Boston College Athletics
1999-2000 Women's Basketball Outlook
October 29, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 29, 1999
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The Boston College women's basketball team was selected to finish fourth in the BIG EAST Conference in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches. The University of Connecticut was selected to win the 1999-2000 BIG EAST regular season title, followed by Rutgers and Notre Dame. Rounding out the top five were the Eagles and Georgetown. Connecticut received 10 first-place votes and Rutgers earned the remaining three first-place votes.
Nine letterwinners return, including four starters, from the Boston College women's basketball team that registered the most successful season in school history. A year ago, the Eagles registered a 22-8 record, and participated in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
A number of milestones were established including the first 20-win season, and first national ranking ever for the Boston College women's basketball program. The Eagles defeated two teams ranked in the Top 10, including a 78-66 victory over No. 2 Connecticut at home in front of 8,606 fans, the first sellout ever for a women's basketball game in Conte Forum. Three players earned All-BIG EAST Conference honors and each returns for the 1999-2000 season. Head coach Cathy Inglese, the 1998-99 BIG EAST Coach of the Year, hopes that the Eagles will continue to build on the success of last season.
"I think that last year was so enjoyable because we not only reached our goals, we went above what we had set, despite all of the injuries," stated Inglese. "We had so many obstacles to overcome and yet the players were so focused on that goal of making the tournament. Now that they have been there and know what the excitement is about, I think that it will be easier for them to work hard because they know what that experience is all about. Our goals are the same and the players are extremely excited to come back and work hard to achieve those goals."
The Eagles will play one of the most challenging schedules in school history. Boston College will open the season at Maine in the Preseason National Invitational Tournament. The 16-team field features two of the 1999 NCAA Women's Final Four participants (Duke and Georgia). In addition to Boston College, six teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament will also participate in the WNIT. The Eagles have seven teams on the schedule that participated in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, including three BIG EAST opponents. Boston College will play in the University of Florida Tournament that features Western Kentucky, Maine, and the Lady Gators.
"Our goals are the same," states Inglese. "First we want to be one of the top teams in the conference and make it to the NCAA Tournament. We are going to be better because we have some great experience coming back and we have some super leadership with four starters returning >from last year's team. I think that the conference is going to be even stronger this season because our top three teams from a year ago are going to be even better. Our non conference schedule is tougher and will present a challenge for us."
BACKCOURT
Boston College's backcourt could be one of the most talented and experienced in the BIG EAST with a number of all-conference players returning, including senior captain Cal Bouchard. "I think that we are going to have one of the toughest backcourts in the BIG EAST," commented Inglese. "I think that we have four very strong candidates for the backcourt positions." An All-BIG EAST First Team selection as a sophomore, Bouchard was sidelined for the second half of the 1998-99 season when she injured her left knee in a game against Georgetown on January 10. Bouchard had anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery on February 12 and the Eagles were forced to play the rest of the season without their co-captain. She returned to action this past summer as a member of the Canadian team at the Pan Am games. Despite limited playing time, she was voted team captain of the squad that won the silver medal. Prior to her knee injury, she was third on the Eagles in scoring with an average of 12.7 points in 13 games. Bouchard enters her senior season with a career total of 950 points and is currently second on the Boston College career list for three-point field goals made (116) and third on the career list for three-point field goals attempted (300). The BIG EAST Academic All-Star is one of the top defensive players in the league. She is a strong three-point scoring threat and has great driving ability. "Cal is a proven player and a super leader," states Inglese. "Her play at the Pan Am games was limited since she had not played until she went to the tryouts, but I think that it was good for her because it gives her confidence coming back for the season."
Two starters that return in the backcourt after earning all-conference honors a year ago are senior Alissa Murphy and sophomore Brianne Stepherson. "Brianne gained valuable experience as a starter last year, and Alissa came on really strong and became a key part of the backcourt," notes Inglese. "Alissa really lifted her game last season and became a leader. She is a valuable member of the backcourt. Brianne distributes the ball well and has quick hands on defense."
Murphy led the team in scoring a year ago with an average of 16.0 points per game and earned the BIG EAST Most Improved Player Award. The All-BIG EAST Second Team selection averaged 37.7 minutes per game and was the only player on the team to score in double figures in all 30 games. Murphy will enter her senior season with a streak of 33 games scoring in double figures. She was third in the nation, first in the BIG EAST, in free throw percentage (.890), and was perfect from the line in 14 games during the season. Murphy was also the team's top three-point shooter, connecting on 40-of-95 attempts (42.1). The BIG EAST Academic All-Star averaged 4.5 rebounds, and recorded 94 assists, 37 steals and 10 blocks.
Stepherson returns after starting 26 games at point guard as a freshman a year ago. The sophomore guard distributes the ball well and has quick hands on defense. A BIG EAST All-Rookie selection, she averaged 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and was seventh in the BIG EAST with 4.3 assists in 27 games. Stepherson scored in double figures in 13 games and registered the first double-double of her career at Pittsburgh netting 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She averaged 34.7 minutes and played all 40 minutes in eight games. Following the season she was invited to attend the 1999 USA Basketball Women's World University Team trials in Colorado Springs.
Sophomore Nicole Conway gained valuable experience during her freshman season and became a key contributor when Bouchard was sidelined for the season. Conway started 17 games for the Eagles and shot 43.2 percent (83-192) from the field. She averaged 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds, and scored in double figures in 10 contests. Conway registered the first double-double of her career at Syracuse, scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. The sophomore guard also recorded 41 assists, 23 steals, and five blocked shots a year ago. "Nicole ended up with a lot of valuable playing time and really made a strong contribution," added Inglese. "She has good range outside."
Junior Danielle O'Banion will provide a scoring spark off the bench for the Eagles. O'Banion played in 29 games last season and started in the backcourt in two contests. The junior guard averaged 2.7 points and 1.3 rebounds and registered 18 assists and 11 steals. O'Banion played over 20 minutes in four games during the 1998-99 season and played 26 minutes in the NCAA Tournament win over Ohio State. An outstanding perimeter player, she shot 30.6 percent from three-point field goal range, connecting on 15-of-49 attempts. "Danielle is a sharp three-point shooter and really did a nice job of giving us a spark off the bench," according to Inglese.
Contributing to the backcourt will be freshman guard Alicia Shields. The native of Mandeville, Louisiana was an All-District First-Team selection all four years at Fontainebleau High School and graduated as the career scoring leader with 2,300 points. Shields averaged 23.8 points and 4.7 rebounds, and shot 55.3 percent as a senior. She also averaged 6.8 assists, and 4.4 steals per game in 1998-99. "Alicia is a real solid player that sees the court well and should contribute off the bench," said Inglese. "She is a hard worker."
FRONTCOURT
Two starters return to lead the Boston College frontcourt. The Eagles will have to find a replacement for center Whitney Steele, who was second on the team in scoring a year ago with an average of 11.3 points in 28 games. Steele started 82 games at center during her collegiate career and was an All-BIG EAST Third-Team selection in 1997-98.
Becky Gottstein led the team with an average of 7.1 rebounds per game and was third on the Eagles in scoring with 10.4 points last season. The sophomore forward earned BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honors six times during the 1998-99 season and was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team. Gottstein registered seven double-doubles and scored in double figures in 17 games. She led the team in field goal percentage (57.5), and shot 64.9 percent from the line. Gottstein returned from a high ankle sprain injury to register a career-high 23 points and 12 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament victory over Ohio State. "Becky received some solid playing time last year and should be a starter in the frontcourt," commented Inglese. "She is a versatile player that cannot only play inside, she has a real nice shot. She has good range facing the basket and has worked very hard at improving that."
Junior Jamie Cournoyer is the leading candidate to replace Steele at center. Cournoyer started six of the final seven games last season. "Jamie Cournoyer is ready to step her play up a notch and give the team some solid play," said Inglese. "She is a tremendous shooter with one of the nicest touches on the team. She has great range and is a super rebounder." The junior center scored a career-high 16 points, and added six rebounds and two blocks, in the NCAA Tournament loss to Tennessee. In 29 games, she averaged 4.9 points and 3.4 rebounds and registered 17 blocked shots for the Eagles. Cournoyer represented Boston College this past summer on the 1999 BIG EAST/Nike All-Star team that toured Belgium and Germany and averaged 7.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in the five games.
Sophomore Kim Mackie is another player that received valuable experience a year ago, and is expected to contribute in the frontcourt. Mackie played in 13 games in 1998-99 and averaged 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds. "I think Kim is one of the most athletic players on the team," commented Inglese. "Her leaping ability and speed up and down the court is good." The sophomore forward played over 20 minutes in two games, including 23 minutes against Connecticut. In the loss to the Huskies, Mackie scored a career-high six points. Mackie registered a career-high seven rebounds in two games a year ago.
Senior Tish Few returns for her final collegiate season and will provide quality depth for the Eagles. The senior played in six games a year ago, including the NCAA Tournament game against Tennessee. "Tish played on the perimeter last year, but this year she may move inside more due to the lack of depth in that area with graduation," stated Inglese. "She is a real good defender and will do a nice job for us rebounding with her tough, aggressive defense."
The addition of three newcomers will add quality depth to the frontcourt. Maureen Magarity finished her career at Our Lady of Lourdes High School with 1,485 points and 855 rebounds. The freshman forward was named 1999 New York State Class B Player of the Year and earned Most Valuable Player honors at the State Championships as a senior. A WBCA All-American, the native of Wappinger Falls, New York was a USA Today Honorable Mention All-American for both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. "Maureen Magarity is going to be a solid player," notes Inglese. "She is a strong player with very good low post moves. We are hoping that she will be a nice role player for us."
Freshman Adrianna Spears averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds as a senior at St. Joseph High School. The native of Stratford, Connecticut, earned USA Today Honorable Mention All-American honors in 1998-99. "Adrianna Spears is another player who is young and as the season progresses she will see some more time," added Inglese. "She has a great feel around the basket and will be a good rebounder for us." Spears was also a Hartford Courant All-State selection, and was named to the New Haven Register All-Area team as a senior.
Junior Rachel Byars transferred to Boston College from Western Kentucky University following the 1998-99 season, and will not be eligible to play for the Eagles this season. Named Western Kentucky's Most Improved Player as a sophomore, she averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 27 games. A native of Morganfield, Kentucky, she was named Miss Kentucky Basketball in 1997. Byars finished her career at Union County High School as the all-time leading scorer (2,430 points) and rebounder (1,272 rebounds).
1999-2000 BIG EAST Coaches' Preseason Poll
| 1. | Connecticut (10) | 142 |
| 2. | Rutgers (3) | 135 |
| 3. | Notre Dame | 121 |
| 4. | Boston College | 112 |
| 5. | Georgetown | 90 |
| 6. | Villanova | 86 |
| 7. | Miami | 79 |
| 8. | Syracuse | 59 |
| 9. | St. John's | 46 |
| 10. | Pittsburgh | 44 |
| 11. | Seton Hall | 39 |
| 12. | Providence | 38 |
| 13. | West Virginia | 23 |
