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Posting Up - Scoreboard - Top 25 - Features - Notables - Team of the Week - Live Audio |
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A look at the upcoming season 2000-01 season |
Notables Nov 21: IWU gets past top- ranked BearsNov 20: Wash U rallies past DePauw Nov 18: Mac ends long losing streak |
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Elmira The goal of this year's squad is to win the Empire 8 Conference, which means a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The road to the tournament begins with some housecleaning. Elmira College opens the season by hosting the Elmira College Tip-Off Classic with Misericordia and SUNY-Fredonia visiting town. Other non-conference guests to Speidel Gymnasium include Muhlenberg, RPI, Cazenovia, and Keuka. The schedule favors Elmira College as five of the first seven games are at home. This bodes well for the Soaring Eagles, who finished 11-2 at home last year. Life on the road will be the ultimate challenge for the Elmira College women's basketball team. The Soaring Eagles' away schedule has them in Rochester, N.Y., for Thanksgiving weekend. Elmira faces Allegheny in the first round of the University of Rochester Tournament with the possibility of meeting the host team and former Elmira College women's basketball coach, Jim Scheible, in the second round. After the New Year, the Soaring Eagles head to Greenwich Village in New York City to battle against national powerhouse NYU. Elmira College breaks up the Empire 8 Conference schedule in late January by traveling to Mt. St. Mary, a 2000 NCAA Tournament participant. Brianne Lesperance '01, the lone senior on the squad, will look to improve on her team-leading 7.6 rpg from last season and add to her 6.3 ppg. Her experience, tough work ethic and leadership qualities are the reason Lesperance was voted as one of the team's co-captains. She shares that role with the Soaring Eagle's returning leading scorer (8.1ppg), Missy Richvalsky '02. Richvalsky's tireless hustle and tremendous heart epitomize the character of Elmira College Women's Basketball. The success of the Soaring Eagles will depend on their unselfish inside-outside play. Lauren Canestrari '02 provides great 3 point sharp-shooting, and will be relied on to score from the outside and feed fellow classmate Tricia Wing '02 in the post. With her soft touch, rebounding, and shot-blocking abilities, Wing is sure to develop as the dominant post in the Empire 8 Conference. Kara Ouelette '03 will take over at the point guard position this season. Her strength, passing ability, and savvy court sense will enable the Soaring Eagles to play an up-tempo brand of basketball. Emily Mastaler '03, who saw a lot of minutes in her rookie campaign last year, brings athleticism, scoring and rebounding to the small forward position. Two newcomers to the varsity, but no strangers to Elmira College are Meredith Hurley '03 (Billerica, Mass.) and Sarah Nicholson '03 (Senaca Falls, N.Y.). Both Meredith and Sarah anchored the J.V. team last year. Their commitment and dedication over the summer has paid dividends. Meredith will provide added depth at the point guard and shooting guard positions, and Sarah will step in as a scoring and rebounding post player. The newest members on the Elmira women's basketball team are eager to join the Soaring Eagle's championship tradition. Samantha Bedford '04 (5'4", G, Windsor, N.Y.) and Lauren Cash '04 (5'5", G, Washingtonville, N.Y.) bring speed and competitiveness to the point guard position. Krista Brunskill '04 (5'8", G, Macedon, N.Y.), Elizabeth Fanning '04 (5'10", F, Youngsville, N.Y.), and Megan Labarge '04 (6'0", F, Massena, N.Y.) each add rebounding and versatility at the small forward spot. Kristen Heck '04 (5'7", G, Elkland, Pa.) rounds out the rookie class with her tremendous shooting and scoring ability. Kudla and first year assistant coach Julie Plant are relying on quality leadership, relentless hard work, and great team chemistry to guide the Soaring Eagles to an Empire 8 Championship and a chance to dance in the NCAA Tournament. New
York U. Janice Quinn, now in her 14th season as head coach and her 20th season associated with the NYU program, is confident that her team will make its mark. "I consider the challenges we faced last season as a means to even greater success," states the 1985 NYU graduate. "There's a tremendous feeling of excitement about what we can do. Everyone is upbeat, optimistic and focused." The coach's reasons for optimism are well founded. "The depth we have this season is probably the best we've had in the past 10 years. Our fans will see fresh bodies every game," promises Quinn, an NYU Hall of Famer and the Violet's first-ever 1,000-point scorer. "We also have seven quality upperclassmen, all with starting experience! These players have benefited by playing against tough competition in the UAA (University Athletic Association), and by gaining NCAA postseason experience in two Sweet Sixteens and the Elite Eight." A powerful class of four seniors, the largest ever in team history, returns '99-00 team leaders in points, assists, rebounds, blocked shots, field goal percentage, free throw pct., and three-point pct. That type of efficiency, as well as strong leadership, is also expected to be provided by the quartet. Angela Vicari (5-8, G), for the second consecutive season, and Jessica Nowak (6-1, F), for the first time, will serve as co-captains. Vicari, who started all 27 games last season, led the Violets in assists (64), points (324) and free throw percentage (.760). An All-Metropolitan and First Team All-UAA selection, she has earned the coach's trust. "Angela is a tremendous leader with great poise. She's bright and heady, a coach on the floor, and one of the very few players who I've left out there for 40 minutes," Quinn reveals. "She joins the list of great, versatile NYU guards. She can score inside and on the 'three' in transition. She's really grown as an athlete." Nowak also played in all 27 games last season and started 19. She led the team in field goal pct. (.467) and finished second in rebounding (5.3 rpg.). "Jessi is experienced, athletic and very strong," Quinn states. "As one of our most efficient scorers, she's capable of a 'double-double' every time out. We expect her to have a breakout year." Rashida Allen (5-11, F) started 20 games for the Violets last season, played in all 27, and was selected All-UAA Honorable Mention. She led the squad in rebounding (7.0 rpg.) and blocked shots (41), despite averaging only 20 minutes per game. "Rashida is a superior athlete at this level. She has speed, jumping ability and quickness at the 4 spot," Quinn says. "She can get a rebound and still be the first one down the floor. She has matured greatly throughout her career. Of all the seniors, she'll make the biggest jump from her junior year." Melina Nappi-Kaehler (5-10, G) has started eight games in her three-year NYU career. Last season, in 22 games off the bench, she led the Violets in three-point shooting pct. (.444, 20-45). "Melina has had well beyond one player's share of injury setbacks during her career, but she's entering this season strong and fit," Quinn claims. "She's a skilled, smart, versatile player who can use her shooting ability and her ability to get to the rim at both the 2 and 3 spots." A trio of juniors, each of whom possesses starting experience, will also be focal points of the rotation. Meg Barber (5-9, G) started all 27 games in '99-00 and has played in all 55 of the Violets' contests over her first two collegiate seasons. Barber was the team's co-leader in steals last season with 44, while her 60 assists were third highest. "Meg is a real warrior who's developed her defensive game by sheer will," Quinn explains. "Offensively, she's really worked on her accuracy and three-point shooting." Dari Magyar (5-6, G) played in every game and started 16 during her sophomore campaign. She also compiled a team-high 44 steals and finished second with 63 assists. "Dari has really matured at the point position. With the scoring punch that she'll be surrounded with this year, her penetration and assist game will come to the forefront," Quinn predicts. "She's also developed into a three-point threat, and opponents will be forced to go out and guard her." Vallene Henderson (6-0, C), who started one game and played in all but one as a sophomore, finished second on the team with 19 blocked shots. She will be utilized almost exclusively at the center position. "Vallene is a talented athlete who is trimmer and stronger than ever," Quinn details. "There's a flair and distinctiveness to her game that's hard to teach. This could be her breakout year." Tasha Freygang (5-9 F) has joined the Violets after two seasons at Ohlone Junior College in San Ramon, Calif. She averaged 16 points, six rebounds and three assists per game last season and was an All-Coast Conference selection. "It happens very infrequently, but it's great to have someone with college experience join our program," Quinn admits. "Her strength and fitness, and propensity for being a team player is very attractive to us." Three sophomores, two of whom received extensive playing time as freshmen, return for the '00-01 season. Lauren D'Ambrosio (5-6, G) led the Violets with 69 three-pointers on 198 attempts, both figures being the third highest in team history. She played in 26 games during her freshman campaign and was the team's co-leader with 12.0 ppg. "Lauren is our 'X-factor.' She can shoot from long range and create matchup problems for our opponents," Quinn explains. "She's quick and efficient. Blink, and she's somewhere else." Allison Herman (5-11, G/F) played in 25 games during her rookie campaign and finished third on the team in blocked shots (11) and free throw pct. (.730). "Allie is the prototypical NYU player. She can play a lot of spots and has a tremendous work ethic," Quinn states. "We expect improved strength and fitness to carry her even further." Tanisha Atkinson (6-2, C) played in only eight games as a freshman. However, she is the team's tallest player and should receive additional playing time in '00-01. "'T' has great natural talent and should catapult in her growth and development this season," Quinn believes. "She's fit and strong, and provides us with impressive size and touch." Six freshmen will comprise one of the deepest, most talented incoming classes of the Janice Quinn era. "I'm extremely excited about our new players," Quinn expresses. "There's tremendous quickness, very good outside shooting, playmaking and scoring abilities, as well as true size among this group." The quickness is expected to be displayed by Maggie Barnett (Rosary H.S./Orange, Calif.), Chiene Jones (Flushing H.S./Briarwood, N.Y.), and Sharae Robinson (McNair Academic H.S./Jersey City, N.J.). "Maggie is a terrific scorer getting to the rim, and Chiene can simply create offense. She's fun to watch!" Quinn exclaims. "Sharae is a smart point guard and great student of the game." Jennifer Kent (Central H.S./Baton Rouge, La.) is expected to contribute accurate long-distance shooting. "Jennifer is a great outside shooter and a versatile offensive weapon," Quinn says. "She can really shoot the 'three', which the fans love." Nicole Feder (Robinson Secondary School/Fairfax Station, Va.) and Lindsey Pearson (Andover H.S./Andover, Mass.), will provide the scoring versatility to this well-rounded group. "These are two tremendous, all-around athletes," Quinn beams. "They are both versatile players with playmaking and scoring abilities." |
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