Women's basketball picked for second, aiming for first
Erica Rico The Spectrum
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Sports
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As the women's basketball team wraps up its preseason, members of the team are optimistic going into the regular season.
Last Thursday in a preseason coaches' poll, the women were picked to finish second, following Robert Morris and ahead of #3 Monmouth, and #4 St. Francis Pa.
"(The team is still a) work in progress," head coach Ed Swansan said. "The main thing is we're healthier and deeper this year compared to last year, from the first to the 13th player."
Junior guard Amanda Pape of Stamford was named at the conclusion of last year to the All-Northeast Conference Team and named in this year's preseason All-NEC Team for her second straight year.
"This year's team definitely has a lot of depth," Pape said. "In previous years at some points we were down to only six or seven girls able to play, so having a full squad is positive."
Last year the women took second placed in the NEC in regular season play; they lost in the semifinals of the NEC tournament.
This year the women will return with a great amount of talent, losing only one senior starter-Colleen Start. On the court, the team will be led by seniors Pape and captain Nicolle Rubino, a guard from Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., and junior captain, Kerri Burke, a guard from Saugus, Ma.
"We have a good team and everyone is working hard to win the NEC," Pape said.
Burke had a successful season as a sophomore. She started as a point guard and finished second on the team in scoring behind Pape.
Burke averaged 10.8 points and 4.24 assists per game last year as she played an average of 36.6 minutes per game. She is quite effective from behind the three-point arc, knocking down 34.6 percent from long range.
Rubino's final season leaves her just 36 points short of the 1,000-point plateau. Last year she averaged 10.2 points per game while registering 102 assists, 54 steals and 125 rebounds on the season.
Junior Jasmine Walker, a forward from Amityville, N.Y., will lead the offense. Last season Walker averaged 7.7 points and 7.0 rebounds for the year. She was seventh in the NEC in rebounding while amassing 23 blocks.
Walker was out several games in the early part of last season due to an overcoming illness. She returned to the starting lineup in game 12 and contributed for the rest of the season.
Mary Rush will also be returning to the core after missing a season due to an ankle injury and having reconstruction surgery for it.
"Having her back will add to the strong nucleus," Swansen said. "We also have five new freshmen who will all see playing time and give that added depth."
The Pioneers open the season on Friday, Nov. 18 at Providence College at 7 p.m.
Last Thursday in a preseason coaches' poll, the women were picked to finish second, following Robert Morris and ahead of #3 Monmouth, and #4 St. Francis Pa.
"(The team is still a) work in progress," head coach Ed Swansan said. "The main thing is we're healthier and deeper this year compared to last year, from the first to the 13th player."
Junior guard Amanda Pape of Stamford was named at the conclusion of last year to the All-Northeast Conference Team and named in this year's preseason All-NEC Team for her second straight year.
"This year's team definitely has a lot of depth," Pape said. "In previous years at some points we were down to only six or seven girls able to play, so having a full squad is positive."
Last year the women took second placed in the NEC in regular season play; they lost in the semifinals of the NEC tournament.
This year the women will return with a great amount of talent, losing only one senior starter-Colleen Start. On the court, the team will be led by seniors Pape and captain Nicolle Rubino, a guard from Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., and junior captain, Kerri Burke, a guard from Saugus, Ma.
"We have a good team and everyone is working hard to win the NEC," Pape said.
Burke had a successful season as a sophomore. She started as a point guard and finished second on the team in scoring behind Pape.
Burke averaged 10.8 points and 4.24 assists per game last year as she played an average of 36.6 minutes per game. She is quite effective from behind the three-point arc, knocking down 34.6 percent from long range.
Rubino's final season leaves her just 36 points short of the 1,000-point plateau. Last year she averaged 10.2 points per game while registering 102 assists, 54 steals and 125 rebounds on the season.
Junior Jasmine Walker, a forward from Amityville, N.Y., will lead the offense. Last season Walker averaged 7.7 points and 7.0 rebounds for the year. She was seventh in the NEC in rebounding while amassing 23 blocks.
Walker was out several games in the early part of last season due to an overcoming illness. She returned to the starting lineup in game 12 and contributed for the rest of the season.
Mary Rush will also be returning to the core after missing a season due to an ankle injury and having reconstruction surgery for it.
"Having her back will add to the strong nucleus," Swansen said. "We also have five new freshmen who will all see playing time and give that added depth."
The Pioneers open the season on Friday, Nov. 18 at Providence College at 7 p.m.