Boston College Athletics
Women's Basketball Set for New Season
October 04, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 4, 2000
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - You could call it a new look. You could call it a "changing of the guards". Whatever you call it, the Boston College women's basketball team will begin a new chapter in team history when the 2000-2001 season tips off.
Recent teams have conquered many "firsts" a program can encounter. The first 20-win season, the first national ranking, the first home sell-out crowd, the first trip to the NCAA tournament. This team is not consciously looking for any more firsts. Instead, the team is looking to fortify and solidify its position on the national stage of women's college basketball.
"We've worked hard to gain respect regionally and now nationally. We've established our identity in the BIG EAST and on the national scene," eighth-year head coach Cathy Inglese says.
The team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year after tying for third in the BIG EAST Conference - the second strongest women's basketball conference in the country. With three starters and a solid corps of players returning - and five talented newcomers ready to join the fold - Inglese views the upcoming season with enthusiasm, optimism and anticipation.
"I'm really excited about this season. We're coming off the best year in the history of the program, with a solid nucleus returning. These players have a lot of experience and versatility and bring a very balanced attack to the court. Certainly, we will miss Cal Bouchard [the program's first Olympian and first WNBA draftee] and Alissa Murphy [who is currently playing professionally in Europe]. However, with their graduation, we have the opportunity to put a team with a new look on the floor and to utilize the strengths of our student-athletes," Inglese says.
"I really feel that the talented freshmen class will mesh with the returning players - keeping Boston College in the category of the nation's elite," Inglese says.
The Eagles reached significant milestones in 1999-2000: being ranked 17th in both the final Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, posting a school-record 26 wins and going undefeated at home. The 2000-2001 season presents new challenges and new goals for the team.
To accomplish their new goals, the team must travel a tough road in the form of the most competitive schedule in school history. The three teams who have combined to win the last six national championships are on the docket, as are numerous teams with recent NCAA tournament experience.
With all of this ahead, Inglese is excited about the 2000-2001 basketball season. Depth, experience and commitment run through her team, making the head coach and her staff anxious to take the court.
FRONTCOURT
Three key components of the team's success last season return to lead the frontcourt. Senior co-captain Jamie Cournoyer and juniors Becky Gottstein and Kim Mackie will give the Eagles a strong inside game. Several newcomers join the five returning players to give Boston College what Inglese calls her deepest unit.
"Our forwards have the most depth and experience at this point," Inglese says. "I feel really good about our front line."
With three players returning with starting experience, and several others with a lot of game experience, Inglese has the option to put a "tall" lineup out on the court without losing experience or scoring ability.
Cournoyer, a North Attleboro, Mass. native, was named BIG EAST Most Improved Player last season and earned All-BIG EAST third team honors. The 6-3 center started all 35 games and was third on the team in scoring with an average of 11.0 points per game. Cournoyer averaged 5.4 rebounds and was fifth in the BIG EAST in blocked shots with an average of 1.46. As the season progressed, Cournoyer emerged as a floor leader and scoring threat. She was named BIG EAST Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 33 points and adding eight rebounds and four blocks in a win over Seton Hall on Feb. 7.
"We're looking at Jamie to lead us from the starting center position. Her experience and versatility will be an asset to this team as the season progresses," Inglese says.
Gottstein will return after being sidelined for 12 games midseason with a stress fracture in her right ankle. The junior forward started the first 18 games and led the Eagles - and the BIG EAST - in rebounding (10.0 rebounds per game). She was second on the team in scoring with an average of 13.1 points when she was forced to miss time. Prior to the injury, Gottstein was named BIG EAST Player of the Week three times and earned Preseason WNIT All-Tournament honors, as well MVP recognition at the State Farm Classic as the Eagles won the tournament championship. The 6-1 forward also had registered eight double-doubles and shot 52 percent from the field before the injury. When she returned to action, she dominated play in the BIG EAST tournament and led Boston College through the NCAA tournament with an average of 22.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games. The native of Albany, N.Y. finished the season with an average of 14.1 points and 9.6 rebounds.
"Becky was having a tremendous year before she was injured. When she came back, she picked up right where she left off, she was unbelievable in the BIG EAST and NCAA tournaments," Inglese says. "She has an amazing work-ethic, outstanding rebounding skills and an uncanny ability to put the ball in the basket, making her a strong force on the court."
Mackie returns after gaining valuable experience in 1999-2000. The 6-3 forward/center played in 33 games, starting 12, averaging 5.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and shooting 45.6 percent from the field while playing both positions. The native of Peterborough, Ontario, scored a career-high 17 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds in the victory over Kent State on Dec. 4.
"Kim gained a lot of experience last year. I was really pleased with how she improved her game, expanded her role and became a defensive presence on the court. We can use her in the center position, where she started a number of games when Becky went down last year, as well as in a forward slot," Inglese says.
Sophomores Maureen Magarity and Adriana Spears turned in strong freshmen seasons. They will add experience and depth in the frontcourt. Magarity played in 20 games last year while contending with stress fractures. The 6-2 forward shot 61.5 percent from the field, including a career-high 11-point performance against Seton Hall on Feb.11. Spears played in 28 games last season. The 6-1 forward shot 53.7 percent from the field and became a legitimate shot-blocking threat when she stepped on the court. A native of Stratford, Conn., she scored season-high 11 points and pulled down a season-high six rebounds at Pittsburgh on Feb. 20.
"Maureen contributed valuable minutes once she recovered from her injuries. She's a solid offensive threat and she has a good feel for the game. Adriana is a strong player, a great rebounder and a solid defender in the paint," Inglese says.
Freshmen Carolyn Gottstein and Maureen Leahy will bring added depth to the Eagles' frontcourt. Gottstein, Becky's younger sister, was named Miss Basketball New York as a senior and was a two-time Street & Smith honorable mention All-American. She averaged 28 points and 14 rebounds as a senior at Albany High School. Leahy earned Street & Smith honorable mention All-America honors as a senior at Minnechaug Regional High School. The 6-4 center averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks per game as a senior, while leading her basketball team to the state championship three times. She was also named Most Valuable Player of the Western Massachusetts state championship in 2000.
"Carolyn is a strong, physical player and is very aggressive on the boards. We're looking to play her at the power forward position. Maureen Leahy gives us variety at the center position. She has nice skill level and finesse around the basket."
BACKCOURT
The Boston College backcourt was touted as one of the most talented and experienced in the BIG EAST and the nation a year ago. A major reason for that strength was point guard Brianne Stepherson, who returns for her third season. With the graduation of Bouchard and Murphy, two positions are open and Inglese expects to see a much different line-up on the floor. With a range of players and strengths from which to choose, Inglese is looking for a much more versatile backcourt that will be able to change its look game-to-game.
Stepherson returns for her third season directing the offense for the Eagles. The junior suffered an isolated tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee following last season, but is on pace with her rehabilitation to return for the start of the season. The 5-8 court general started 31 games at point guard a year ago and averaged 9.3 points and 3.8 assists. Not afraid to venture into the paint, she also pulled down 3.3 rebounds per game. A native of Middleton, Mass., she recorded 14 double-figure scoring games. A starter at the point since her arrival at Boston College in 1998, she scored a career-high 31 points - including a career-high five three-point field goals - in the victory over LaSalle last season on Dec. 22. Stepherson finished the season strong and took charge of the team down the stretch, averaging 22 points and 5.5 assists in the two NCAA tournament games and guided the Eagles to the semifinals of the BIG EAST tournament.
"I have the utmost confidence in Brianne to come back from her surgery. She has started for us for two years and played tremendously in last year's BIG EAST and NCAA tournament games. She turned up her game and really took over both offensively and defensively. I'm really excited about her ability to lead this team for the next two years," Inglese says.
Senior co-captain Danielle O'Banion played in 19 games last season. The 5-7 guard, one of the team's top three-point threats, shot 33.3 percent from beyond the three-point line last season. The native of Arlington, Va. gives the Eagles a long-range scoring threat and provides outstanding leadership - both on and off the court.
"Danielle certainly has a great outside shot that we'll be looking to utilize more this year. She is also a natural leader who provides the intangibles every successful team needs," Inglese says.
Another returning player anxious to see more time in the backcourt is sophomore Alicia Shields. She played in 29 games last season, cracking the starting lineup against Providence on Jan. 15 making her mark as one of the team's offensive threats. The 5-9 guard shot 41.7 percent from the field and provided scrappy, hard-nose defense throughout the season. The native of Mandeville, La., provided a spark off the bench for the Eagles during her freshman campaign. One of the Eagles' 2,000-point scorers in high school, she will be looking to make more of an offensive contribution this season.
"Alicia has been the most improved player since the end of last season. She came back in great shape and developed her game. She's confident in herself, knows the system and brings tenacity to our defense. I'm really looking for good things from her this year."
Junior Nicole Conway, one of the key players in the offense, will be looking to make an impact in the backcourt. The 5-11 swing player started five games and averaged 16.2 minutes for the Eagles. Conway represented Boston College this past summer on the 2000 BIG EAST/Nike All-Star team that toured British Columbia. The native of Glenmont, N.Y., averaged 8.2 points in the six tour games.
"I think Nicole is going to be a force on the wing. She has a lot of versatility and athleticism," Inglese says. "During her first two years, she relied mostly on her outside shot, but now she's getting more confidence and realizes she has a lot of versatility in her play. She brings an exciting dimension to the backcourt."
Junior forward Rachel Byars, who sat out the 1999-2000 season after transferring from Western Kentucky University, is eligible to play this season. The native of Morganfield, Ky., was named Miss Kentucky Basketball in 1997.
"Rachel obviously redshirted last year after transferring, so I'm excited to finally have her talent out on the court. She's going to bring us some offensive power and she has nice range from the outside," Inglese says.
Freshmen Amber Jacobs and Janelle McManus will hope to make an immediate impact in the backcourt. Jacobs averaged 23 points and five assists per game as a senior and finished her career at Abington Heights High School with over 2,400 points, 600 assists, and 600 steals. For her superior play, the 5-8 guard was named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball following the 2000 season. A native of Clarks Summit, Penn., Jacobs was a three-time USA Today honorable mention All-American, a Street & Smith honorable mention All-American twice, and the USA Today Pennsylvania Player of the Year as a senior. McManus broke former Tennessee star and current WNBA player Chamique Holdsclaw's CHSAA league career scoring record, finishing her career at Bishop Kearney High School with almost 2,300 points. The 5-6 guard averaged 29 points and six assists as a senior and earned Street & Smith All-America honorable mention honors. A native of Belle Harbor, N.Y., McManus was also a guiding force behind the Bishop Kearney team that won the state championship three times.
"Amber has the ability to play both point guard and shooting guard. She has exceptional passing and ball-handling skills and a knack for scoring," Inglese says. "Once she learns our system, she should adjust nicely and be another scoring threat for us."
"Janelle presents an outside threat and has a scorer's mentality. She sees the court extremely well and will provide depth for us at the point this season," Inglese says.
THE SCHEDULE
At first glance, the 2000-01 schedule might be confused with the NCAA tournament bracket or a roll call of conference champions. Ten teams who participated in the 2000 NCAA tournament appear on the schedule (including three of the Final Four teams): NCAA and BIG EAST champion Connecticut, NCAA runner-up and Southeastern Conference champion Tennessee, Final Four participant Rutgers, ACC champion Duke, Big Ten tournament champion Purdue, Ivy League champion Dartmouth, Patriot League champion Holy Cross, Mid America Conference champion Kent State, Ohio Valley Conference champion Tennessee Tech and BIG EAST regular-season runner-up Notre Dame.
"Last year, our schedule was strengthened by the preseason WNIT. This year, the staff has worked hard to construct the most competitive schedule we could field. We really made a concerted effort to upgrade non-conference opponents to go hand-in-hand with our new position in the national scene. I'm extremely pleased that it's going to be a challenging schedule. Early on, we play Duke at Conte Forum, Purdue in the FleetCenter and travel to Tennessee for a rematch of the 1999 East Region second-round game we played in Knoxville," Inglese says. "We improved our schedule for two reasons: to strengthen our competition and to reward our fans. Bringing in top teams like Duke and Purdue this year - and Tennessee, Arkansas and Clemson next year - is a thank you to our fans for their support. They have been instrumental in our success and our undefeated record at home last year," Inglese says.
A demanding non-conference schedule is not all that faces the Eagles. The rugged BIG EAST Conference lineup also stands before Inglese's squad.
"I think our conference is tougher top to bottom than it has ever been. Along with the traditional BIG EAST powers, new addition Virginia Tech and the rest of the league will be competing on the national scene. The BIG EAST will be well-represented as March approaches," Inglese says.
Highlighting the BIG EAST schedule will be televised home contests against both Connecticut and Notre Dame. The last time the Connecticut Huskies ventured to Chestnut Hill in 1999, the Eagles led the contest from the opening tip and shocked the second-ranked visitors with a 78-66 upset victory. Earlier that same year, the Boston College topped seventh-ranked Notre Dame in Conte Forum, 78-65. These victories paved the way to the NCAA tournament in 1999 - an accomplishment the Eagles duplicated in 2000. Now Boston College is looking to solidify its place among the nation's best.
"In the past two years, we've had a taste for the NCAA tournament and now we want more. We have to be ready to go right from the very beginning because we're jumping into heavy competition from the start," Inglese says. "We'll have to play consistent basketball throughout the whole season for us to meet our expectations of again finishing among the elite women's basketball programs."
