With an experienced team returning for the 2001-2002 season, the Clarion University women’s basketball team is seeking to contend for a playoff spot in the tough PSAC-West. The top four teams in the seven team conference make the postseason.

The Golden Eagles return nine letterwinners, including six players who saw action for 15 or more minutes per game last season when Clarion was a very deceptive 10-16 overall and 3-9 in the PSAC-West against one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The Golden Eagles played five games against four teams who qualified for the NCAA D-II playoffs in 2000-01 including two against "Final Four" participant Shippensburg. Clarion also lost three games by a combined total of 17 points including one in overtime by a single point. With any breaks in those three games Clarion could have easily been 13-13.

"We believe that we have matured to the level where we have a viable shot at the playoffs," 13^th-year head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons said. "We are an experienced team with great balance and a lot of depth at every position. When you add that to an incoming freshmen class that will contribute to the team while pushing the older players for playing time, things look very positive. The team has great chemistry and is working very hard."

Clarion is hoping the experience, chemistry and hard work will help return the Golden Eagles to the championship level the program enjoyed in the 1990's.

From 1991-95, Clarion won five straight PSAC-West titles, three PSAC titles, went to the NCAA Playoffs five times and qualified for the "Elite 8" twice (1991 & 1994). During the five-year run Clarion had an amazing overall record of 117-33 (78%) and a PSAC-West record of 50-10. The Eagles set 14 NCAA Div. II team and individual records during that run.

Leading the way for the 2001-2002 Golden Eagles will be the nine letterwinners, six of whom started at least one game last season, and four freshman who should all have an impact this season.

"One of the things we have this year is balance and depth at all of the positions," Parsons said. "That will allow us to play an up-tempo style of game. Our goals this season are to have some sort of pressure defense for 40 minutes and to be able to be dedicated to playing an up-tempo style of offense. In order to do that we need to be able to rotate 3 or 4 players at the post and 2 or 3 players at each guard position."

For the first time in a long time, Parsons believes she has players that are needed to run the up-temp style.

"We have three players who can run the point," Parsons said. "We also have an experienced group of off-guards who will be mixed with some youth and diversity, and we have three very strong post players."

Leading the way in the post for the Golden Eagles will be 6-foot senior captain Christina Lantz (Rockford, Ohio/Parkway). Lantz, who was coming off a knee injury that limited her to three games two years ago, came back strong last season scoring 10.3 ppg while adding 6.7 rpg and 9 blocked shots. She scored a career-high 34 points against West Chester last season, the fourth most points scored in a single season in Clarion history. She should be even better this season with her knee completly heeled.

"C.J. is back 100 percent healthy and is ready to have her best season," Parsons said. "She is one of the best finishers I have ever seen. She is also very well respected by her teammates and coaches."

Joining Lantz in the post will be 6-2 junior Courtney Willman (Painesville, Ohio/Mentor) and 6-1 freshman Heather Cigich (Davidsville/Conemaugh Twp.).

Willman was Clarion’s most improved and most consistent player last season leading the team with 8.0 rpg and 16 blocked shots while adding 10.3 ppg. She was eighth in the PSAC and fifth in the PSAC-West in rebounds per game. Willman’s top games last year came when she scored a career-high 29 points against West Chester and when she had 15 rebounds vs. Edinboro.

"Courtney is a solid post player who is improving on her overall game this season," Parsons said. "She is also working on her arsenal of low-post moves which will make her all that much stronger in the paint."

Cigich was highly sought after coming out of Conemaugh Township High School before signing early with Clarion. At Conemaugh she was named all-state both her junior and senior seasons while scoring 1,882 points and grabbing 1,243 rebounds in her career.

"Heather is a gifted athlete," Parsons said. "She hits the offensive boards as well as anyone I have seen in a long time, and she runs the floor very well. She is a very mobile player."

In addition to Lantz, Willman and Cigich, Clarion will have added depth in the post with 6-4 junior Erin Stinnette (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) and 5-8 freshman Melody Mackin (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding).

Stinnette, who was sidetracked by injuries most of the season, played in 14 games scoring 2.7 ppg and grabbing 2.3 rpg, while Mackin, who red-shirted two seasons ago before sitting out last year, was a second-team All-County performer her senior season in high school after scoring 10 ppg and grabbing 8 rpg.

"Erin is a solid post player who has a lot of raw potential," Parsons said. "Melody is a great role player who is very strong. She is a good rebounder, who is working hard to work of the rust from not playing the past two years."

At point guard Clarion has three players who should all see playing time in senior Tiffany Taylor (McKees Rocks/Aliquippa), junior Jen Duhnke (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley) and freshman Emily Rolf (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance).

Taylor (8.0 ppg & 67 assists), who started 14 games for Clarion last season hit 79.7% (51-64) of her free throws, the fifth-best single season mark in school history. She dished out a career-best 11 assists against West Chester while scoring a career-high 24 points vs. IUP. Duhnke, who scored 3.1 ppg to go along with 45 assists & 17 steals last year, should share time at the point with Taylor, while Rolf, who averaged 14 ppg, 4 apg and 5 spg her senior season in high school while being named second team all-district, should also see playing time.

"Tiffany is an explosive player with great court sense," Parsons said. "Jen is a great ball handler and an extremely hard worker, and Emily is an intense player who plays really tenaciously on defense."

At the off-guard or shooting guard, Clarion has three players who should see plenty of time in juniors Allison Stodart (Madera/Moshannon Valley) and Tameka Washington (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Hardning) and freshman Amelia Harris (London, Ohio/London).

Stodart (9.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 65 three-points, 56 assists & 33 steals), who ranks eighth in school history with 122 three-pointers made and sixth in school history with 395 three-pointers attempted, and Washington (8.5 ppg & 3.8 rpg) both have seen considerable playing time for Clarion the last two seasons. Stodart best game in her Clarion career came her freshman season when she hit a school-record nine three-pointer on her way to a career-high 27 point vs. Shippensburg, while Washington had a career-high 23 points vs. West Chester last season. Harris, meanwhile, was an all-Ohio Honorable Mention recipient last season after averaging 16 ppg, 7 rpg and 2 spg.

"Ali is working harder than ever," Parsons said. "Tameka is a very athletic player who is a slasher and penetrater with the ball. Amelia (who is 5-11) gives us a look we haven’t had in a while with her size at guard. She is a smart player who has a nice three-point shot."

Sophomores Julie McCormack (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and Lindsay Kostorick (Pittsburgh/North Catholic) should also see playing time for Clarion at guard. McCormack (15 games, 9 points), who came to Clarion as a point guard, has been moved to the off-guard position this season, while Kostorick also played in 15 games last season and scored 20 points while grabbing 14 rebounds to go along with eight assists and five steals.

"Julie is a very upbeat, hard working player who has good ball handling skills and a lot of ability. She will see playing time at guard." Parsons said. "Lindsay is a fundamentally sound player who is gaining valuable experience everyday. She is going to push some people for playing time.

"I always say rebuilding is a four-stage process. The first stage is you get beat bad. In the second stage you get into the close ones but lose them. In the third stage you start to win the close ones, and in the fourth stage you kick butt. I think last season we were in the second stage, and this season we have opportunity to move up to the third stage. We should be able win some of the close ones."

In addition to making a playoff run, the Golden Eagles are also shooting for two milestones this season. The first is 300 wins in her coaching career for Parsons and the second is 300 wins in school history for the team. Ironically both marks will occur at the same time as both Parsons and Clarion have 294 wins. Parsons, who is entering her 21^st year of coaching, has accounted for 184 of those wins in her 12 years at Clarion with the other 110 coming in eight years at Thiel where she went 110-73.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Clarion starts its season Nov. 16-17 when its hosts the Clarion Classic. The Golden Eagles will play Five Towns College (NY) at 6 p.m. Nov. 16, while Alderson-Broaddus plays Mercyhurst at 2 p.m. ... The tournament is held in conjunction with the Golden Eagles men’s team’s Subway/KFC Classic. The first men’s game is at 4 p.m. Nov. 16 with the second game being played at 8 p.m. ... On Nov. 17 the women’s consolation game will be played at 1 p.m. with the title game at 3 p.m ... Clarion last qualified for the PSAC Playoffs in 1997 when it went 12-15 overall and 6-6 in the PSAC-West ... The Golden Eagles last NCAA appearance was 1995 when they lost 80-66 to East Stroudsburg ... Clarion owns 14 NCAA Division II Records (Individual and Team) since1991 ... During Clarion's five straight PSAC-West Championships, Parsons was 117-33, a winning rate of 78% with a PSAC-West slate of 50-10, a winning rate of 83.3%.

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