Farr will bring
loads of leadership and experience to the court for Lasell.
Kelly was the Lasers leading scorer last year netting nearly 12
points a game, and totaling 288 points in the season. Even as a
guard, Kelly also is one of the top returning rebounders for
Lasell. Farr will be the ringleader, running the point for her
second season with the Lasers, while Schumitz will be a big threat
from 3-point land. Lasell’s other returners include, junior
forward Tricia Culver, who will look to dominate all year in the
paint, and sophomore guard Brittany Jefferies. Rounding out
the team will be the six first year students, Amanda
Driscoll, Kelsey Correia, and JoAnna Bishop will make their
presence felt down low, while Kara Hinthorne, Kelsey Converse and
Victoria Elms will bring depth to the Lasers backcourt.
The Lasers will open the season at the Wheaton College Tip-Off
Tournament the weekend of Nov. 15th and 16th.
MOUNT IDA
First year head coach Jack Casey will look to integrate five
returning players, six newcomers, and a completely different system
to lead his team into the 2008-2009 season. Mount Ida women’s
basketball will showcase a strong defensive mindset led by
backcourt speed and quickness, strong rebounding on both boards,
and great team chemistry.
The Mustangs return five players including leading scorer and
rebounder last season junior Cherie Parisi. Parisi will bring
a strong offensive presence in the paint and around the outside
along with excellent rebounding skills. Senior Elise McLear will
control the ball handling with outstanding speed, great court
vision, and solid defense while junior Nicole Casimiro will provide
a threat from three point land. Sophomore Becky Tisbert
stepped up when the Mustangs lost numbers halfway through the
season last year in the guard position with great quickness and
tenacious defense. Newcomers to the Mustangs include Katie Morvan,
Hannah Blum, Ashley Boyd, Jenny Davis, Jeileen Rivera, and Shaniece
Bynoe.
The Mustangs open their season on Saturday, November 15th at Regis
College.
NORWICH
The Norwich University women’s basketball team is looking
forward to another exciting season, after reaching the Great
Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals last season.
The Cadets return virtually the entire roster from last
year’s team that finished with a 10-3 record against GNAC
foes (12-14 overall).
Junior guard Ally Daniels, who led the team in scoring (10.0
ppg.) and ranked second on the squad in rebounding (6.9 rpg.) is
back and figures to be a key cog to the 2008-09 club. Junior guard
Erica Rate, who led Norwich with 63 three-point field goals and
listed second on the team in scoring (9.8 ppg.) will play a major
role once again this year. Senior guard Kayleigh Shappy (8.3 ppg.),
sophomore forward Laural McWilliams (7.5 ppg., 6.2 rpg.), sophomore
forward Christine Daniels (7.4 ppg., 6.7 rpg.) and senior forward
Jess Jaggars (6.8 ppg., 7.5 rpg.) are all back for another season
as well. Junior guard Natalie Marchese, who led the team in assists
(4.0 apg.) returns this season too.
Norwich will travel to Plattsburgh State on Saturday, November
15th for their season opener.
PINE MANOR
With a mix of returning talent and fresh faces, new Pine Manor
head coach Darryl Simpson is excited going into his Gators
debut.
Simpson inherits the top two scorers from a Gators team that went
7-17 a year ago. Senior center Amanda Dennis, who led the team at
15.1 points and 2.7 blocks per game, looks to anchor the interior.
Dennis, a skilled 6-foot-1 pivot, was the most efficient Gator from
the charity stripe (.682) and also added 8.7 rebounds and 1.3
steals a year ago. Sophomore Enjolee Phillips (12.2 points per
game) returns to the backcourt mix. Sophomore Jammy Torres returns
to the backcourt for the Gators. Newcomers include, Paulette
Wright, Stacie Beauford, Michell Campbell, Angeline Capre, and
Yiafia Dowridge.
The Gators open on the road at No. 21 Amherst College in the first
round of the Amherst Invitational.
RIVIER
The Raiders will rely on a combination of experience and talent to
make a run at the GNAC Championship this season. Rivier returns the
top 4 leading scorers from last season along with 3 of their top 4
rebounders. Added to the Raider squad are 5 very talented newcomers
who will be relied upon to have an immediate impact. The bulk of
the Raider talent has been with the program for 3 years. They are
battle-tested and ready to improve upon the 13 wins of a season
ago.
Leading the way this year will be the Raiders lone senior Justine
Nims. The 2-year captain finished 3rd on the team in scoring (9.5)
and 2nd in steals (45) while leading the team in assists (88).
Three of Rivier’s top 4 scorers can be found in the junior
class. Blair Carpenter returns as the Raiders leading scorer (15.6
ppg) and top long-range threat. Captain Jess Mellen was a 2nd Team
All Conference selection a season ago and returns as the Raiders
best all around player. Mellen was 2nd in scoring (12.3),
rebounding (8.6) and assists (81) a season ago while leading the
team with 75 steals. Captain Monica White returns to the Raider
lineup as one of the top point guards in the conference. White
finished last season 4th in scoring (9.3), 3rd in assists (2.7) and
3rd in steals (42). Sophomore Steph Adams returns as the
Raiders only true post player. Sophomores Courtney Contigiani and
Stacey Laine round out the returning players. The newcomers include
sophomores Kelsy LaRose and Brook Lashua, and freshmen Allie
Parent, Stephanie Sauve and Karen Waterman.
Rivier opens the season on the road taking on the College of New
Rochelle in the Bard College Tip-Off Tournament.
SAINT JOSEPH (CT)
A very young Blue Jays squad features just two returning players
but welcome six first-year players who should play a key role for
the Blue Jays this season.
The Blue Jays return their top-scorer in sophomore guard Ilaria
Schiano who averaged 14.5 points per game a year ago, was second on
the team in assists per game (1.8). The Blue Jays also return
senior Gina Morales who led the squad in rebounds (6.3 per game)
and averaged 6.0 points per night at forward her junior year.
Sophomore point guard Nathalie Masterreno, first-year guard
Michelle Fillion, first-year guard/forward Sam Royce, and
first-year center Sarah Phillips will each see significant playing
time in their debut season with the Blue Jays.
SJC opens the season on November 18th at MCLA.
SAINT JOSEPH’S (ME)
In her fifth season at the helm of the Saint Joseph's College
women’s basketball program, Coach Deb Reardon continues to
add the necessary ingredients to turn the Monks into a Great
Northeast Athletic Conference contender. St. Joe’s returns
the entire starting line-up that led the squad to a 15-10 record
last season as well as several game tested veterans.
Senior Aly Ludwig returns for her final season averaging
7points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
GNAC First Team selection junior Carolyn Freeman looks to continue
her SJC record setting career and improve upon her team high 12
points and 6.5 rebounds from a year ago. The point
guard spot will once again be shared by sophomores Erin Cartwright
and Casey Drake. The Monks will see action early and often from
retuning guards sophomore Kayla Boston, sophomore Sarah Fournier
and junior Katie Gagnon. Also challenging for minutes will be Kayla
Nowell who joins the team as a sophomore after a record breaking
field hockey season. Juniors Allison Miner and Meghan Daigle bring
great speed and athleticism to the post along with 8.3 and 6.8
points, respectively. They will be joined in the paint by
senior Andrea Enright, first year Megan McDevitt and first year
Ashley Geel. Other first year players include Amelia Lamb and
Dana Clark.
The 2008-09 Monks tip-off at home on 11/15 at 1pm against Maine
Fort Kent.
SIMMONS
Simmons Basketball is gearing up for another season under Head
Coach Tony Price, who is beginning his ninth year at the helm of
the program. Last season the Sharks finished in 8th place and
qualified for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference tournament,
their 6th straight appearance.
The team is led by Senior All-Conference Guard Lauren Kreckie,
transfer Forward Stephanie Fox and 2006-07 All-Conference senior
Sarah Clayton. Other key returners include Junior Forward Aubree
Giarrosso and standout sophomore Point Guard Morgan Johnson. One of
the players expected to help fill the void in the post position is
freshman Center Brittany Langford. The Sharks have also added an
extra punch to the scoring squad this season with the addition of
junior transfer Guard Julianna Eagles. The team returns a solid
core of players with experienced juniors Defensive Stopper Julia
King and Guard Jamie Liberty; sophomores Stephanie Murray and Liane
Lantagne. Newcomers include Jordan Manchester, Christina Cavagnaro,
Alexandrah Acloque and Jessica Thomas.
The Sharks open the season at home on Saturday, November 15th
against College of St. Elizabeth.
SUFFOLK
Youth is the theme for the Suffolk University Women’s
Basketball team in 2008-2009 as they feature nine freshman and only
four returning players from last year’s 20-9 squad. Meghan
Tracey is expected to get better once again after winning her
team’s Most Improved Player Award the last two years. Tracey
averaged 6.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 07-08 and is the heart and soul of
Suffolk’s suffocating defense which earned them a spot in the
GNAC Final, a road loss to Emmanuel, and also held opponents to a
conference leading 53.9 ppg. Head Coach Ed Leyden’s calm
demeanor should rub off well on the young bunch. Senior Kerry
Bowman (Guilford, CT) is the Rams returning scorer from last season
after averaging 8.5 ppg. Senior Emily Duquette (Harrisville, RI)
could be a pleasant surprise on offense as she is expected to get
extended playing time in her final season.
The Rams open the season on the road traveling to Gordon College
on Saturday, November 15th.
