Press Releases

November 18, 1999
Southampton College Women's Basketball Aims for the NCAAs

Lady Colonials Return a Towering Team With Deadly Accuracy

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

After two-straight East Coast Athletic Conference titles, the Lady Colonials are shooting for the big time: a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. With the nucleus of last year's 19-11 team returning along with several prospects, Coach Tony Bozzella's squad is the one to beat in the Northeast.

"We set a school record with 19 wins and won our second ECAC title," Bozzella said. "We're looking forward to having a tremendous season and the NCAA tourney is our goal."

Southampton College of Long Island University women's basketball begins its season away November 26-27 at the Felician Tournament in New Jersey. The Lady Colonials? home opener is Thursday, December 2 at 7 p.m. vs. Molloy College.

Last year, Southampton College went 15-5 in the New York Athletic Conference, earning a berth in the ECAC tournament. They were led by 6-3 co-captain Rita Breivaite (13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game) of Lithuania, who was named a Division II All-Star. Breivaite and her 6-3 twin Evelina are among four seniors who return to the Colonials.

"The Breivaites are identical twins, but they bring us two very different games," Bozzella said. "Rita can score. She's one of the most dominating players we've had in the history of the program."

"Meanwhile, Evelina is a tremendous defensive player."

Last week, Rita Breivaite was named to the NYCAC Preseason All-Conference Team. Other seniors are three-point-threat Beth Hartman and co-captain Heather Weaver (6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds in just 16 minutes per game), a 6-2 center.

Juniors include two starters: point guard Melanie McCollum and Shannan Henley (8.9 ppg, 33-percent three-point shooter)

Sharp-shooting sophomore forward Corinne Broadhead (82.4-percent free throws, 30.2-percent three-pointers) will also start along with sophomore small forward Shelly Nicholls. "These two women will have to step up," Bozzella said. "Corinne is a very smart player who uses her intelligence on the court to succeed."

"As for Shelly, she came on strong at the end of last year."

On the bench will be sophomores Shannon Owens, Robin Owens and Tara Hamilton. The lone freshman is 6-1 Kerri Rueb.

Bozzella plans to make Rita Breivaite (947 career points) even more of an inside force. He hopes she'll pump in 18 points a game and challenge Meegan McGuire's school record of 1499 points, set in 1995.

During Bozzella's tenure, the team has a 100-percent graduation rate. His current roster earned the highest GPA (3.319) of any Div. II women's basketball team in New York State last year, and the 14th-best in the nation. "We have a hardworking team," the coach said. "The kids are really committed to doing well, in sports and in school."

In 1998-99, the Lady Colonials also set a school record for free-throw percentage (73.8) and three-point field goals (123). Bozzella hopes to keep that deadly accuracy while controlling the floor with a fast-moving style.

"We like to force tempo and score a lot," he said. "We are a transition-oriented team and take a lot of pride in taking the ball down the floor. It's an exciting style of play."