1999-00 Guilford College Women's Basketball Outlook

Head coach Barb Bausch returns five letter winners and four starters from last season’s 12-13 club (11-9 ODAC), the first sub-.500 team in Bausch’s coaching career. The Quakers feature a balanced, perimeter-oriented attack led by juniors Kerrie Campbell and Arden Miller. Campbell earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season after posting career highs in points (11.6), rebounds (6.6) and steals (2.5) per game. The 5-3 guard is a valuable weapon on offense and defense in the Quakers’ up-tempo style. Miller led Guilford’s four double-figure scorers with a career-high 13.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She also drained a team-best 35 three-point baskets and returns in the best physical condition of her career. Forward Marlo Biernacki, the club’s third junior, is also in excellent shape and poised to build on her 7.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game figures of last season.

Two of the Quakers’ three sophomores gained extensive starting experience as rookies and are keys to the 1999-00 team. Point guard Erin Beacham is back after averaging 10.6 points and a team-high 3.3 assists per game last season. A natural floor leader, she brings focus to the young team and will shoulder a lot of responsibility as a second-year player. Guard Amy Evans is the Quakers’ top defender and ranked among the league’s rebounds and steals per game leaders as a freshman. Like Beacham, Evans is a fiery competitor and raises the intensity level of her teammates when she’s on the floor.

The Quakers’ two rookies figure prominently in Guilford’s plans this season. Center Shannon Underwood of Niantic, CT, gives the Quakers a strong inside presence with an aggressive style and good knowledge of the game. Kate Nichols of Durham, NH will be the Quakers’ first true forward in a few years and brings a strong outside shot that extends to the three-point line.

Given the experience and skill of the returning players, plus the addition of the two freshmen, Guilford should reach the ODAC Tournament for the eighth straight season and contend for one of the top seeds. Bausch looks to her three juniors to fill the leadership vacancy created by the graduation of guards Alison Schott and Luisella Perri. Given the seven-player roster headed into the season, every player knows she must be ready to play 40 hard minutes each game. Bausch believes the team’s competitiveness will help it attain its goals of a top-three seed in the ODAC Tournament, a shot at the league title and the accompanying automatic NCAA playoff berth.