Women's Basketball 2007-2008 Season Preview
A
year ago, the Penn State Behrend women's basketball team earned 21
wins, finished second in the AMCC regular-season and conference
tournament, and competed in the ECAC Southern Region Tournament.
This year the bar has been elevated.
"The effort has been good. We are getting better every day," said head coach Roz Fornari. "Our team is working hard to be consistent in how we play."
Last season, the Behrend Lions raced through the AMCC regular-season with a sharp 15-3 record. Behrend entered the AMCC Tournament as the number-two seed and earned a first-round bye before defeating the sixth-seeded Pitt-Bradford Panthers 62-52, in the semifinals. Although Behrend was the only team to take down Medaille during the regular-season, they fell in the finals 66-39. Behrend's 21-6 mark, and 15 game winning streak earned the program's its fifth ECAC Tournament appearance under coach Fornari. The 2007-08 schedule is difficult, and the Behrend squad will need to rely on its team defense and offensive discipline to excel.
A strength of the blue and white's attack has been the ball pressure on the defensive side of the floor. It continues to give the opposition difficulty. The Behrend defense was a mainstay, limiting opponents to a measly 54.1 points per game and ranked forty-fourth nationally for their efforts. In the past five seasons of AMCC play, Behrend has ranked first or second in the scoring defense category. Behrend held opponents to only 36% from the field while leading the league in rebounding defense. "The focus is on defense, and out working our opponents," said Fornari.
Behrend will have to learn to play without three-time all-conference performer Brittany Mays who graduated. She led the team on both sides of the floor and will be a tremendous loss. However, the blue and white have been disciplined offensively and have made good decisions. Last season the team led the league in free-throw percentage at 74% and ranked twelfth in Division III. They also lead the AMCC in field-goal percentage at 43%, and three-point field-goal percentage at 35%.
Leadership throughout the upcoming season for the Behrend Lions will come from coach Fornari and three seniors. Fornari enters her fifteenth season leading the program. She is the career leader in all-time women’s basketball victories with 243, and her resume includes ten conference tournament appearances, and three NCAA tournament bids.
The senior class features three crafty veterans who will be counted on to provide quality minutes all season. Meagan Bielanin (Erie/Mercyhurst Prep) and Anne Priester (Wattsburg/Seneca) will pound the boards and play at the forwards, while slashing guard Julia Andrus (Corry/Corry) will make things happen on the offensive side.
“Our seniors are doing an outstanding job of mentoring and leading this year's team,” said Fornari. “They are not only talented but are three very special people." All three played in each of Behrend's 27 games last season, and also earned valuable minutes during their sophomore campaigns. In addition, all three were named to the AMCC All-Academic squad.
Bielanin is coming off great season where she averaged 7.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg. She started every game while passing out 73 assists and working for 30 steals in 2006-07. Bielanin also shot 43% from the field and just under 70% at the line. Priester came off the bench last year and is expected to be a defensive standout and shot blocker this Winter. She crashes the boards and will be looking to improve on her 2.4 ppg and 2.6 rpg numbers from last year. Andrus is a strong athletic player that can score off the dribble and from the perimeter. She led the AMCC in free-throw percentage (84%) and in three-point percentage (42%). Andrus has improved her numbers each year and carries figures of a 12.7 ppg and 4.1 rpg from last season. She had 35 makes from long distance and also contributed 64 assists and earned 42 steals while being named to the ESPN Academic All-America Second-Team.
“We have a nice nucleus of players from last year's squad,” said coach Fornari. “They have experience and leadership skills to help this team be successful."
A pair of junior point guards with big time game experience add ball handling skills, and defensive expertise to the blue and white's efforts. Natalie Engel (McDonald/Fort Cherry) and Ellen Kolos (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) have both started at point and the two-guard positions for Behrend.
Engel led the team in dishing out assists with 81 and added 3.9 points per game, while shooting 71% at the line. Kolos played in a reserve role last season and will be competing to earn the starting spot.
Also, junior guard Kayla O’Connor (Wattsburg/Seneca) returns. The left-handed shooter provided an offensive spark last year chipping in 5.3 ppg and 2.3 rpg. This season she is challenging for a starting role.
"Our team is growing on a daily basis," said Fornari. "The sophomore class has the capabilities to contribute."
This group of five earned precious minutes and experiences as freshman in 2006-07 and will be pushing for court time. Adding depth at the guard positions will be Christine Krankota (Conneaut Lake/Conneaut Lake), Kayla McLaughlin (Aliquippa/Hopewell), Rachel Richardson (Moon Township/Moon), and Kristen Sienicki (Erie/Mercyhurst Prep). Krankota and Sienicki saw action in 11 games as rookies, while McLaughlin played in 27 games off the bench. Richardson also returns with an improved game. Sophomore forward Jenn Emberg (Cowansville/Kittanning) averaged 15 minutes of work in 26 games last year. She added 4.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg while connecting on over 50% of her field-goal attempts.
Two first-year players round out the roster. Kelly Nowacinski (Erie/Mercyhurst Prep) and Amy Oldach (Erie/Villa Maria) add skill and bounce to the guard positions. Both had tremendous high school careers and look to contribute to the program's goals this season.
The annual Behrend Tip-Off Tournament opens the 2007-08 slate and will be played November 16 and 17. Behrend tip-off against Bethany is at 8:00 p.m. on Friday night. This season 13 games will be played in front of the home court fans. Fornari’s teams enjoy playing at home and expect to continue to capitalize on their home court advantage since the Junker Center opened seven years ago. The Behrend Lions are an impressive 76-29 on the Junker Center hardwood during that time.
“Once again the schedule is very challenging,” continued Fornari. “Our league is very balanced and the non-conference schedule will be very demanding.” Eleven returning players and a long standing tradition of success is expected to be the foundation for another outstanding Penn State Behrend women's basketball season.