Stars Return; Team Aims for a Title

by Teresa Stewart

The 2001-2002 season had its ups and downs. Yet, the Lady Colonials managed to keep it all together and make a name for themselves in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference.

They ended the regular season with a record of 14-12 and earned a berth in the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs - their seventh entry into the tournament in the past eight years. Although they lost in the first round to Philadelphia, the Lady Colonials succeeded in many other ways. They led the conference in rebounding. Three of their players, Kerri Rueb (7.0 rpg), Jill Jensen (6.4), and Jen Geiger (6.0) were ranked among the top 20 players in the league. The Lady Colonials averaged 31.5 defensive rebounds and 47.8 offensive rebounds a game. Rueb led her team for the second year in a row. Five players averaged more than eight points a game last season: Dani Thomas (13.9 ppg), Amber Gooden (10.4), Jen Geiger

(10.0), Kerri Rueb (9.2) and Jill Jensen (8.0). The Lady Colonials were second in the NYCAC in assists with an outstanding average of 15.9. Thomas led the team and conference with 5.1 assists per game. Thomas was also second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio of 1.29. The Lady Colonials also hit their shots. Jen Geiger led the conference with a 54 field goal percentage. Jensen was fifth, with 49 percent and Rueb, 12th with 46 percent.

Lady Colonials Return with Skilled Players at Every Position "We will consistently play the best basketball we are capable of, individually and collectively. Each game will be our very best," first year head coach Pat McGunnigle promises. "We will compete for a conference championship and an NCAA bid." The 2002-2003 season will be a productive one for the Lady Colonials. They boast 11 returnees from last year, which includes all of last year's starters. Lost are last year's co-captains, twins Shannon and Robin Owens, who graduated in 2002, and sophomore Jayme Maniscalco, who decided to play tennis this year for the College.

An advantage the Lady C's have is their size. Out of the 11 women on the team, six of them are six-foot or taller. McGunnigle said, "We just don't have size, but players who can run the court. We have six footers who can outrun guards." Junior Katie Kenny, who stands at 5-11, is one of the most effective guards for the Lady Colonials. Even with her height, she is versatile enough to play the point position. Sophomore Jenn Dawson, another guard, is 5-10. Like Kenny, she has the versatility to play more than one position. As for the team's depth, there are at least two skilled players at every position. There are five returning starters (Dani Thomas, Amber Gooden, Kerri Rueb, Jen Geiger, and Jill Jensen) who averaged eight or more points a game last year. Thomas led the team with an average of 13.9.

"We will put points on the board this season," McGunnigle stated. "The challenge is to prevent the opponents from putting the points up."