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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 2001-02 season |
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Springfield Encore. After a sensational 2000-2001 campaign, the Pride hopes to defend its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship and return to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Repeating, however, can be a daunting challenge. NEWMAC and New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Division III Coach of the Year Naomi Graves knows that expectations are high, and she welcomes a full complement back. All five starters return from a squad that established a school record with 24 wins last season, including a sizzling 14-0 mark in Blake Arena. Add one of the best recruiting classes in the program's history, and it seems that the Pride has the potential to be even better. "Last season was such an unbelievable season because, in December, it seemed like everything was going against us, especially with all the injuries we suffered," Graves explained. "I asked our players to do things that they were not accustomed to doing and, in some cases, play out of position. We responded in a way that I honestly could not have imagined. It was very special. I hope that momentum carries over to this season."
Thompson earned NEWMAC Player-of-the-Year honors after leading the Pride in scoring (11.0), three-point FG% (41.9) and steals (2.9). The 5-7 guard/forward, who also averaged 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists, was named a NEWBA Division III and ECAC Division III New England First-Team All-Star. "Kelly is probably the player in the program that's improved the most in the last four years," Graves said. "She's really committed to our off-season training program, and has become one of the best players in the conference, if not the region. It's cliché, but she's the first person in the gym and the last to leave." Proto earned ECAC Division III New England Honorable Mention and All-NEWMAC honors after averaging 8.8 points and 8.4 rebounds, and shooting 50 percent from the field. The 5-11 forward recorded a team-high nine double-doubles, including three straight in mid-February to earn ECAC Division III New England Player of the Week recognition (Feb. 14). "Catherine has turned into our inside force," Graves explained. "She came to us through our junior varsity program, and has improved tremendously offensively. Catherine is so strong on the boards, and she's a real threat when she catches the ball in the low post." Kanupka returns after missing most of the 2000-2001 campaign due to a season-ending knee injury. The 1999-2000 All-NEWMAC selection averaged 14.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in six games, and was named the MVP of the Springfield Holiday Inn Naismith Classic. "Becky's the go-to player in our program. It's pretty common to see a double-double from her," Graves stated. "It's been hard for me to see how injuries have plagued her. But she keeps working hard and coming back, and I don't think she has peaked as an athlete yet. I expect her to have huge season." Dietz was key contributor to last season's title run. After playing a limited role as a freshman, Deitz stepped into the starting line-up after Kanupka was injured. She used her 6-3 frame to finish second in the NEWMAC in blocked shots (2.43) and average 7.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. "Janna is another individual who has improved tremendously,' Graves explained. "She's become more aggressive and confident inside, and is beginning to realize she can be good at this game." An already crowded backcourt become even more of a logjam with senior Carah Dawe joining returning senior starters Katie Strong and Kristy Murray, along with reserves Jackie Filion and Andrea Sweet, who are seniors, and sophomores Sarah Huntington and Kelly McOmber. Strong, who started 28 games at the two-guard spot last season, averaged 10.5 points and 1.5 assists while shooting 39.1% from three-point range. "What Katie contributes does not show up on the stat sheet," Graves said. "She's our most consistent performer defensively, and she's a leader on our team. Katie does so many small things that add up. For example, the player's she is guarding might not take enough shots or get many rebounds and becomes very frustrated. That's a huge asset to us." Murray, who averaged 5.5 ppg and 2.6 apg last season, made a strong impact as the Pride's starting point guard. "Kristy has a great mind for the game," Graves said of Murray. "She's adept at dictating the tempo and is able to get ball in the right people's hands. But when she's asked to score, she can." Graves welcome back Dawe, who returns after studying in Scotland during the 2000-2001 academic year. "It's great to have her back," Dawe said. "She's a very intense player. You can't watch the game without noticing her." Dawe burst onto the scene as a freshman to earn NEWMAC Rookie-of-the-Year honors for the 1998-'99 season. An explosive offensive talent and a tremendous athlete, the 5-6 guard averaged 10.8 points in her first two seasons in the Maroon and White. Huntington is a versatile player who provides depth on the wing. The 5-8 junior, who saw action mainly at forward last season, shot 51 percent from the floor, and scored in double figures on a couple of occasions. "Sarah adds speed and quickness," Graves said. "She can shoot the ball from the outside and is a good passer." McOmber provided valuable depth at the point last season, competing in all 29 games and averaging almost 13 minutes per game. "I expect Kelly to step into more of an impact role," Graves explained. "She can score off the dribble and from the perimeter. I'm hoping she feels more confident after playing quite a bit last season." Filion is a three-year veteran of the varsity who has witnessed its rise to the top of the NEWMAC. Despite undergoing three surgeries, Graves likes feels that she can give the Pride what it needs off the bench again this season. "Jackie is another player I can use in different spots," Graves said. "She's a two-guard but I asked to play in the post last season, which is something she's never done, she adapted well." Sweet is another experienced player that Graves looks to for a spark of the bench. "Last season, Andrea's role was to go into the game in the five-minute mark and create," Graves explained. "Her work ethic is second to none. She is relentless in practice, and she carries that energy onto the court in games." The Pride was a good as any team in the nation at home last season, winning all 14 games it played in Blake Arena. If SC could win the NEWMAC regular-season title, it would be rewarded home-court advantage for the conference post-season tournament. Graves has challenged her team to stay focused and reap the benefits of defending their title on their home court. "You can never take a night off, especially in our conference where you only play everyone once because there are so many teams. Every league game is crucial," Graves explained. With its starting five intact, a mix of tested veterans and exciting newcomers, and the return of Dawe, the Pride is primed to venture into uncharted territory - specifically, a second straight NEWMAC title and an extended stay in the NCAA Tournament. Graves preaches balance and she has it with this group. There are no less than three players that could erupt for 20-plus points on any given night. "I expect us to have four players scoring in double figures and that's going to make us very tough to prepare for," Graves explained. "But we also have the kind of players that can carry a team. It's a nice luxury to have." And don't expect complacency to be an issue. "When you start to believe you're the one, that's when you get into trouble," Graves said. "I am excited about what we have on our team and I'm confident that we'll be in the mix. Do I think we'll be at the top? That's our goal." U. of
New England UNE, which dropped three of its final four regular-season conference contests, took three consecutive double-digit road wins during the CCC Tournament to earn a bid into the NCAA Tournament, where the Nor'easters traveled to Ithaca and lost to the host Bombers, 79-61. The team played its best all-around ball during tourney time, getting solid contributions from nearly every player in the rotation. What are expectations for the 2001-2002 season? Well, fifth-year coach Curt Smyth has some clearly-defined goals in mind. "I would really like us to become a more consistent basketball team," he offers. "We played really well during the early stages of last season, and obviously played our best during the tournament. The middle and late stages of the regular season were a struggle at times, though. "I would also like us to perform better at home," says Smyth of a team that won just four of 11 games at the Campus Center. "We were 13-4 on the road and 4-7 at home last year. If we play better at home and more consistently throughout the entire season, we could challenge for the title again." Gone is four-year starter Michele Plant, who ended her brilliant career as the program's third all-time leading scorer (1,345 points). Her intangible contributions will be missed as much as her scoring and defense. The other four starters from last year's squad return, led by three-time all-conference performer Amanda Rodgerson. Rodgerson, in her second year as co-captain, averaged 15.2 points and 7.4 rebounds and is one of the premier post players in the conference. With one year left in her career, she is fourth on UNE's career rebounding list and sixth in scoring. Returning alongside Rodgerson, is sophomore Missy Stults — last season's CCC Rookie of the Year. Stults contributed 13.9 points and a team-best 9.3 rebounds a game while shooting 53% from the floor and 78% from the line. She also impressed the coaching staff with her defensive ability and passing skills. The backcourt has quickness to spare. Senior point guard Abby Calkins is poised to have the finest year of her career after working hard to improve in the off-season. She recorded team-highs in assists (97) and steals (51) in 2001-02. Sophomore Melissa Roller shot a state-best 48% from three-point land on her way to 8.4 points per contest. Roller is very dangerous in transition, as well, and should pick up some of the scoring slack associated with the loss of Plant. Rounding out the starting
lineup will be sophomore Amanda Brown, who really turned it up in the
postseason, averaging 11.3 points, including a career-best 15 Reserves will play a key role, as always. Sophomore Carley Bartolome (3.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and newcomers Tara Peterson and Kelly Kumka are aggressive players who will bang on the boards and play solidly on the defensive end. A large contingent of guards will battle for minutes off the bench. Senior Tracey Urrutia is one of the team's best defenders and has been a regular in the rotation the last few years. Junior co-captain Melissa Fullerton is a three-point specialist. Junior Erin Melcher, sophomore Kelly Kumka and first-years Natasha Dyer and Michelle Richards each have shown promise in early practices. Junior Jess VanDeusen is recovering from offseason knee surgery and will hopefully be available sometime in December. Once again the Nor'easters will be battled-tested when they tackle the bulk of their conference schedule in January and February. First-semester dates with Bates, Bowdoin and Southern Maine — all NCAA Tournament teams in 2001 — will hopefully prepare the Blue and Grey for CCC play. Plymouth
State "Our biggest challenge is for our junior class to become leaders," said Lavigne. "They are not the up and coming class anymore. It's time for them to take charge." The Panthers will
get excellent leadership from the three senior captains — "Those three represent what we want PSC women's basketball to be," said Lavigne. "They're excellent leaders and excellent captains." The junior class that Lavigne mentioned includes guards Jenn Pelletier and Whitney Morin and forwards Courtney Albert and Heather Adey. All four have seen significant playing time in their first two seasons, and all four have shown signs of stardom. Lavigne is looking for the group to rise to the challenge. Pelletier is now in her third year as starting point guard. She was named All-LEC First Team last year after averaging four assists a game and finishing third on the team in scoring with 12.3 points an outing. Morin came off the bench to provide strong defense at several positions along with eight points a game, fifth highest on the team. Albert has led the team in scoring the last two seasons, including a 14.7 ppg average last year while shooting 51 percent from the field. The 1999-2000 LEC Rookie of the Year, she was named All-LEC First Team last season as well as All-New England Second Team. "Our upperclassmen as a whole have a better understanding of team basketball," said Lavigne. "We've been together for a couple of years now so they understand our system." Two others who will
be looking for playing time at guard are sophomore Mandi Freshman Betsy Oswalt could see plenty of action in the Panther frontcourt, although she can also play the perimeter. Sophomore Sarah Peabody could help out if she can get healthy, and freshman center Heidi McAllister will contribute more with added experience. Rounding out the roster are freshmen forwards Lauren Devereaux, Stephanie Sheldon and Stacey Sheldon. "Winning the Little East is our No. 1 goal," said Lavigne, "and like every year, it's going to be tough. All of the top teams have all of their top players back, so this year it's really going to be difficult. We have a strong non-league schedule, which will get us ready for the LEC. We're focused on being in top form in February." |
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