Women's Basketball 2004-05 Outlook - Guilford College

Greensboro, NC (11/18/04) -- 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   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 youngsters and molding 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.

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 either guard spot.  She brings a different style to the point and is one of many rookies who will contribute all over the floor.

Flamini entered preseason with hopes of coaching one of her tallest teams, but injuries and attrition forced her to turn to a four-guard rotation.  Freshman Brittiany Green of Warrenton, VA, is the Quakers' tallest player and will get plenty of chances to adjust to the college game in her first season.  Fellow rookies Katie Spina and Hilary Henderson will contribute in the post once they rebound from preseason injuries.  Rookie Cristina Bruington, a late addition to the squad, should provide solid defense and rebounding in her initial campaign.

Aside from King, all of Guilford's two-guards and small forwards will be in their first season.  The Quakers' coaches will spend part of the preseason determining which combination of swing players work best together, who will start and who will come off the bench.

Aside from providing experience and leadership, the veterans carry the extra burden of having to avoid foul trouble and injury.  Given the shortcoming in the post, Hill carries a special weight to remain on the floor.  If Guilford's youngsters catch on to Flamini's system and adjust to the college game, expect the Quakers to again compete with the league's best. 

"I think they're up to it because they come from winning programs," Flamini said.  "It's going to be up to me to get them mentally tough.  That's where I think the key is, mental toughness, because they have all of the other tools."

Guilford opens its season at a four-team tournament hosted by Ferrum where it will play a pair of USA South Athletic Conference teams.  The Quakers' nonconference schedule also includes contests with USA South members Christopher Newport and Greensboro, plus Meredith, an NCAA playoff participant in recent seasons.