2007-08 Women's Basketball Season Outlook

Guilford’s women’s basketball team enters 2007-08 with hopes of winning the third Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament crown in school history, but it will have to happen without senior leadership. A young, but experienced team, the Quakers return four starters and nine letter winners from last year’s 10-16 squad that earned the seventh seed in the ODAC Tournament. While the team’s youth could be seen as an obstacle, fifth-year head coach Stephanie Flamini sees it as an opportunity to build a strong foundation.

Picked eighth in the 2006-07 ODAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Quakers turned some heads with an impressive 5-0 start in conference play. A midseason eight-game losing streak in the league dampened Guilford’s spirits and led to a meeting with second-seeded Virginia Wesleyan College in the first round of the ODAC Tournament. The Marlins swept the Quakers in regular season play and end Guilford's season with a 75-49 victory in Salem, Va. Flamini hopes to replace the leadership of last year’s lone senior, Dionne Graham '07, with a strong, experienced junior class.

The Quakers' four juniors serve as team captains this year. Brittany Bumgarner, a shooting specialist, hopes to contribute on both ends of the floor and provide leadership. Guard Jessica Casto, who split time at the point in 2006-07 with Graham, ranked third among ODAC assists per game leaders last year (3.65 apg.). Forward Tracey Croner, a 2006-07 Second Team All-ODAC pick, ranked first on the team and seventh in the ODAC in scoring (13.2 ppg.). She also led the league with a .902 free-throw percentage and finished eighth in field-goal percentage (.475). The 5-9 forward led the Quakers in scoring 12 times and had four 20-point games. Guilford's most experienced forward, Shevon Hackett averages four rebounds per game in her career.

Sophomore Ann Seufer, Guilford’s starting shooting guard, enjoyed a successful first season and looks to break her school record of 59 made three-pointers. The team’s leading three-point shooter, Seufer set a Guilford standard with eight threes in a game (8) and ranked fourth among ODAC three-point shooters (.351). Another sophomore, forward Alexa Williams, led the team in rebounding last year and has athleticism that helps on both ends of the floor.

The Quakers welcome five newcomers to their lineup this year. Based on high school credentials and early preseason workouts, some of the top newcomers include guards Denae Caudle and Lauren LeFevers, along with center Amelia Witkin. A 5-3 floor general, Caudle led Southern Guilford (N.C.) High School in assists and adds speed and athleticism to the backcourt. LeFevers averaged 13 points per game for Bunker Hill (N.C.) High School and set the school's career record for three-point field goals (164). Witkin is a 5-11 center who led the Carolina Friends School to a 17-4 record in 2006-07.

The league's coaches picked Guilford seventh in their 2007-08 preseason poll. The Quakers host a season-opening tournament with Averett University, Ferrum College and York (Pa.) College Nov. 16-17. Guilford plays Greensboro College in the Pride's Hanes Gym Nov. 20.