By: By MATT PALISIN
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State women's basketball team opens up the 2010-2011 season Tuesday at home vs. Nazareth College.
The Devils return a relatively young squad featuring only two seniors and two juniors, but do return three starters.
The seniors are guard
Caroline Hourihan (Buffalo/Nardin Academy) and forward
Courtney Kingston (Geneseo/Geneseo).
Hourihan started all 25 games a year ago and served as a team captain. She was among the team leaders in points and rebounds, scoring 7.4 points per game and grabbing 4.7 rebounds per contest. Hourihan also led the Devils with 26 three-pointers and was third with 35 steals.
Kingston did not start, but did appear in every game, averaging 1.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Returning juniors are
Nicole Calbi (Olean/Olean) and
Liz Wierbinski (Camillus/West Genesee). Calbi ran the point last year, leading the Devils with 81 assists and 41 steals, while averaging 5.6 points per game.
Wierbinski appeared in 21 games, and showed an occasional scoring touch. She had a season-high of 13 points against Cortland.
The frontcourt experience of Kingston and Wierbinski will help to make up for the team's losses from last season -- forwards Katie Landy (14.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Merissa Gaeta (9.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg).
The Devils will feature 11 underclassmen that will have a major impact on the team's success.
Grace Moore (Fredonia/Fredonia) is the team's top returning scorer, averaging 8.6 point per game. She started all but one game and showed tremendous composure and gained a great deal of confidence as the season went on.
Moore nailed 16 three-pointers and tied for the team lead with 41 steals. She also added 29 assists and 96 rebounds.
In addition to Moore, five other sophomores return. All of them appeared in at least 15 games gaining valuable game experience. They will compete for bigger roles this season.
Jenna Austin (Cherry Creek/Pine Valley),
Kristina Kuscht (Webster/Webster-Schroeder) and
Lindsay Schwab (Avon/Avon) will compete at the guard position.
Brittany Evans (Odessa/Odessa Montour) and
Anna Riley (Massena/Massena) will compete for time at the forward position.
Five freshmen were added to this year's roster. The key additions are three forwards. With the losses of Landy and Gaeta, an opportunity is presented for
Carrie Bushnell (Endwell/Maine Endwell),
Becky Hebert (Hilton/Hilton), and
Jaimie Warren (Lakeview/Frontier). They will be expected to contribute right away.
The Devils have added a pair of guards as well.
Marissa Cussins (Corning/Corning-Painted Post West) and
Alex Cassella (Syracuse/East Syracuse Minoa) will compete for time in the backcourt.
Head coach Donna Wise likes the attitude of her squad heading into the season. “We're a quick and fast and scrappy team,” Wise said. “It's a very energetic group with high hopes for the year.” She expects the team to play up tempo and feisty defense.
The Devils went 10-15 overall in 2008-09, and finished at 6-12 in conference play. The Devils open SUNYAC play on Dec. 3 vs. Oswego in Steele Hall.
