2009-10 Season Preview

 

The Elmira College Women’s Basketball team will look to make an impact on the highly competitive Empire 8 Conference this year. With a core group of ten players back from last season, EC will look to make a late push into the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.

Leading the charge for Elmira will be third year standout Erin Rupell ’11 (Lehighton, PA -- Lehighton). She led all EC scorers last season with 13.2 points per game and led everyone in rebounding as well with 8.4 per contest. In the Empire 8 Conference she ranked 6th among the top scorers and 4th in rebounding. This type of play earned her Empire 8 Honorable Mention in the 2008-09 season. Look for Rupell to be a steady force on both sides of the court this season.

Fourth year player and captain Chelsea Kent ’10 (Sherman, NY -- Sherman) will be counted on to provide consistent offensive and defensive production this season for the Purple and Gold. She is one of the most athletic players Elmira has will look to improve on her numbers from last season. She totaled 5 points per game along with 34 assists. Kent made an impressive 10 blocks which was third most on the team only behind two forwards. Her dynamic approach on the court will be a key factor in this squad’s success.

Fellow classmate Alysha Giarra ’10 (Ridgefield Park, NJ -- Ridgefield Park) will look to have another solid season for Elmira. She was second on the team with 46 assists. Her passing will be a huge threat this season as she will be looking to distribute the ball amongst a talented offensive group.

Third year players Becca Fretz ’11 (Kunkletown, PA -- Pleasant Valley) and Becky Peterman ’11 (Glen Gardner, NJ -- Voorhees) will be counted on for their offensive and defensive efforts. Fretz finished the 2008-09 season averaging 7.3 points per contest along with 4.5 rebounds per game. She also owned a team high 14 blocks on the season. Look for Peterman to continue her success behind the three point line this season. She led all Empire 8 players in three point shooting percentage on 35 of 67 shooting (.522). Her lethal stroke behind the arc will provide Elmira with a reliable threat night in and night out.

Fourth year players Stephanie Woychak ’10 (Pine City, NY -- Elmira Notre Dame) and Meghan Sullivan ’10 (Elmira, NY -- Thomas Edison) will be counted on to provide quality minutes this season. They both saw significant time last season and hope to provide a spark to a talented group of players.

Look for Laura Bolan ’11 (Newcomb, NY -- Newcomb Central), Tesia Kaczynski ’11 (Mansfield, PA -- Mansfield) and Amanda Lawlor ’12 (Cortland, NY -- Cortland) to make a difference this season. All were limited in action last season but are a valuable recipe in this year’s success. Bolan and Lawlor both provide Elmira with much needed height in frontcourt whereas Kaczynski gives EC another three point threat.

Newcomers Darcy James ’12 (Castile, NY -- Letchworth Central), Allie Berry ’13 (Forty Fort, PA -- Wyoming Seminary), and Molly Grover ’13 (Cumberland, ME -- Cheverus) will look to log serious minutes in the upcoming season. Berry, a three time First Team All-Division selection in secondary school, provides Elmira with a versatile guard standing at six feet tall. The mismatch that she will create when on the floor will be something that EC will look to take advantage of.

In her second season at the helm of the Women’s Basketball program, Coach Shannon Howley will look to guide a very talented group of players to a post season berth.