Women's Basketball 2001-02 Outlook
According to Head Coach Jim Meyer, "Qualities that make great basketball players are pride, courage, perseverance, trust, vision, work ethic and above all unity within the entire program." Luckily for Meyer and his staff, the 15 women who make up the 2001-2002 Lady Colonial Team all possess those traits, not to mention talent.
Standing at 6-0, junior forward Kerri Rueb leads eight veterans and seven newcomers this season. Rueb led last year's 14-13 squad in both scoring and rebounding. She is joined as a tri-captain by 5-7 senior twins Shannon and Robin Owens. Both trained extensively over the 2001 summer, determined to reach new heights in their final season. Robin looks to shine at the shooting guard position while Shannon will primarily play a forward position.
Returning sophomores are 6-1 Jen Geiger, 6-0 Jill Jensen, 5-11 Katie Kenny and 5-3 Jaime Podjed. Geiger, a Lady Colonial with tremendous jumping ability, blocked 40 shots last year, only one shy of the school record. Meyer says, "We anticipate Jen will break the single season record at some point in her career, and the career record will be hers when all is said and done." Jensen made single-season history last year when she blocked eight shots in a game ? the highest number ever at Southampton. Kenny is an ideal leader. As a freshman, she started18 games. Podjed is the team's hardest working player. Meyer notes, "Jaime is in the gym shooting all the time. The way to improve your weaknesses is to work on them." He commends her hard work and notes that it has not gone unnoticed.
Also returning to the team, but stepping on the court for the first time, is Nyree Frazier, a sophomore who red-shirted last season. A dominating player who scored over 1000 points and grabbed over 1000 rebounds in high school, Frazier promises to be an intense collegiate athlete.
New to the Lady Colonials, but a veteran to basketball, is junior transfer student, Dani Thomas. This 5-3 point guard is a force opponents should fear. She can drive to the basket, shoot from the three-point arc, and make quick transitions from offense to defense. Thomas scored over 1000 points in just two years of junior college basketball.
The six freshmen on the team are 5-7 Amber Gooden, 6-0 Kiley Lapointe, 5-10 Jenn Dawson, 6-2 Inez Quetant, 5-5 Jayme Maniscalco and 6-2 Jennifer McLoughlin.
Gooden and Dawson have the best opportunity to see the most action, due to the Lady Colonials' loss of three guards from last year. Meyer says, "Both of these young ladies have the ability to fill in admirably."
Quetant shows signs of being a dominating offensive figure under the basket and Lapointe may be the new class' best rebounder. Gooden, Lapointe and McLoughlin all scored over 1000 points in high school.
Two virtues that Meyer stresses are leadership and kinship. He recognizes the leadership skills the Owens sisters and Rueb possess as captains. He says, "These young ladies have worked hard, and led vocally and by example. They possess the qualities necessary to assist the new players in their transition to Southampton." Meyer also identifies Thomas, Geiger and Kenny as excellent sources of guidance for the freshmen.
Meyer and his staff know they have the talent, passion and devotion to be the first women's team in school history to make a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Their other goals include winning at least 21 games, going undefeated at home and winning the conference championship. Winning is not everything to Meyer, as he adds, "Our team is like a family. We are fortunate to have close-knit players who all help each other. We are extremely proud of them all."
Coach Jim Meyer with Assistant Ken Moyers.
Colonial Generals
Entering his second year is Head Coach Jim Meyer, who brings with him a winning resume, lots of energy and an intense passion for the game of basketball.
Meyer guided the Colonials to 14 wins in his first year at the helm, the highest win total for a first year coach in Southampton Graduate Campus history. "I feel fortunate that [previous coach] Tony Bozzella left many talented players in the program on his departure," Meyer said, "and I have confidence that we recruited players that will compliment this core group quite well."
Meyer came to Southampton from the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University where he had served as Assistant Coach for the previous three seasons.
Joining Coach Meyer on the sidelines for the second-straight season is Ken Moyers.
The two have a long history together and are thrilled to have the opportunity to work together in maintaining the Lady Colonials winning ways.
?I?ve known Ken a long time,? said Coach Jim Meyer, ?We complement each other very well. He?s very knowledgeable and passionate about the game of basketball. He has a great basketball mind and is a great tactician.?
First year assistant coach Rita Breivaite may be the best player in Southampton Graduate Campus history.
The 6-3 native of Lithuania who was dubbed the ?Baltic Blocker? in her playing days, is third on the College?s all-time scoring list and first in boards and blocked shots. She was named by the Basketball Writers Association ?Metropolitan Area Player of the Year? in 1999-2000.
Pat McGunnigle is another first-year assistant coach with the Lady Colonials and he brings a wealth of experience to the staff.
With over 30 years experience in the game, McGunnigle has guided teams to a 78 percent win ratio over his career.
McGunnigle has developed All-American players over the years including Jimmy Spillane (UCLA) and Rick Pitino, former coach of the Boston Celtics and Kentucky Wildcats and current coach at the University of Louisville.

At the beach.
Roster