2002-03 Women's Basketball Preseason Outlook
9/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 9, 2002
Experience All-Around
The Sacred Heart women's basketball team enters 2002-03 full of experience and depth at every position and primed for a run at the Northeast Conference title. "For the first time in Division I, we will enter our season as a true experienced, veteren team," stated Swanson. "Our three seniors and four juniors along with sophomore point guard Allie Bagnell gives us a real solid nucleus." Led by senior forward Brooke Kelly, an All-NEC second team selection last year, the Pioneers look ready to make an impact. Kelly, averaging 14.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a year ago will be joined in the front court by fellow senior captain Brooke Rutnik. Rutnik, a 6-0 forward/center, is the force behind a stingy Pioneer defense that ranked second in the NEC last year in scoring defense (60.3 opp ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.391). Rutnik finished last season averaging 9.6 points and 5.6 rebounds and led the NEC in blocked shots for the second straight year. "Our strength, again, will come defensively," commented Swanson. "That is our staple. Everything starts on that end of the floor with team toughness." SHU will look to junior Kate Maher and sophomore Colleen Duggan to help fill the void left by forward Leslie Newhard. Maher was a very solid contributor off the bench last season, averaging 6.1 points and 3.8 rebounds. Look for Duggan and junior Rachel Andreas to provide solid minutes and be a force in paint for the Pioneers this year. SHU welcomes their entire backcourt back from last year, led by senior captain Ashley Durmer and sophomore point guard Allie Bagnell. Durmer, who moved to the two guard half way into last season, will be a force off the dribble and behind the three-point arc. Bagnell took over the starting point guard role as a freshman nine games into last season, and led the Pioneers to a 14-6 record over the last 20 games. She finished the year averaling 5.1 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Junior Ashley Kohl returns as a threat from behind the arc. Kohl averaged 7.0 points a game last season, knocking down a team-high 55 treys. Junior Shannon Quinlivan also gives SHU a solid three point threat off the bench, shooting 16-40 (.400) last season. Add sophomores Ashleigh Bepko and Colleen White and freshman Nicolle Rubino to the mix and the Pioneers look to have one of the deepest backcourts in the conference. "Depth, were in the past was a weakness, this year will be one of our strengths," stated the head coach. "Our seniors have been on the court together since their freshman seasons and our sophomores all come back after giving us solid minutes last year and will continue to make major contributions this year."
New Kid on the Block
The Pioneer's will welcome freshmen Nicolle Rubino to this year's squad. Rubino, a 5-9 guard from Port Jefferson, NY, will be counted on to make an impact this season. "Nicole, at 5-9, will play the two or three for us," stated Swanson. "She is ready to contribute right away. Her skill and toughness are already at the college level and I expect her to challange for a starting role. She has the potential to be a real special player for us."
The 2002-03 Schedule
The 2002-03 Sacred Heart women's basketball schedule is highlighted with tough non-conference games and the traditional NEC match-ups as the Pioneers will look to march to their first conference title. The season will tip-off on November 22nd, when the Pioneers travel to Atlantic-10 force UMass, a game head coach Ed Swanson sees as an important benchmark. "Out of conference, we kick it off early on the road at UMass in what could be a statement game for our program," stated Swanson. "In order for our league and this program to get to the next level, we need to win this type of game." The schedule is highlighted with tough road games at Princton, Marquette and Columbia as well as return match-ups against Albany, Brown, New Hampshire, and Yale. The Pioneers will open the Northeast Conference portion of their schedule on Saturday, December 14th, when they play host to Wagner. Entering their fourth season of play in the NEC, the Pioneers are hoping this is the year they capture a conference title and first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. "St. Fancis (PA) will be right there all season," said Swanson. "I think we will be right in the mix along with LIU. In all, I think the league will be improved from top to bottom. It could be a real fight for the last two playoff spots."
SHU Site of the 2002-03 Northeast Confernce Tournament
Sacred Heart University will play host to the first two rounds of the 2002-03 Northeast Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, March 8-9th. The championship game will be played at the remaining highest seed. If the Pioneers qualify for this year's tournament, they will be a tough draw at the Pitt Center, posting a 29-9 (.763) record at home since joining the conference in 1999-00.
Kelly, Rutnik, and Durmer Named 2002-03 Captains
Seniors Brooke Kelly, Brooke Rutnik, and Ashley Durmer, all three-year starters, have been elected tri-captains for the 2002-03 season. They will succeed Leslie Newhard, who graduated in May. Kelly, a 5-foot-10 forward, achieved stardom as a junior, averaging team highs of 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and earning a place on the All-NEC Second Team. She was also named the NEC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete. Kelly will enter her final season with 973 career points, ninth on the school's all-time list. Rutnik topped the conference in blocked shots the past two years with 1.7 and 1.5 per game, respectively. Her seven rejections against Mount St. Mary's (2/9/02) represented a season-high in the NEC and were a Sacred Heart record in Division I competition. She averaged 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds last year. The 5-8 Durmer has provided fine ball-handling and three-point marksmanship as the team's point guard for most of the past three seasons. She averaged 8.2 points per game and hit on 44 treys last year. With 117 career three-pointers, Durmer is within hailing distance of the Pioneer record of 146 held by Chrissie Perkins (1994-98). "Its entirely fitting that these three players will be our captains next season," head coach Ed Swanson said. "They have been the building blocks for our program's successful entry into Division I, and as such have often been our on-the-court leaders. I know they will help us keep the momentum going as we go after our first conference title."
