October 20, 2004

ROWAN SELECTED AS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FAVORITE
IN POLL OF LEAGUE'S HEAD COACHES

PROFS SEEKING SIXTH NJAC TITLE AND FIRST SINCE 1998-99

After finishing the 2003-04 season with a 21-5 overall record, Rowan University has been selected as the preseason women's basketball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs, who last captured an NJAC women's basketball championship in 1998-99, are seeking their sixth league title since the inception of the NJAC championship back in 1982-83.

Rowan was selected to finish first on six-of-the-nine ballots from the league’s head coaches. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Gabby Lisella, the Profs have posted an overall record of 61-39. Rowan tallied a 12-1 conference regular season record in 2003-04 and earned the top seed in the NJAC Tournament. The Profs return two all-conference senior forwards in Stephanie Finke, and Kami Bernardo, the 2003-04 NJAC Player of the Year. 

The College of New Jersey, the defending NJAC Champions, were selected to finish second in the poll and received one first place vote among the nine ballots cast. Under the direction of 12th-year head coach Dawn Henderson, the Lions have posted a record of 214-78, including a 2003-04 record of 19-9 en route to the NJAC tournament title and a first round victory in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. TCNJ returns one all-conference player in junior guard Alexa Shields. 

William Paterson University placed third in the poll and received two first place votes among the nine ballots cast. The Pioneers finished the 2003-04 campaign with an 18-11 record and advanced to the championship game of the NJAC Tournament. Under the direction of 13th-year head coach Erin Monahan, William Paterson has produced a record of 205-90. 

Kean University was selected to finish fourth in the poll. Under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Michele Sharp, the Cougars have posted an overall record of 81-74, including a mark of 19-8 in 2003-04 while advancing to the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament.

Richard Stockton College was selected to finish fifth. Thirteenth-year head coach Joe Fussner has guided the Ospreys to a 196-127 overall record during his tenure.

Montclair State University was the coaches' pick for sixth place in the conference. Under the direction of first-year head coach Beth O'Boyle, the Red Hawks return Stephanie Machin, the 2003-04 NJAC Rookie of the Year, from a squad that finished 21-7 overall last season.

The coaches' dark horse selection, Ramapo College, was picked to place seventh. For the first-time in school history, the Roadrunners will be led by a full-time head coach in first-year court leader Tiesha Grace.

Rutgers-Camden was tabbed for eighth place by the coaches. The 2002-03 NJAC Champions return all-conference junior forward Megan Rulon.

Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Kevin Morris, Rutgers-Newark was selected to place ninth in the poll of the league's head coaches.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2004-05 NJAC Tournament. First round tournament games will take place at campus sites on February 22, with the first and second-seeded teams receiving first round byes. The semifinals of the tournament will take place at campus sites on February 24, and the two semifinal winners will advance to the championship game of the 2004-05 NJAC Tournament on February 26 at the home court of the highest remaining seed. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.