11/20/2008
2008-09 Women's Basketball Season Preview

Returning to the hardwood after a disappointing 8-17 (4-9 NEWMAC) season, the Clark University womens basketball team is anxious to get back on the winning track.

We play one of the most competitive schedules in the conference and region, said long-time head coach Pat Glispin, so it will be challenging. But we really want to take solid steps to get Clark back to a respected program.

Glispin, who welcomes back 11 players and four starters from last years team, said the key for this years success will be to blend the recruiting class with the veterans. It certainly will be a challenge, she said. We return a strong senior class and our first-year group is pretty solid as well. Certainly our sophomores and juniors will be critical; but the key will be how well we can accept roles and blend together as a team.

` Co-captain Sarah Roderigue, a NEWMAC All-Star and D3hoops.com All-Northeast Region selection, leads the list of returning starters that include Sara Hagstrom, Jillian Camilleri and Blaize Denfeld. Roderigue (17.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg) will once again serve as the teams top offensive option; Hagstrom, the Cougars co-captain, hopes to add solid defensive play and improved offensive numbers as the teams starting point guard, while Camilleri (11.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg) will crash the boards and score underneath to make her presence felt. Denfeld, a low post scorer and rebounder, hopes to expand her role this season.

Katie McCloskey, Nicole LeVecque and Emily Skelton provide Clark with a veteran trio in the backcourt. McCloskey and LeVecque will give the Cougars a solid three-point threat off the bench, while Skeltons skills should continue to improve this season. Hannah Lacaire, an energetic performer and scrappy defender, joins sharp-shooting Ariel Feinstein as key contributors in the rotation.

Forwards Kate Petty and Chloe Carden round out the list of returning players. Petty gives Clark a shot blocker in the middle, and Carden, a defensive intimidator, can handle the physical play down low.

Coach Glispin feels she has several talented recruits that can make an immediate impact. Adding size to the line-up will be forwards Kate Minister, a pure shooter from Proctor Academy, and Maggie Croft, a hard-nosed competitor from a solid high school program in East Aurora, N.Y. Michelle Chambers, a two-time Most Valuable Player at the Hyde School (Conn.), will use her athleticism and speed to provide back-up at point guard and classmate Ivori Aiken, also from the Hyde School, will figure prominently in Coach Glispins plans.

While Glispin concedes the NEWMAC will be strong as usual, she feels that the Cougars non-conference schedule, which includes a winter break tournament in Daytona, Fla., will help prepare them for the play-off race. There are absolutely no weak games on our schedule, she said. A schedule like ours will only challenge our team and make them better.