2007-08 PAC Women's Basketball Preview

BETHANY BISON (9-18 Overall, 4-8 PAC in 2006-07)
With three starters and two other letterwinners returning to mix with the most talented freshmen class she’s had in her tenure, Bethany College head women’s basketball coach Rebecca Upton sees her team ready to make a step towards the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2007-08.

The Bison will open their season Friday, Nov. 16 at the Penn State Behrend Tournament against the host school at 8 p.m. Their first home game will be Tuesday, Nov. 20 against Mount Union (Ohio) College at 6 p.m.

Upton, who has led the Bison to 27 victories in her previous three seasons, including a 9-18 mark last year when BC reached the PAC Tournament semifinals, has nine newcomers on her roster this season. And while those fresh faces have given her the most talent she’s had at her disposal during her time at Bethany, it’s also meant getting those new players accustomed to her system in a hurry.

“We’ve looked pretty good in preseason,” said Upton. “We are a lot more talented than we have been in the past. We’re also throwing a lot more at them right now then we have in the past and forcing the issue to get them comfortable with the system. Because we’re so much more talented, we need to show it on the floor at the very start of the season.”

The Bison do have quite a bit of experience returning, especially in the backcourt. Senior Lisa Mitchell (left) was a Second Team All-PAC selection a year ago after averaging a team-leading 12.7 points per game and hitting 40 three-pointers. She had 20 or more points in five games a season ago, including 21 in BC’s close loss at Thomas More (Ky.) College in the PAC semifinals.

“We think Lisa is one of the top returning guards in the PAC,” said Upton. “She wanted the ball in tight situations last year and stepped up and made plays. Lisa has a relentless work ethic and we are looking for her to be a leader at the guard spot this season.”

Joining Mitchell as a Bison captain this season are senior Staci Luehm  and junior Kaitlyn McCormick. Luehm appeared in seven games last season, while McCormick recovered from injuries to average 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18 games, including eight straight starts to finish the year.

“Staci has a great attitude and is a great leader who comes back better every year,” said Upton. “All you can ask from a kid is for them to get better every year and stay committed to the program and Staci has done that.

“Kat has a great work ethic and no one plays harder,” said Upton. “Coming back from her injuries to earn a starting spot earned her a lot of respect among her teammates. She brings great intensity to practice every day and is a great example for all the younger players.”

Bethany will also be very experienced at the point guard position, where a pair of upperclassmen who logged heavy minutes last year are back. Sophomore Nicole Thompson led the PAC with 4.5 assists per game and also scored 4.6 points per contest. Junior Caelyn DiSanti  battled back from injuries to play in 17 games and average 3.6 points and 2.7 assists per game.

“We are in a really good situation at point guard with a lot of experience returning,” said Upton. “Nicole is one of the best passing point guards in the PAC and sees the floor very well in transition. Caelyn came back healthy after an injury-laden sophomore season. She also came back better and is focused on being the best point guard she can be and trying to lead from that position.”

Three newcomers in the backcourt are expected to see a great deal of minutes this season. Sophomore Stefanie Shafer, who only played softball at Bethany last year, is a 5-9 guard who will bring a more physical presence to the Bethany backcourt. And the top two freshmen in BC’s recruiting class are twin sisters Kelly and Stacy Goode, who are expected to be major contributors this season for the Green and White.

“Stefanie’s size and physicality brings a different aspect to our guards,” said Upton. “She played in the post in high school and is used to making moves on the block and being physical. She’s also really competitive and has a real passion for the game, which shows every time she plays.

“We were so lucky to get Kelly and Stacy because they are impact type players due to the dimensions they bring to the floor,” said Upton. “They are two of the most athletic kids we’ve had in our program. Both will compete for starting positions due to their ability to score and their tenacious defense.”

The theme of Bethany’s post play is also different dimensions, as Upton says she has four players who will compete for time and all of them bring a different skill set to the floor. Junior Renee Brandenberg  is the lone returner who averaged 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and swatted 33 shots a year ago. She’ll be more of the low block presence, while junior college transfer Susannah Cartland  will be more of a face-up post player. A 6-0 junior, Cartland transferred to BC from McHenry County College, where she earned First Team All-Illinois Skyline Collegiate Conference after averaging 14.2 points and 8.8 rebounds last year.

“Renee came back stronger and better this season,” said Upton. “She is determined to be a factor on the floor this season and consistency is something we’re looking for from her this year.

“Susannah is a different type of post,” said Upton. “She’s more agile, gets up the floor well and is more comfortable facing the basket with a short jumper. She’ll give us a different look than Renee, who is more of a back-to-the-basket player.”

The other two posts include sophomore Kortni Collins, who is in her first year on the hoops team after two years with the women’s soccer program, and freshman Samantha Bower. Collins’ athleticism will be her main contribution to the team, while Bower’s game features skills inside and on the perimeter.

“Kortni and Sam both bring different dimensions to the floor than Renee and Susannah,” said Upton. “Kortni is extremely athletic and is very fast going up and down the floor. She rebounds well and could be integral in our transition game. Sam is physical down low and likes to bang, but also played guard in high school and can be a solid three-point shooter. She has a nice complete game, with an ability to attack the basket from outside but also play physical inside.”

Three other freshmen are also competing for time this season, including guard Chelsea Butler, forward Summer Flowers  and guard Tara Harris.

In addition to providing depth for the Bison, Upton is also expecting her talented freshmen class to provide enough scoring to help lighten the load on the returning players. If that happens, the Bison coach believes her team can be right there competing for the league crown at the end of the year.

“We’ve been very one-dimensional in our scoring the last few years,” said Upton. “We think we have players this year who can help balance that out, which should make us tougher to beat.

“Overall, we have a lot of young, exciting talent and have kids who want to be here and get better every day,” said Upton. “We want to be competing for the PAC championship this year and feel we can be one of the top teams if we keep working every day.”
 

CHATHAM COUGARS (8-19 Overall in 2006-07)
Challenges are nothing new to Chatham University women’s basketball head coach Mark Katarski.

In the fall of 2005, Katarski was named head coach at Chatham, and inherited a program that had finished 1-20 the previous season. In his two seasons at the helm, Katarski has led the program to more victories than the previous 16 seasons combined, as well as the semifinals of the AWCC tournament, their final season in the conference, for the first time a season ago.

In 2007-08, Katarski and his squad will take on yet another challenge as they begin their first season of competition in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. This time, however, the Cougars won’t take the challenge on empty handed. Their top six players, including all five starters, return from last year’s 8-19 campaign.

Leading the way is junior Allason Holt. Hold earned First-Team All-Conference honors a season ago, while averaging 11.2 points per game, and 9.3 rebounds per game. She also added a school-record 74 blocked shots, as well as 58 steals. The 6-1 forward ranked in NCAA Division III in a pair of categories, finishing 19th in blocked shots per game and 68th in rebounds per game.

Also back for the Cougars is junior Erica Bilski. A season ago, Bilski earned First-Team All-Conference honors setting single-season school records for points scored (340), field goals (115), three-point field goals made (71), and steals (62). For the second consecutive season, the 5-8 guard ranked nationally in a pair of categories, finishing 20th in three-point field goals made per game, and 50th in three-point field goal percentage.

The other returning starters include sophomores Brittany Brown, Danielle Pais, and Amanda Vranka (right).  Brown, a 5-10 forward, averaged 9.4 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting .481 from the floor. Pais set a single-season school record with 83 assists, while Vranka chipped in 5.3 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Also returning for Chatham is their top reserve from a season ago. Sophomore Libby Soeder, a 5-10 guard/forward joined the team at the semester break and averaged 10.6 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game over the last 18 games of the season. Fellow sophomore Anna Cordell returns after appearing in all 27 contests a season ago.

A slew of newcomers will give the Cougars depth and competition, as 10 new players join the mix in 2007-08.
 

GENEVA GOLDEN TORNADOES (24-5 Overall in 2006-07)
Geneva College and head coach Ron Galbreath maybe hard pressed to duplicate the success from a year ago. The Golden Tornadoes went 24-5, which were more victories in one year than any other team in school history. Additionally, Geneva won the American Mideast Conference tournament and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time.

Galbreath begins his sixth season at the helm and will have to use those successes from a year ago to build upon another successful campaign in 2007-08.

“We are looking at a blank page,” said the long-time head coach. “Our girls have a positive attitude and a confidence about them that is clearly a result of our success last year, but we have a lot of new faces that will need to mix into our system.” The challenge for Galbreath comes with the idea of replacing some key components to the team that visited Sioux City, Iowa last season. “We lost significant quickness at the guard position,” said Galbreath “We also were fortunate to have Ruth Dobos on the defensive end of the floor which helped erase many of our defensive mistakes.”

Dobos, the school’s all-time blocks leader, along with starters Jackie Anthony and Kylee Kittner are gone and a new version of the Golden Tornadoes will need to fill the void left by their absence.

While Geneva did lose some key players, it does return top scorer Allyson Clarke. Clarke led the Golden Tornadoes last year with 15.5 points per game and a team best 9.5 rebounds per contest. Clarke became the 11th player in school history to reach the 1,000 point plateau during the last game of the 2006-07 season. Along with Clarke Geneva will also have the services of Renee Rawding, who averaged just less than 12 points per game.

“We have a lot of returning veterans,” said Galbreath. “We have a lot of leadership from the ladies that that experienced success last year, which should bode well for the upcoming season.”

Other returning players from last year’s championship team include Michawn Rich, Lauren Uranker (left) and Bridget Beachy.

“I anticipate our team playing a similar style this year,” said Galbreath. “We have prided ourselves in playing a high level of defense and I don’t see any reason why that wouldn’t continue this year.”

One of the biggest question marks coming into the season is the level of competition that Geneva will face in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. The Golden Tornadoes will be playing in NCAA Division III and the PAC for the first time as a full member this year and Galbreath is still a bit weary of what to expect.

“I am actually very anxious to see how we will stack up in the new conference. We have obviously played many of those schools over the years, but this will be the first time we will have the opportunity to play a full PAC schedule and I am looking forward to that challenge.”

The core of Geneva’s offensive prowess returns for the upcoming year, but Galbreath will need to get contributions from some of his fresh faces.

“I have been encouraged with some of our new players,” he said.

Valerie Hamilton, Christine Carugati, and Whitney Goist will all see significant playing time this year.

At the start of the 2006-07 season, nobody would have given Geneva a chance to win 24 game and advance to the national tournament. If the expectations remain low for the upcoming season, that will be just fine with Ron Galbreath and the new version of Geneva women’s basketball.
 

GROVE CITY WOLVERINES (5-20 Overall, 2-10 PAC in 2006-07)
A little bit smaller and a lot faster. That’s not the description of a cutting-edge electronic device – it’s the synopsis of the 2007-08 edition of the Grove City College women’s basketball team.

Grove City returns seven letterwinners this year under second-year head coach Sarah Harris. Injuries and inexperience plagued the Wolverines throughout the 2006-07 campaign but the lessons learned last season should prove valuable this winter.

The Wolverines feature just two seniors this season in 5-foot-8 guard Shannon Overdorff (right) and 5-11 forward Brittany Anderson.

Overdorff, the team’s captain this season, finished second on the squad in scoring after averaging 10.8 points per game. She also shot 41 percent behind the three-point line.

Overdorff also led the team in minutes played, free-throw percentage, steals and assists last year.

Like Overdorff, Anderson is a three-year letterwinner at Grove City. She averaged 6.8 points and 6.6 rebounds as a junior. She will be relied on heavily for rebounding and interior defense this year.

Grove City also welcomes back a pair of junior point guards in Raeann Szelong and Katy McCready. Szelong started the first 10 games of last season before being sidelined by injury. She is a two-year letterwinner.

McCready played in 21 games last year as a reserve guard. She will compete with Szelong for a starting spot in the backcourt.

Sophomore Pam Larson replaced Szelong in the lineup and started the final 15 games of 2006-07 as a freshman. She played nearly 20 minutes per game last year and will also be in the mix for a starting spot.

Larson is one of three sophomores who made immediate contributions last year. Also back are forwards Krista Beechy and Laura Miller.

Beechy started the first nine games of the season until being sidelined for nearly two months. She averaged six points and nearly five rebounds per game.

Miller, meanwhile, started six games down the stretch and finished second to Overdorff with 27 steals. Miller played in 24 games and earned her first letter.

Several newcomers are also expected to contribute this season, including sophomore forward Sara Quillen, a volleyball letterwinner. Also in the mix are freshman forward Christine Slater and guards C.J. Beatty, Lindsay Crawford and Jenna Johnston.
 

SAINT VINCENT LADY BEARCATS (10-13, Overall in 2006-07)
With 13 new faces on her roster, including 12 freshmen, Saint Vincent women's basketball head coach Kristen Zawacki has devoted some extra time in practice to acclimate her team to college basketball.

"With 12 freshmen, we want to be absolutely sure that they are comfortable and confident in what we are teaching," Zawacki said, "and in what they are doing."

While it may appear at first glance that the team is geared toward a youth movement in 2007-08, the team's youngsters actually have some time to develop, as all five starters return from a season ago.  A total of nine players are back, and these returnees accounted for 93 percent of the team's scoring in '06-07.

Last season, the Lady Bearcats' first in the NCAA Division-III Presidents' Athletic Conference, they started slowly, opening with a 3-9 record.  They then rebounded to win seven of their final 11, finishing the season at 10-13.

Zawacki hopes that the team can carry this momentum into the season, and knows the key to her team's success.

"Simply stated," she said, "we want a comfortable, confident team.  We want five players at any given time out there with an absolute understanding of how Saint Vincent basketball is to be played, from last year's starters to this year's freshmen."

The top returnee this season for SVC is senior guard Laura Klimchock.  Last season, she led the PAC, and finished sixth in the nation, with an average of 22.5 points per game.  The Greensburg Salem grad scored over 20 points in 16 of SVC's 23 games, twice scoring over 30, and became the 21st player in team history to reach 1,000 points for her career.

"I hope she picks up right where she left off," Zawacki said.  "We need her leadership on and off the court.  And, we don't mind her 22.5 points per game, either."

Junior Janelle Reed is also back after a breakout campaign in which she averaged 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds at three-guard.  She also led the conference with 62 steals, while hitting on 39 percent of her shots from the three-point line.

The Lady Bearcats have a pair of experienced point guards back in junior Ashley Campbell and sophomore Maura Wahl.  The speedy Campbell was the starting point guard for the first nine games of the season, before missing the second half of the year, and averaged 5.3 points, 2.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and over three steals per contest.  Wahl stepped in for Campbell in January, starting the final 14 games of the year, and averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 assists.

Underneath the hoop, junior forward Lauren Reilly and senior center Caryn Glassbrenner are back.  Last season, the 5-10 Reilly started 21 times, and averaged 5.2 and 5.9 rebounds.  Glassbrenner appeared in all 23 games, starting 11, and averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds, while leading the team with 39 blocked shots.

Sophomore center Ashley Benzio was often the first player off the bench for the Lady Bearcats last year, appearing in all 23 games as a freshman.  She averaged 2.1 points and 2.3 rebounds, while adding 11 blocked shots.  Senior guard Melissa McKamish and junior forward Janelle Kaufold, who each made 11 appearances last season, also bring valuable experience to the Lady Bearcats, and both should contribute.

While the returnees should shoulder most of the load, the newcomers will also be looked upon to make an impact.

Gabbie Kassis, a sophomore transfer from Alderson Broaddus College, is expected to see a lot of time in the low post.  The 5-11 native of Bridgeport, WV was an all-state performer in high school, and in addition to her post play, the forward has also shown a soft shooting touch from the outside.

Freshmen guards Maria Baroffio and Kathy Bianco (left) have impressed the coaching staff thus far, and will be asked to provide valuable minutes.  The same can be said for first-year guards Rachel Denis and Brittany Hall, while classmates Kayla Marghella, Tricia, Adamczyk, Jacqueline White, and Natalie Martz will also be competing for time at the crowded guard spot.

In addition to a number of guards, the Lady Bearcat freshman class also features some added size down low, with the additions of Sarah Campbell (6-0), Elissa Eichler (5-11), and Chelsea Young (5-11).  All three bring impressive credentials to Latrobe from high school, and they provide added depth for the Lady Bearcats behind Reilly, Kassis, Glassbrenner, and Benzio.

While the new faces and large roster provide a plethora of depth and energy, while fostering competition at each position, Zawacki is worried about one factor.

"We may be a bit behind in covering all that we wanted to cover prior to the opener," she said.  "It's just a matter of numbers."

After one season of competition in the PAC, Zawacki believes her team, and the college, is still adjusting to the new conference after moving from the NAIA.

"We have made adjustments," she said, "and will continue to make adjustments in the best interest of the student-athletes, of the program, and of the institution.  It's been a culture change for athletics at Saint Vincent, and we will adapt.

"The PAC is a very competitive conference," she continued, "both academically and athletically.  As always, we will just continue to recruit quality student-athletes who love to compete."

The Lady Bearcats begin the season this weekend, traveling down Route 30 to take part in the Seton Hill University Tip-Off.  SVC faces Chowan University (NC) on Friday at 5:30, and then will play the winner of Seton Hill/Penn State-Greater Allegheny on Saturday afternoon.
 

THIEL TOMCATS (8-17 Overall, 3-9 PAC in 2006-07)

The Thiel College women’s basketball team enters the 2007-08 season having to replace four of its five starters from last year’s squad. The team has just one senior back and is looking to build around a nucleus of young players, which includes junior preseason honorable mention all-American selection Amber Bodrick (left).  The new look Tomcats are trying to build on their 8-17 record from last season.

“The returnees that had limited roles last year will be looked upon to step up this season,” said fourth-year head coach Artina Trader.  “The success of the group will be contingent on the ability of the younger players filling in for those who departed.”

Thiel lost seniors Fontella Jones and 1,000-point scorer Nicole Valentino. Valentino and Jones contributed a combined 21.7 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.6 steals per game last season.  Diana Schell, who started 38 games for the Tomcats over the previous two seasons, left after the spring semester to pursue her degree in pharmacy at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).  The young Cats, however, are more than up to the challenge with its six returners all seeing plenty of playing time last season.

The Tomcats go into the season being led by Bodrick.  She is coming off a tremendous sophomore campaign where she averaged 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game.  She was a first team all-PAC selection and a D3hoops.com all-Great Lakes Region second team selection, both of which were for consecutive years.  Last season she became the 11th women’s basketball player to score 1000 points, and did so in a span of just 47 games. 

“As a team, there is room for improvement and Amber knows as an individual there is room for improvement.  She is continuing to improvement on her outside shot, defense, and free-throw shooting,” said Trader.

Thiel will be looking for contributions from number of key returners this season.  The group of returners is headed by junior Jena Cook, who was fourth on the team in scoring last year with a 6.5 ppg average.  The Tomcats will be looking for her to shoulder some of the scoring load that has been left with the departure of last year’s seniors.  Sophomore guard Michelle George will be looked at to fill the shoes left by Schell.  They will also be looking for help from senior forward Elysa Farrell, junior guard Catie Sieber, junior forward Taylor Radeff, and sophomore guard Jasmin Jones, who all played extensively for Trader last season.

The Tomcats are also pleased with the additions of freshmen Liz Ghindia, Kim Stitt, and Tressa Scahill.
“The first-year players will be asked to contribute right away,” said Trader, “That early experience will be good for the end of the season.” 

Ghindia was a three time Division III All-Ohio player while at Champion High School, including a special mention as a senior when she averaged 18.0 points and 12.0 rebounds a game.  She also scored over 1,000 points in her high school career.  While a senior at Hickory High School Stitt averaged 10.0 points and led the Hornets with 8.0 rebounds per game while twice earning all-Region recognition.  Scahill was named a second team All-TAC 8 selection during her junior and senior year seasons at Hubbard High School. 

The women’s basketball squad opens its 2007-2008 season at La Roche College on Tuesday, Nov. 20 (7 p.m.)
 

THOMAS MORE SAINTS (22-5 Overall, 10-2 PAC in 2006-07)
Coming off the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in school history, including a school-record 22 last season and their first Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship, 2006-07 added up to one of the most successful seasons in Thomas More women’s basketball history.

However, a first round defeat in the NCAA tournament overshadowed some of those accomplishments.

“It was certainly a rewarding experience to win the PAC title and get to the NCAA’s,” said fourth-year head coach Brian Neal. “But, the way we played against Calvin left a bad taste in our mouth and is definitely a motivating factor for this team.”

And now, it’s time for a change.

Much of the adjustment will center around the loss of three All-PAC performers, and pretty much the heart and soul of the program for the past three seasons in Brooke Warner, Megan Wood and Kristen Humphrey. The trio either led or tied for the team lead in scoring for 22 of the team’s 27 games, and accounted for almost 50 percent of the team’s scoring output.

“We are losing three All-PAC players and a key post reserve (graduate Amber Sims),” said Neal. “There is no doubt those are significant losses because they were integral parts of our success. But that is also the exciting part of college sports.

“Sometimes change can be good,” said Neal. “What has me excited is that we have several players coming back who have dedicated themselves to the program and are ready to take ownership.”

Senior Tangie Sellers and junior Alex Gee, the top two returning scorers from last season, will likely fill a share of the scoring void vacated by the talented trio.

The versatile and athletic Sellers chipped in with 7.0 points per game coming off the bench, showing flashes down the stretch of her true potential.

Gee, one of the conference’s top three-point specialists, averaged 7.5 points per game, while connecting on 41 percent of her long-range attempts.

“Alex’s job is the same as always, knock down open shots,” said Neal. “She is one of the best shooters in the country. But, she has also worked hard to improve her ball skills and be able to get to the basket.”

Junior transfer Jayme Thiem  will add some scoring punch to the Thomas More backcourt. The Eastern Kentucky University transfer averaged 11 minutes while playing in 25 games, all in a reserve role, for the Colonels.

“Those three give us solid ball skills, athleticism, and experience,” said Neal. “You are looking at the core of our team on the perimeter. We are going to have to utilize their strengths to be successful.”

Senior Jennifer Teski  will bring toughness and some intangibles to the lineup, which has helped her develop into a key contributor.

“Teski is a glue-type player,” said Neal. “Her defense, intensity, rebounding and play in transition make her a key component to our team. She is an experienced, versatile player that does a lot of things.”    Some of the hottest competition will come for back-up roles in the backcourt.

Sophomores Sarah Yeiser and Carrie Fay all have the potential  to give the Saints scoring options off the bench. Two freshmen, Rachel Krumpleback and Amy Stultz are also vying for playing time.

With a team seemingly influx, the point guard position will provide Thomas More some much needed stability. Senior Jenna Kelsch and junior Gabby Johnson shared the position last season, and have played key roles over the last two years.

While Kelsch started 19 of the team’s 26 contests, the pair played equal minutes. They combined for 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 112 assists for Thomas More a year ago. Down the stretch, Kelsch knocked down some crucial shots, including a pivotal three-pointer in TMC’s comeback win over Westminster.

“Point guard in the most important position on the floor, especially in our style of play,” said Neal. “It is maybe the most stable in my four years. Gabby and Jenna have really taken hold with their experience and dedication. They are now the leaders of the program,  and have developed into a great 1-2 punch.”

Sophomore Alicia Williams is ready to assert herself into some playing time at point guard after getting a season under her belt. Her knowledge of the game and grittiness on the defensive end gives the position more options.

With the front court taking the brunt of the personnel losses - for the first time in Neal’s tenure - the Saints will lack experience and depth in the post.

The Saints will turn to senior Amanda Link to provide leadership and guide a plethora of youthful post options. The three-year letterwinner played in all 27 games last season with one start, averaging 5.2 points per game. She was second on the team and seventh in the PAC in blocked shots.

“Link is a big key for us,” said Neal. “She is not a power post player, but is an offensive threat wherever she is on the court. She can shoot the three and is crafty around the basket.”

Freshman Caitlin Mauch returns to the team after missing last season with an injury.  Mauch holds a slim lead over a contingent of sophomores in Kayla Haynes, and Claire Noltemeyer for one of the starting nods in the post. Haynes played the most of the trio, appearing in 14 games for the Saints last season.

In addition, Thomas More will add two freshmen into the mix in Nicole Dickman and Mindy Merritt. Dickman was named Northern Kentucky’s Player of the Year last season, while at 6-2, Merritt will be able to provide a powerful presence in the middle.

“We don’t have an experienced post player like the last three years,” said Neal. “Not yet. We have to grow fast. There are capable candidates. It’s a spot where we’re going to have to learn on the fly. We don’t have the time to groom them like we had over the last year or two.”

Thomas More opens the season with Ohio Wesleyan in the Wilmington College Tip-off tournament, then returns home the following weekend with defending champion DePauw in the Julie Costello Memorial Classic.
 

WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS (20-9 Overall, 10-2 PAC in 2006-07)
Following five consecutive 20-win seasons, Washington & Jefferson has established itself as one of the premier women’s basketball programs in the region.  

The Presidents were considered by many to be in a rebuilding mode last season after losing a group of seniors which won 84 games and appeared in three NCAA Division III Tournaments in four seasons.  

However, Head Coach Jina DeRubbo’s squad proved that rebuilding was not an option after posting a 20-9 record and advancing to the semifinal round of the ECAC Division III Tournament, only the ninth postseason appearance in school history (5 - NCAA, 4 - ECAC).  

“We worked exceptionally hard last year and we had some players waiting their turns who stepped up and had good seasons,” said DeRubbo.  “We also had some great freshmen who played important roles.”  

The 2007-2008 season will be a milestone year for DeRubbo as she enters six victories shy of 200 for her career.  DeRubbo won 131 games at Bethany before posting a 63-21 record at W&J over the past three years.  She is among the top 30 active coaches in career wins.  

“It has been nice to build winning traditions,” she added.  “Success breeds more success.  I have been fortunate to have coached a lot of talented players and that results from recruiting good players from the top high school programs in the region.”  

Two of DeRubbo’s standout recruits from last season, point guard Kennan Killeen and forward Maggie Gibson (right), will lead the Presidents after solid freshman campaigns.  Killeen is a pure point guard who finished the season with a league-high 124 assists (68th in NCAA Division III).  She is also a talented defender, leading the team with 49 steals.  Killeen was the Presidents’ leading scorer (10.4 ppg), while also ranking 10th in the nation in free throw percentage (.873).  

Gibson was the conference’s leading rebounder (8.9 rpg) and also finished third in the league in field goal percentage (.540).  She averaged 7.8 points per game, while also dishing out 43 assists and notching 31 steals.  

“Kennan and Maggie were great last season, but they both have facets of their games to improve on,” noted DeRubbo.  “I am hoping Kennan improves her decision making and Maggie becomes more of an offensive presence.”

Junior forward Emily Hays will be counted on to pace the W&J frontcourt after helping the Presidents rank 11th in the country a year ago in rebounding margin (+8.9 rpg).  Hays averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest, while shooting a PAC-high 56 percent from the floor.  

“Our post players have done a really good job early on and Emily has been a big part of that,” added DeRubbo.  “We need Emily to become more consistent on both ends of the floor.”  

Seniors forward Maria Hillenbrand, center Sarah Hunt, forward Jen Rogers and guard Juliet Sargent will provide a veteran nucleus for the younger members of the 2007-2008 roster.  The four seniors have made three-straight postseason appearances and are hoping to end their careers with a second PAC title.  

Hillenbrand has played in 75 games for the Presidents over the past three seasons and has been one of the league’s top reserves.  She was third on the team in scoring (8.4 ppg), while also pulling down 4.7 rebounds per game.  Hunt has steadily improved each season and posted career-highs last year with 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest.  Rogers saw action in all 29 games and contributed 3.7 points and 2.6 boards, while Sargent played in 14 games and scored 23 points.  

“We expect these seniors to provide us with great leadership, especially since they are essentially in their second years in this role (W&J had no seniors in 2006-2007),” said DeRubbo.

Junior guard Veronica Kust (3.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg) is a tough defender who looks to increase her production on the offensive end of the floor.  She started 27 of the 29 game last year and served as a valuable reserve on the 2006 PAC Championship team.  Sophomore guard Stephanie Smith is the Presidents’ top returning outside threat after knocking down 28 three-pointers a year ago.  Smith nailed five three-pointers at Westminster and versus Thiel.  Junior guard Lindsey Hyre is another guard off the bench that DeRubbo will be looking to add quickness and depth.  

“Our guard play was often inconsistent last year and we need to improve our perimeter shooting,” said DeRubbo.  “We scored a majority of our points in the post and we are determined this year to have a more balanced scoring attack.”   

Sophomore Kayla Curtiss also returns to provide depth in the frontcourt as the fifth player on the roster who is 6-foot-0 or taller.   

DeRubbo has brought on one of her former players, Katie Tetzlaw, as an assistant coach.  The Presidents also have five new faces, including four freshmen.  

“I expect us to be more confident this year with a full year of experience for most of our players,” concluded DeRubbo.  “This senior class is the first in our system for four full years so I expect our continuity to get better each practice.”
 

WAYNESBURG YELLOW JACKETS (9-16 Overall, 3-9 PAC in 2006-07)

The Yellow Jackets feature perhaps the tallest roster in recent years under ninth-year head Terry Acker this season. Waynesburg, a primarily guard-oriented and three-point shooting team, features six forwards on the roster – all listed at 5-7 or taller.

Leading the post players are junior forwards Michaelene Jones (left) and Jeanette Wonsettler.

Jones is the team’s leading returning scorer at 8.0 points/game, while ranking among the conference leaders at 8.1 rebounds/game. Last season, the Ohio native became the first player since the 2002-03 season to register 200 rebounds in a year.

Wonsettler showed marked improvement last season setting career highs in every statistical category. The Waynesburg Central graduate averaged 6.6 points/game and 5.9 rebounds/game in 25 games last season with three starts. Wonsettler also features a quality shot from three-point territory, making 20-of-46 attempts (43.5 percent) last season.

Junior Sarah Gossett and sophomore Johnna Deco also figure to see starts this season after combined to make 24 last season.

Deco showed promise throughout last season, finishing with 5.5 points/game and 2.9 rebounds/game in 20.3 minutes/game.

Gossett started last season on the bench and eventually worked her way into the starting rotation. The Avella product features a toughness in the paint and a willingness to shoot from beyond the arc, attempting 109 treys last season. She finished the season with averages of 6.1 points/game and 3.1 rebounds/game.

Sophomore Kristen Lucci appears the heir apparent to the point guard position following the graduation of Katie Lewandowki. Lucci averaged 15.2 minutes/game last year in 25 games with three starts and will benefit from the tutelage of former four-year starter Rachel Dillon.

Senior Amanda Mitchell, along with junior guard Kaylyn Chapas figure to provide experienced depth to the guard position.

If the post players continue to develop and Lucci can gain control of the offense then the Yellow Jackets should improve on last year’s nine-win season.
 

WESTMINSTER TITANS (22-7 Overall, 10-2 PAC in 2006-07)
There are no mathematical equations or cryptic messages at motivating members of this year's Westminster College women's basketball team. The team knows exactly what it has to do to be successful this year.

The slogan on the back of the team's t-shirts this year reads: WE WILL BECOME WHAT WE DO. That may sound as if it has a hidden meaning, but it doesn't.

What Westminster has been "doing" recently is working hard and winning. The Titans posted a school-record 22 wins last year while qualifying for the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time in three years.

Despite losing five seniors and two starters, four underclassmen who averaged at least 20 minutes per game last year are back for the 2007-08 season.

"We don't have to go through the baby-steps," said sixth-year head coach Rosanne Scott. "They know what it takes to win 20 games. They believe in themselves."

Westminster finished last season with a 22-7 record and a 10-2 record for second place in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The Titans lost at seventh-ranked Messiah, 77-65, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"We are looking to continue from last year's momentum and feeding off some of the confidence we established last year," Scott added.

Senior guard/forward Emilee Ackerman (right) returns after averaging 13.7 points per game and earning first-team all-PAC honors. Ackerman is one of three returning starters as she will be joined by junior point guard Gina Brunetti and senior forward Terese Marszalek. Brunetti started all 29 games and averaged 6.2 points, while Marszalek averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds before sitting out the final 11 games with an injury.

Sophomore center Rachel Martinko looks to enter the starting lineup this year after she played in all 29 games last year and averaged 7.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 20.6 minutes per game. 

Other returning letter-winners include junior forward Katherine Khattab and sophomore guard Lynn Riley, who averaged 8.4 and 7.0 minutes per game last year.

Gone from Westminster's starting lineup will be graduated seniors Rachel Eaton and Talley Felger, while reserve guard Desiree Sterling will be the biggest loss after she averaged 15.5 points per game, earned PAC Player of the Year accolades and finished as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,451 points.

Westminster has scorers that can fill the void, but there is some uncertainty if the Titans can have someone step up when they need them most.

"That's the biggest concern," Scott said. "We know that we have people that can score. It's just making sure it doesn't come just from Emilee or the same player every night. We need to have points from different players when our top scorer is off or if someone is injured. That means having more underclassmen stepping up."

Luckily for Scott and the 2007-08 Westminster Titans, consistency will come easier than the experience and know-how that they already established last year.

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