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• 2004-05 Season Outlook

Make sure you pick up a copy of the game program when you see Guilford's women's basketball team during the 2004-05 season. Chances are you won't recognize many of the players and that's because there are only three letter winners returning from last season's 17-9 squad. Head coach Stephanie Flamini starts her second season on the Quakers' sidelines with 10 true freshmen on her roster, which should make for an exciting and interesting year.

Guilford has finished no lower than fifth since joining the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in 1992-93. The Quakers have reached the ODAC Tournament semifinals in 11 of 13 appearances and won the league crown in 2001 and 2002. The team's core for the past four seasons included all-conference student-athletes like A.J. Robertson '04 and Jennie Keichline '04, who have since graduated. The Quakers will also miss four-year starting point guard Nicole McCrory '04 and fellow four-year letter winners Jackie Hardenbergh '04 and Dara Burke '04.

Flamini looks forward to working with the new student-athletes and shaping them to fit her up-tempo system that has produced 75 victories in her five seasons as a head coach. "It's good to have a young team," she said. "They're going to be molded the way I need to mold them. The first year may be tough, but it will go a long way in the future."

ODAC coaches tabbed the Quakers' sixth in their preseason poll, but Flamini doesn't seem to mind. "I can see us surprising everybody because we don't have any pressure," Flamini said. "There are no expectations. These kids work hard. Our best finish would be somewhere in the top three. We could go from any where from the top three to eighth in this conference, the way it is this year."

For the Quakers to maintain their place among the ODAC elite, Flamini says forward Courtney Hill, the team's lone senior, and junior guard Jennifer King need to have big years. The 2002 ODAC Rookie of the Year, Hill played only half of the 2002-03 season and missed the last nine games of 2004 due to season-ending knee surgery. Flamini says Hill's natural abilities and an increased desire should help her bounce back and enjoy the finest season of her career.

"She has a lot of natural ability. She can put the ball in the basket. Some people have such a hard time doing that and she can do it. She has a lot more desire in her than I've ever seen."

With Hill maneuvering in the post, King provides an outside scoring threat who can also drive to the basket. An honorable mention All-ODAC pick as a rookie, she enters her junior season with 618 career points and ranks sixth among the school's career three-point shooters. She, like Hill, must assume more of a leadership role for the first time in her career.

Sophomore Dionne Graham backed up McCrory in 2003-04 and is the heir apparent at the point. "Dionne got plenty of experience last year," Flamini said. "She's worked very hard over the summertime and came back improved and ready to go. Knowing that Nicole isn't here, she's prepared herself over the summer to be the point guard of this team."

Rookie Lizzie Wilson, of Reston, VA, earned all-state honors at the Seton School and plays both guard spots. She brings a different style to the point and is one of many rookies who will contribute all over the floor.