Boston College Athletics
Women's Hoops Prepares for NWBL in Exhibition Opener
November 04, 2000 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2000
Today's Game Today's exhibition game against the National Women's Basketball League marks the first contest of the 2000-2001 season for the Boson College women's basketball team. The NWBL has 16 teams that compete against NCAA Division I teams throughout the fall. The teams are comprised of former members of NCAA Division I, II and III teams. The team traveling to the Heights is on a six game swing that includes stops at the University of Rhode Island, Boston College, Syracuse, Marist, St. Joseph's and the University of Pennsylvania.
The Coach Cathy Inglese is entering her 15th season as a head coach and her eighth season at Boston College. She holds a 112-90 record at the Heights and a 232-164 mark over her career. In the last two seasons, she has taken the Eagles to a place among the nation's elite programs. The 1999-2000 team set a school record for wins with 26 and advanced to the school's second NCAA tournament in as many years. She was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 1999 after taking the Eagles to their first NCAA tournament in school history.
Season Recap Last season, the Eagles registered the best season in school history with their 26-9 overall record. The team advanced to its second NCAA tournament in two years before falling to Virginia in the second round of the annual event. Senior Cal Bouchard was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team while junior Jamie Cournoyer was named the league's Most Improved player. Cournoyer joined senior Alissa Murphy on the All-BIG EAST Third Team. After the conclusion of the season, Bouchard was named BIG EAST Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete and also earned a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. She was also the first Boston College player to play in the Olympics when she was named to the Canadian Olympic team that played in Sydney.
Captains Named The two seniors, Jamie Cournoyer and Danielle O'Banion, will serve as team captains this season. Cournoyer, a center, was named BIG EAST Most Improved Player last season while O'Banion was one of the team's most potent long-distance threats.
Breezy and Becky Back Juniors Brianne Stepherson and Becky Gottstein are ready to tip off the 2000-2001 season after returning from injuries suffered last season. Gottstein missed 12 games with a stress fracture in her ankle, while Stepherson has recovered from an isolated torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee suffered after the end of last season.
Eagles Chosen Fourth In the second toughest women's basketball conference in America according to the RPI ratings for the 1999-2000 season, Boston College was selected fourth in the BIG EAST in the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll. National champion Connecticut was chosen first followed by Notre Dame and 2000 Final Four participant Rutgers. Last season, the Eagles were chosen fourth, but finished tied with Rutgers for third in the league with a 12-4 record.
Gottstein Preseason Selection Junior Becky Gottstein was named to the preseason All-BIG EAST second team, voted on by the league's 14 head coaches. She was one of two juniors named to the preseason teams. She joins UConn's Sue Bird as the only two juniors on a BIG EAST team. Notre Dame's Alicia Ratay, the 2000 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, is the only sophomore selected. Seven seniors were chosen between the first and second teams. She was also voted a preseason honorable mention All-America selection by Street & Smith's.
Sister Act Boston College has two sisters on the roster this year. No. 54, Becky Gottstein, returns for her junior year, while she is joined by her sister, freshman Carolyn who will wear number 55 this season.
Mackie Out Junior Kim Mackie will miss the 2000-2001 season after undergoing reconstructive surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee suffered in a preseason pick-up game.
Up Next The women's basketball team will next face Ferencvarosi Torna in a second exhibition game on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. in Conte Forum. The Eagles open the regular season in the Chevrolet Classic hosted by Michigan State. BC will face Tenneesse Tech in the opening round on Friday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m., then will take on either Michigan State or Arkansas State on Saturday, Nov. 18. The team begins the home season on Wednesday, Nov. 22 against Duke.
