Women's Basketball Season Outlook (2003-04) - Guilford College

  • 2003-04 Season Outlook

Guilford returns 11 letter winners from last year's 20-7 club that reached the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament semifinals for the ninth time in 10 years before falling to eventual tourney champ Randolph-Macon. The team's five-member senior class of Dara Burke, A.J. Robertson, Jackie Hardenbergh, Jennie Keichline and Nicole McCrory has not won less than 20 games in a season and has four NCAA Tournament games under its belt. The five players have helped Guilford to a 67-18 record and two ODAC Tournament titles in the last three years.

The Quakers were picked second in the preseason ODAC Women's Basketball Coaches poll and listed among the top teams receiving votes in the D3hoops.com preseason Division III Poll.

While many players return, their head coach from last season did not. Barb Bausch returned to Cal-State Fullerton, her alma mater, in the summer of 2003 after posting a school-record 187 career wins in 10 Guilford seasons. A national search to fill the coaching vacancy yielded Stephanie Flamini, who won a school-record 42 games in three seasons at Chowan. Flamini does not expect significant changes to the Quakers' up-tempo philosophy, but the former point guard looks forward to McCrory shouldering a greater scoring load in her senior season. Flamini also looks to instill greater defensive intensity in her first year.

"Our motto for the year is 'New beginnings, same destination,'" Flamini said. "But we want to go further."

Flamini inherits two Second Team All-ODAC players in Robertson and junior forward Courtney Hill. Robertson, a shooting guard, blossomed into the Quakers' top scorer and a key defender last year. She led the Quakers with a career-high 13.1 points per game scoring average, nearly nine points above her 2002-03 average. The ODAC's Rookie of the Year in 2001-02, Hill missed the first six games of 2002, but rejoined the lineup in January and finished with a 12.8 points-per-game average. She also connected on just under 60 percent of her shots from the floor and led the team in rebounding (6.5 rpg.). Sophomore Jennifer King, who received honorable mention all-league recognition in 2003, also averaged 12.8 points per game and could develop into one of the ODAC's top guards before the season's end.

While Guilford's experience will likely be a key factor to the team's success, the Quakers' balance prevents opponents from keying on specific players. Five different players led Guilford in scoring at least twice last season and seven different players topped the club's rebounders at least once. Four players averaged at least 10.4 points per game, led by Robertson's 13.1 scoring average.

A mix of personalities and good athletes add to the Quakers' balance. Burke, whose play in recent seasons has been slowed by injury, is healthy and brings quickness and enthusiasm to the floor. Hardenbergh likes to shoot from the perimeter, but also has a solid inside game and is a top rebounder. Keichline, an ever-improving forward, uses her quickness and long frame to shut down opponents. On offense, she runs the floor well on fast breaks and can knock down outside shots. Junior Lindsey Johnson gives the Quakers a physical presence in the post with exceptional defensive and rebounding skills. Junior guard Kristyn Casey has one of the purest shots on the team and plays either guard spot. Sophomore guard Brittany Bennett is a consummate team player who improves with each week of practice.

Sophomore guard Kelly Burger, who played well off the bench down the stretch in 2001-02, returns to the fold after sitting out last season. A pair of freshmen, Dionne Graham and Jada Drew, join Burger as newcomers to the 2003-04 club. Graham is an all-city point guard from Savannah, GA, while Drew, a forward, captured second team all-area honors at Apex H.S. near Raleigh.

Guilford opens the season November 21 against Ohio Wesleyan in a challenging eight-team tournament hosted by Marymount College. Three of the eight teams reached the 2003 NCAA Division III Tournament. The Quakers' nonconference slate also includes a December 1 matchup against crosstown rival Greensboro in the Greensboro Coliseum. A scheduling quirk has Guilford playing six straight ODAC contests on the road to start the second-semester part of the season. Four of the six road tilts are against teams picked among the top five in the preseason coaches' poll.