The Seton Hill University (SHU) Women’s Basketball team began their season Friday, November 11, 2005, with a 70-60 win against Wilberforce University at the weekend-long Rio Grande Tournament held at the University of Rio Grande.
The women came out strong again the following week at the Wooster Tip-Off Tournament against Notre Dame College of Ohio and won 77-74. The Griffins lost only to Rio Grande University and Alma College.
By Leslie Rodriguez,
Staff Writer
The Seton Hill University (SHU) Women’s Basketball team began their season Friday, November 11, 2005, with a 70-60 win against Wilberforce University at the weekend-long Rio Grande Tournament held at the University of Rio Grande.
The women came out strong again the following week at the Wooster Tip-Off Tournament against Notre Dame College of Ohio and won 77-74. The Griffins lost only to Rio Grande University and Alma College.
Sophomore Lauren Wilmus, believes that the women’s hard work during practices has helped them reach a higher level of play.
�Practices are going well. We get the things done that we need to work on and there is an incredible amount of focus from all the girls on the team. Everything we try to improve on is evident in the game,� said Wilmus.
The team ended last season with a record of 21-11 and was one game short of going to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament.
Because of the Griffins exceptional 2005 season, there are many high expectations for the team this year, and they do not lie solely within the SHU community. The women were ranked third in the American Mideast Conference (AMC) North pre-season poll, which is voted on by all AMC North coaches.
Assistant Coach Tim Creamer said, �We have two goals for the season. One is to win a bid to the NAIA National Tournament, and the second is to beat St.Vincent twice in one season. The women’s program has not achieved this feat since 1991.�
The Griffins bring back their top seven players from last season and, according to Head Coach Scott Breegle, experience will be the women’s biggest asset when striving to reach the team’s goals.
Returning upperclassmen include Elena Radenkovic, junior, Denishia Salter, senior, Alanna Daniels, senior, and Kirsten Eberlein, sophomore.
�I am looking to these veteran players to lead the team. Experience is the key to success this year. We just have to play our game,� said Breegle.
A strong base for the team lies with the seven returning players from last season, but new players are important in forming the future of the team. New additions to the team include three freshman recruits, one sophomore and one transfer.
Ashley Dickinson and Chera Pupi, two of the freshman, have been unable to play yet this season due to pre-season knee surgeries, and are expected to return to the court within the next few weeks. Pupi expressed eagerness to get back to the game and become a more active member of the team.
�Some people only dream of playing basketball in college. It’s an awesome experience, and I am lucky to be one of those few that get to live their dream. I can’twait until I am able to play,� said Pupi.
Liz Martin, freshman, has already made some important contributions to the team by stepping into the roll of injured senior starter, Kaleeda Jenkins.
Martin, who was the leading scorer for SHU at the Rio Grande Tournament, comes from a strong basketball program at Moon High School.
Sarah Tollison, a sophomore, and Rose McFee, a transfer, are other new players on the team. McFee, originally from Sydney, Australia, spent a year playing basketball at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Fla., before coming to SHU. McFee believes that this team has the potential to go to nationals.
�Coach Breegle has said since our first team meeting that this was going to be the year that we went all the way,� said McFee. �The team motto is �OUR TIME�, and I think that represents our team’s spirit in a nut shell.�
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