The SJC women's basketball team heads into the 2006-07 season with eight returning student-athletes from last season's DIII Independents Northeast Championship team and seven new players. Third year head coach Deb Reardon enters the season with high hopes and raised expectations for this young and talented group.
The squad will be without the services of defensive player of the year Danielle Somma and leading scorer Kaylin Regula, lost to graduation. Sophomore Mallory Clark will miss the season due to an ACL tear suffered during a practice scrimmage.
The Monks will take advantage of team speed and quickness around the basket as they look to build a new team identity. At first glance, the addition of the new players to the court to go along with the returning players has brought positive team chemistry; a mix that should pay off this season. "We will be a young team and must find a way to be consistent," said Coach Reardon. "The goal is to get the returnees to step up and the new players to contribute right away."
Juniors Marie Lint and Megan Farrell headline the list of returning post players. Last season, Lint was third in scoring with 7.2 points a game and led the team in field goal percentage (.482). Farrell led the team in blocks (17) and was second in scoring with 8 points a game. Both players will be expected to raise their games and take on leadership roles as team captains.
Challenging for starting roles and key minutes in the post will be first year Allison Miner, junior tri-captain Ashton Coutu and sophomore Andrea Enright. Two first year players, senior Jamie Morrison and first year Jeri-Dee Fitzmaurice, will add depth in the post positions.
Returning to the starting lineup after making solid contributions in the guard positions last season are sophomores Sasha Bowen and Alysn Ludwig. Bowen led the team in free throw percentage (.826) and was third in assists. Ludwig was second in assists, third in rebounding and fifth in scoring.
Megan Willette joins the squad as a sophomore and will see action at the point guard position and sophomore Sarah Banks will be called upon to handle difficult defensive assignments this season.
A trio of first year players, Carolyn Freeman, Katey Kamal and Jaimee Brett will compete for minutes at the two and three spots this year and provide a much needed outside threat.
"The team has a competitive attitude in practice every day which will carry over into the games. Our goal this year is to get better every day, individually and collectively as a team. We will count on contributions from everyone in order to be successful this season," stated Coach Reardon.
The 2006-07 schedule includes NCAA tournament teams Maine Farmington and Maine Maritime and out-of-region teams from New York and California.
