Change is never easy, but for the SJC women's basketball squad joining the Great Northeast Athletic Conference proved to be another step in the right direction. After winning two D-3 Independent Championships in three years, St. Joe's finally had the opportunity to compete for a playoff spot and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Monks posted a 15-10 record and earned the #6 seed in the GNAC tournament.

Fourth year head coach Deb Reardon created a non-conference schedule that was a balance of confidence building games and difficult match-ups against some of the top teams in New England. The Monks gained valuable experience during the first half of the season, going 7-4 and registering a convincing win over NAC foe Maine Maritime Academy.

In January, SJC quickly set the tone by reeling off three conference wins in a row before falling to eventual GNAC champion Emmanuel College. The Monks responded to the set back with a thrilling 56-44 win over second place Suffolk University and joined Emmanuel as the only conference team to defeat Suffolk.

St. Joe's went 4-4 over the final weeks of the season and traveled to Norwich University in Vermont for a playoff game in which the team played its finest basketball of the season. Despite suffering a heartbreaking 64-54 loss, the Monks proved to be one of the top teams in the GNAC.

While tremendous team play was the theme of the season, the Monks had numerous individual highlights including: Carolyn Freeman, GNAC All-Conference First Team, GNAC Weekly Honor Roll four times, Player of the Week by the Maine Basketball Coaches Association on 1/21 and MWBCA Honor Roll on 1/15. FY Erin Cartwright was named GNAC Rookie of the Week on 2/19 and MWBCA Honor Roll on 1/15. SO Meg Daigle and FY Kayla Boston both earned a spot on the GNAC Honor Roll on 2/11 and Daigle also was honored on 2/14. SR Marie Lint was named MWBCA Player of the Week and GNAC Honor Roll on 12/19 and FY Casey Drake made the 1/15 MWBCA Honor Roll.

St. Joe's returns ten players for the 08-09 season including five starters who will be complemented by several talented newcomers. The Monks look forward to the upcoming season and more exciting GNAC basketball.