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WOMEN'S
BASKETBALL |
1999-2000 RECAP: In 1999-2000, the New Jersey Athletic Conference was represented in post-season play by Richard Stockton College and Rowan University in the NCAA Division III tournament, and Ramapo College in the ECAC tournament.
In an upset filled NJAC tournament, Richard Stockton--the #4 seed--upset both #1 Rowan and #2 William Paterson University en route to the conference title, and the NJAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.Overall, the NJAC posted a non-conference record of 39-35.
1999-2000 Final Standings & Stats
2000-01 OUTLOOK: The conference can expect another competitive campaign within the ranks with most of the teams returning key players.
Heading the list is the NJAC and ECAC Player of the Year senior guard Meg Renna (West Milford, NJ) of William Paterson University. Joining Renna in the spotlight will be a pair of first-team all-conference selections: Rowan University junior forward Kristi McCullough (Marlton, NJ), who averaged 13.9 ppg; and Ramapo College junior guard Tara Larkin (Mendham, NJ), third in the NJAC last year with a 16.0 ppg scoring average. Also keep an eye on Richard Stockton College sophomore Kelli Bakanowsky (Gibbsboro, NJ), last year's NJAC Rookie of the Year, who ranked among the conference leaders in scoring, free throw percentage and steals; and the 1999-2000 NJAC scoring and rebounding leader Joy Silver (Camden, NJ), who as a freshman averaged 18.6 ppg and 13.8 rpg for Rutgers University-Camden.|
2000-01
NJAC |
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1.) Rowan
University (1)* |
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Dark Horses: |
KEAN UNIVERSITY
COUGARS
Head Coach: Michele Sharpe
1999-2000: 7-11 NJAC, 9-15
Overall
Kean will look to sophomore point guard Crystal Gadsden to be the floor general. Last season Gadsden averaged 11.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 5.9 apg. The Cougars also return shooting guard Leigh Vogtman and forward Jaquana Abdulla, who was averaging 14.7 ppg and 8.6 rpg before being sidelined in the second half of the season with a knee injury.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Crystal
Gadsden Christ the King HS/Queens, NY |
Janae
Brumby Trenton HS/Trenton, NJ |
| Jaquana
Abdulla South Shore HS/Brooklyn, NY |
Shervon
James Grady HS/Brooklyn, NY |
| Leigh
Vogtman Steinert HS/Yardville, NJ |
Kelly
Rice Willingboro HS/Willingboro, NJ |
The Red Hawks lost just one person off its roster from last season, yet that loss is glaring. Gone is head coach Gloria Bradley, who left in September to take the coaching reins at Wayne State University. In Bradley's place will be Dr. Lisa Pleban, who spent last season walking the sidelines at Eastern College in Pennsylvania. Pleban will find plenty of experience as 11 players return, including senior forward/center Marlena Lawrence, the team's leading scorer (11.5 ppg) and rebounder (7.5 rpg), as well as guards Stephanie Ellerbe and Kerry Shine.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
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Marlena Lawrence Nyack HS/New City, NY |
Not known at this time |
| Stephanie
Ellerbe Pennsauken HS/Pennsauken, NJ |
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Kerry Shine Rahway HS/Rahway, NJ |
With the loss of four starters--most notably NJAC first-team All-Conference member Jen Hutchinson--the Lions enter the season in transition. Among the leading candidates to whom both Coach Henderson and the team will look early on are seniors Laura Buckley, Jenna Luisi and Leigh Beierschmitt. Buckley is TCNJs's top returning scorer, averaging 7.1 ppg, and led the Lions last season in assists. Luisi will also be a key playmaker, while Beierschmitt will be needed in the paint. Look for a trio of newcomers to also challenge upfront: Adrienne Warner (Sparta HS/Sparta, NJ) at 6'1", Liz Martin (Shawnee HS/Shamong, NJ) at 6'1" and Laura Mala (Ridgewood HS/Ridgewood, NJ) at 6'0".
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Laura
Buckley Marlboro HS/Marlboro, NJ |
Adrienne
Warner Sparta HS/Sparta, NJ |
| Liz
Martin Shawnee HS/Shamong, NJ |
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Jenna Luisi Gloucester Catholic HS/Deptford, NJ |
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Leigh Beierschmitt Collingswood HS/Collingswood, NJ |
Laura
Mala Ridgewood HS/Ridgewood, NJ |
NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY
GOTHIC KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Alice DeFazio
1999-2000: 3-15 NJAC, 4-20 Overall
The mood has changed for the New Jersey City University women's basketball program, where the memories of last year's 4-20 season (3-17 New Jersey Athletic Conference) should be just that–a memory. The Lady Knights will be much improved across the board. Coach DeFazio has proven high school players in the lineup who are expected to come in and have an immediate impact.
Sophomore forward Shondelle Browne returns after averaging 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Leading scorer Sandra Nunez also is back after recording 9.4 points per game a year ago. With the additions of freshman guard/forward Anabel Rodriguez (BellevilleHS/Belleville, NJ) and point guard Cristina Morales (Shabazz HS/Newark, NJ), the Lady Knights can realistically be better than .500 and hopefully will compete for a berth in the four-team conference tournament.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Shondelle
Browne Irvington HS/Irvington, NJ |
Anabel
Rodriguez Belleville HS/Belleville, NJ |
| Sandra
Nunez Perth Amboy HS/Perth Amboy, NJ |
Cristina
Morales Shabazz HS/Newark, NJ |
RAMAPO COLLEGE
ROADRUNNERS
Head Coach: Eugene Marshall
1999-2000: 9-9 NJAC, 15-11 Overall
After last season's 15-11 campaign, a .500 showing in the NJAC, and a semi-final appearance in the ECAC Metro region tournament (their first post-season bid since 1992-93), the Roadrunners are eying a move up the NJAC ladder. Last year's team was #2 in the conference in scoring (67.5 ppg) and this young squad has the firepower to do it again in first team All-Conference member junior Tara Larkin (16.0 ppg) and second team selection Stephanie Pillari, a versatile sophomore who led the team in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds, and steals.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Tara
Larkin West Morris HS/Mendham, NJ |
SeQuita
McGill Ramapo HS/Spring Valley, NY |
| Stephanie
Pillari Westwood HS/Westwood, NJ |
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| Sidona
Schraufnagel HS/Lewiston, Idaho |
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| Carla
Colucci Emerson HS/Emerson, NJ |
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| Shonah
Beghyn Bogota HS/Bogota, NJ |
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| Melinda
DioDonet Bogota HS/Bogota, NJ |
RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE
OSPREYS
Head Coach: Joe Fussner
1999-2000: 11-7 NJAC, 18-10 Overall
The Ospreys opened a few eyes when they claimed the 1999-2000 NJAC title as the #4 seed in the conference tournament and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament. The team returns five players who played at least 21 games last season. Topping the list for NJAC Coach of the Year Joe Fussner is the 2000 Rookie of the Year Kelli Bakanowsky who led the team in scoring with 13.4 ppg. Double-digit scorers Rosina Rachuba and Tamika Riley are also back, along with guards Karisa McMorris and Shannon Keelan, both of whom missed last season due to knee injuries.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Kelli
Bakanowsky Eastern HS/Gibbsboro, NJ |
Tara
Hicken Gloucester CC/ |
| Rosina
Rachuba Gateway HS/Woodbury Hts., NJ |
Vicky
Adornetto Marlboro HS/Marlboro, NJ |
| Tamika
Riley Glassboro HS/Glassboro, NJ |
Takisha
Pride Palmyra HS/Palmyra, NJ |
ROWAN
UNIVERSITY
PROFS
Head Coach: Gabby Lisella
1999-2000: 16-2 NJAC, 24-4 Overall
The Profs return four starters from last year's team which averaged 80.1 ppg and advanced to the NCAA Division III sectional final. Junior forward Kristi McCullough was an NJAC first team All-Conference selection while 6'2" sophomore center Kathy Darling emerged in the second half of the season as a dominant inside player. The Profs are under the direction of new head coach Gabby Lisella, previously at SUNY-Oswego. She replaces Candace Crabtree, the winningest coach in school history, who left for the head coaching job at Division I Drexel University.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Kathy
Darling South Milford HS/Milford, DE |
Jenn
Daly Middletown North HS/Port Monmouth, NJ |
| Kristi
McCullough Cherokee HS/Marlton, NJ |
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Staci Minuskin Howell HS/Howell, NJ |
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Stephanie Allocco Sayreville War Memorial HS/Parlin, NJ |
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Melissa Wallace Spotswood HS/Spotswood, NJ |
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Lisa Guide Gloucester Catholic HS/Gloucester, NJ |
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - CAMDEN
SCARLET RAPTORS
Head Coach: Jackie Trakimas
1999-2000: 3-15 NJAC, 5-19 Overall
The Scarlet Raptors have set their sights on climbing higher in the ranks of the NJAC, and will rely on sophomore center Joy Silver to lead the way. Silver led the conference in both scoring (18.6 ppg) and rebounding (13.8 rpg) as a freshman. She'll be aided in the front court by senior forward Kate Cranston (9.8 rpg) and sophomore guard Lori Marandola. Key newcomers include junior Quan Luck (Willingboro HS/Willingboro, NJ) who returns to the team after a one-year lay-off, and sophomore guard Ryan Johnston (Bishop Eustace HS/Haddon Heights, NJ) who sat out last season with a knee injury.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Joy
Silver Woodrow Wilson HS/Camden, NJ |
Quan Luck Willingboro HS/Willingboro, NJ |
| Kate
Cranston Paul VI HS/Westmont, NJ |
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Ryan Johnston Bishop Eustace HS/Haddon Heights, NJ |
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| Lori
Marandola St. James HS/Gibbstown, NJ |
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - NEWARK
SCARLET KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Carol Meegan
1999-2000: 3-15 NJAC, 4-20 Overall
The 2000-01 Raiders look to build on last year's late-season success, finishing the season as the NJAC's team leader in rebounding (47.7 rpg). The key loss from last year's team is second team All-Conference selection center Kim Bove, but Coach Meegan has returning junior guard Nydia Cubaro, the NJAC steals leader last season along with several junior college transfers to infuse more experienced play into the Raiders' front court and provided needed depth.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Nydia
Cubaro Perth Amboy HS/Perth Amboy, NJ |
Johanna
Alvendano Union CC/Elizabeth, NJ |
| Laura
Palmerezzi Roselle Catholic HS/Maplewood, NJ |
Joanne
Ihrig Ocean CC/Toms River, NJ |
| Phyllis
Rios Immaculate Conception HS/Clifton, NJ |
Erin
Caulfield Ocean CC/Howell, NJ |
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
PIONEERS
Head Coach: Erin Monahan
1999-2000: 15-3 NJAC, 20-6 Overall
The Pioneers will look to last year's NJAC and ECAC Player of the Year Meg Renna, who averaged 16.4 ppg and 4.9 spg, to lead a young squad back to the top of the conference in 2000-01. With the loss of first team All-Conference member Dana Feltz to graduation, WPU will hope for quick maturity from sophomore guard Katie Morris and forward Jeanine Day to fill her shoes.
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KEY RETURNEES |
KEY NEWCOMERS |
| Meg
Renna West Milford HS/West Milford, NJ |
Michelle
Bush DePaul HS/Bloomingdale, NJ |
| Katie
Morris Deptford HS/Wenonah, NJ |
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| Kathleen
McPhail Hopatcong HS/Sparta, NJ |
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| Jeanine
Day Kearny HS/Kearny, NJ |