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Dominican University New York Athletics

2008-2009 Dominican College Women's Basketball Preview

 

The 2008-09 Dominican College women's basketball teams is coming off one of the most successful years in program history, after receiving the program's first ever NCAA Tournament berth.  Last season, the team compiled a 22-9 overall record and a 14-3 mark in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC).  After winning the CACC North Division, the Lady Chargers were the top North seed in the CACC Tournament where they took on #4 North Seed, Nyack College and came away with a 78-64 victory.  In the semi-finals DC charged past the second seed in the South Division, Wilmington University, 74-46.  In the CACC Championships, the Lady Chargers fell to top seed in the South and nationally ranked Holy Family University, 66-54.  

Dominican then earned the programs first ever NCAA bid, garnishing the sixth seed in the Northeast Regional Tournament, which was held at top seeded Holy Family University.  The Lady Chargers faced the third seeded Ravens of Franklin Pierce University from the Northeast-10 conference.  The Ravens held a 24-5 record and had beaten DC, 59-70, during the season in a non-conference game at the Hennessy Center.  In a hard fought battle, the Ravens came away with a 54-66 victory and eventually won the Northeast Regional, after defeating Holy Family, and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.

The Lady Chargers return 10 players and three starters from last year's squad.  Captains Althea Chambers, Shalissa Burgess and Adele Laskowski will look to guide the team in the 2008-2009 campaign. 

Head Coach, John Burke, enters his eighth year at the helm of the Lady Chargers with what he believes will be a very versatile and hardworking team. With a very tough schedule awaiting this year's team, Coach Burke will rely on a veteran core of players for leadership both on and off the court.

The point guard position sees two returning players and one freshman vying for the starting spot.  Sophomores Shanice Scully and Kristen Haycook both return looking to fill the shoes left by the departure of Dana Rotio.  Scully is an outstanding defender on the ball and provides the Lady Chargers with instant quickness, while Haycook has a great jump shot and makes good decisions on the floor.  Freshman Kaity Lent is a hardworking, tough competitor out of Sacred Heart High School in New Jersey.  Lent netted 1,157 career points and holds the school record with 476 career assists.  She was a South Jersey All-Parochial, All-Conference and All Cape/Atlantic League First Team Selection her senior year.

Rachelle Sainten will start at the second guard spot after averaging 7.7 ppg in 31 games last season.  Backing up Sainten will be rookies, Meghan Murphy and Samantha Klunk.  Murphy, a graduate of Carmel High School, will be an immediate impact player who possesses many offensive skills that ignite the Lady Charger offense.  An excellent three point shooter, Murphy was a 1,000 point scorer, was named to the 2008 All-State Team and was a four-time NY State Section 1 All-League Selection.  Klunk is an excellent passer who has the ability to post up at the guard position and score under the basket.

The third guard position will be manned by Chambers.  An outstanding offensive rebounder, she plays with a lot of intensity and is tough on the defensive end.   Last season Chambers started all 31 games and led the team with 12.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg.  She was named to the All-Met Second Team, the CACC All-Academic team for the second time and received All-CACC Honorable Mention honors.  She ranked 14th in the CACC in scoring, sixteenth in rebounding, eighth in steals and sixth in offensive rebounds.  Backing up Chambers will be freshman Marley Klunk.  Klunk is an outstanding offensive player who will provide instant offense when she is on the court.

Up front will feature the return of junior Adele Laskowski who finished second on the team with 11.9 ppg and third with 4.0 rpg after starting all 31 games.  She was ranked 20th in the CACC in scoring and fifteenth in steals and three point field goals made.  For her efforts, she was named to the All-Met First Team and the All-CACC Second Team.  Sophomore Jasmine Schinella will round out the four spot with her great athleticism and strong presence underneath.

Senior Burgess will start in the center after averaging 7.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg last year.  Burgess is a very athletic player with strong post moves and is explosive under the basket with her rebounding abilities and defense.  Backing her up will be fellow senior Kayla MacDonald.  MacDonald has shown much improvement since her rookie year with the talent to score and toughness under the hoop.

Returning players Lindsay Garrahan and Jessica Fairweather will see time in the front court.  Garrahan possess a nice jump shot and should provide quality minutes off the bench, while Fairweather provides instant offense off the bench for the Lady Chargers.

The Lady Chargers season will open up the season hosting the Dominican College Tip-Off Tournament on November 14 and 15.  DC will square off against Dowling College and St. Anselm College in the tournament.  Senior Day will be February 21, 2009 against Chestnut Hill College.

The Eighth Annual Sue Heller Game, played in honor of the former player who tragically passed away, is scheduled for February 7, 2009 against Wilmington University on Coach Baxter Court at the Hennessy Center.

The 2008-09 Dominican College women's basketball program will use the experience gained from last year's success to help guide them in this season's quest to repeat as the CACC North Division Champions and win the CACC Tournament. 

 

 

 

The aim of Dominican University New York is to promote educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community and its needs. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, the university is an independent institution of higher learning, Catholic in origin and heritage. In the Dominican tradition, it fosters the active, shared pursuit of truth and embodies an ideal of education rooted in the values of reflective understanding and compassionate involvement.  Committed to building its programs upon a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, the university maintains a student-centered climate and serves a diverse community of students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The university empowers this community of learners to excel, lead and serve with integrity and to engage responsibly in the pursuit of a more just, ethical and sustainable world.  Dominican also sponsors 18 varsity intercollegiate sports that compete at the NCAA Division II level.  To learn more about Dominican University New York, please visit www.duny.edu.