11/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2004
FAIRFIELD, CT (November 10, 2004) - The Northeast Conference announced it's 2004-05 Preseason Coaches Poll Wednesday afternoon via media teleconference and the Sacred Heart women's basketball team was picked to finish second behind three-time defending champion St. Francis (PA). The Pioneers were voted to finish second while also receiving three first place votes in a poll conducted by the league's coaches.
In addition, last season's NEC Rookie of the Year, Amanda Pape (Stamford, CT) was named to the Preseason All-Northeast Conference Team. Pape, who earns the nod for the first time, joins reigning NEC Player of the Year Beth Swink of St. Francis (PA), Joy Gallagher of Wagner, Niamh Dwyer of Monmouth and Gabriella Guegbelet of Central Connecticut as this year's selections.
Pape returns as one of the top all-around players in the NEC. As a freshman, she helped elevate Sacred Heart to a second-place finish in the regular season standings by pacing the Pioneers in scoring (15.1 ppg) and steals (75) and ranking second in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and third in assists (59). Pape, a 5-8 guard, earned the NEC rookie of the week award seven times last season, the second highest award handout in league history behind Kim MacMillan's (Long Island) eight in 1999-00.
The 2004-05 Pioneers return a wealth of talent to the court led by Pape and junior Nicolle Rubino (Port Jefferson Station, NY). Rubino was second on the team scoring at 11.5 points per game clip a year ago. The junior also improved her assists (80) and steals (56) over her NEC Rookie of the Year numbers as a freshman. The Pape and Rubino dynamic duo provided a large chunk of the SHU offense last season with the duo combining for 26.6 points per game, nearly 40 percent of the offensive output.
Running the point will be sophomore Kerri Burke (Saugus, MA) and senior Allie Bagnell (Newtown, PA). Burke averaged 16 minutes a game off the bench in a back up role last season while averaging 5.4 points and passing out 50 assists. She also showed the knack for knocking down a three, hitting 39.1% (18-46) from behind the arc. Bagnell is still battling back from season-ending knee surgery suffered midway through her sophomore season.
The big question mark the Pioneers have heading into the season will be the production they get from their play down on blocks. Leading the way are seniors Colleen Duggan and Colleen White along with sophomore Jasmine Walker. Duggan is coming off a season where she started 26 of the 29 games she played in. The senior center was third on the team in scoring at 7.2 points per game while shooting 52.5% (83-158) from the field. Duggan can also provide an intimidating force defensively after leading the NEC in blocked shots a year ago. Walker was a solid contributor off the bench for SHU last season, averaging 5.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She will be counted on heavily to increase her offensive output this season. White played in 26 games last year and posted career high career numbers in points (95), rebounds (53), assists (16), blocks (14) and steals (15).
The Pioneers open the 2004-05 season next Friday, November 19th in New Haven when they take on in-state rival Yale University at 7:00 pm.
2004-05 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll1. St. Francis (PA) (7) 2. Sacred Heart (3) 3. Monmouth (1) 4. Long Island 5. Quinnipiac 6. Wagner 7. Mount St. Mary's 8. Robert Morris 9. Fairleigh Dickinson 10. St. Francis (NY) 11. Central Connecticut
(#) - First Place votes
2004-05 NEC Preseason All-Conference Team
Niamh Dwyer Monmouth Jr. G Joy Gallagher Wagner Jr. G Gabriella Guegbelet CCSU So. F Amanda Pape Sacred Heart So. G Beth Swink St. Francis-PA Sr. C
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