2008-09 Women's Basketball Season Outlook

Guilford’s women’s basketball team enters the 2008-09 season with a new characteristic: experience. The Quakers return all 12 letter winners from last year’s 11-14 squad, including four seniors who have played in a combined 332 college games, with 152 starts. Sixth-year head coach Stephanie Flamini is optimistic about the veterans’ role in the Quakers’ success.

“Senior leadership is always important to any team, and it is to ours,” Flamini said. “We need all of our upperclassmen to be good leaders, though, not just our seniors. I think maturity and improving from our past experience is important and will be the difference in how successful we are.”

After a seventh-place nod in the 2007-08 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Quakers turned some heads with an impressive 9-2 start, including a 5-2 ODAC record. However, after losing Alexa Williams to a season-ending injury in December, Guilford went 2-12 down the stretch and narrowly missed the conference tournament. Flamini knows the key to success this season is keeping players well.

“To improve on last year, we need to keep everyone healthy. Then, if we keep everyone healthy, we need to stay focused on the teamwork and selflessness necessary to win,” said Flamini.

The Quakers’ four seniors have the bulk of the team’s experience. Guard Brittany Bumgarner, a defensive specialist, hopes to become more of an offensive threat and provide leadership. Point guard Jessica Casto ranked second among ODAC assists per game leaders last year (4.28 apg.). Forward Tracey Croner, a two-time Second Team All-ODAC pick, led the team and ranked 11th in the ODAC in scoring (12.4 ppg.). Guilford’s most experienced forward, Shevon Hackett, averages a little over four rebounds per game in her career.

Junior shooting guard Ann Seufer broke her school record with 62 three-pointers and set a Guilford standard with 176 three-point attempts. Seufer, who led the ODAC in three-pointers made and ranked 13th in three-point percentage (.346), finished second on the team in scoring. Another junior guard, Jasmine Wood, led the team in steals last year and has athleticism that helps on both ends of the floor.

    Three of the Quakers’ five newcomers are 5-10 or taller, which should improve their inside game significantly. In recent years, Guilford has relied on its strong perimeter play to win games. Now, with a more balanced attack, the Quakers’ future looks bright. Flamini says the season’s outcome is in the players’ hands.

“I don’t think my expectations are important.I think the expectations of our players are what is important. Whatever they chose to make of the season is how good we will be,” Flamini said. “We have a ton of talent, we have hard workers, we have good people, we all want to win and we all are very competitive. The biggest challenge will be keeping everyone in team mode. We will only win if we sacrifice, share and help each other without worrying who gets the credit.”