NCAA D-II Women’s Basketball

The sounds of basketballs bouncing of the floor and coaches whistles blowing through the air can be heard once again. It must be basketball season, and that means the 2002-2003 Clarion University women’s squad is "Ready for Business."

The Golden Eagles open their season Nov. 22-23 when they host the Clarion Classic. Clarion will play LaRoche at 6 p.m. Friday and will then play either New Jersey Tech or Stonehill Saturday. The consolation game will be at 1 p.m. with the title game at 5 p.m. Stonehill faces NJ Tech at 2 p.m. Friday in the opening game.

When the season opens, the Golden Eagles, under the direction of 14^th-year head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons, are looking to build upon the success the team had last season when it qualified for the PSAC Playoffs for the first time in five years going 6-6 in the PSAC-West and 12-15 overall.

"I believe we can do better than last year," Parsons said. Our goal is to once again finish in the top four of the conference and get into the playoffs. Once you get there anything can happen."

According to Parsons, making the PSAC Playoffs a year ago has made Clarion hungry to return.

"Getting there last year just added fuel to the fire," Parsons said. "It has made us hungry for more."

The Golden Eagles chances of not only returning to the PSAC Playoffs but perhaps going deep into them will be aided by eight returning players, all of whom started at least one game last year. Four of the eight started at least 10 games in 2001-02. Added to the eight returning players are four newcomers, two juniors, a sophomore and a freshman, who should help make Clarion a deep and balanced team.

"We have a strong nucleus to build around," Parsons said. "Add that to what we believe is a strong group of newcomers and we should have a very exciting season."

Leading the group of eight returning players are four seniors – Jen Duhnke (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley), Allison Stodart (Madera/Moshannon Valley), Tameka Washington (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) and Courtney Willman – who have been at the core of helping Clarion get back on the path toward the success the program enjoyed in the 1990's. From 1991-95, Clarion won five straight PSAC-West titles, three PSAC titles and went to the NCAA Playoffs in all five years. The Eagles 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 the run.

"Having the four seniors is like having four captains," Parsons said. "They know what to expect both from us as coaches and from the conference. They know what lies ahead, and they know what other teams will do. They form a nice nucleus."

Last season Duhnke, a point guard, averaged 3.1 ppg, 1.2 apg and 1.1 rpg. In her career she as scored 160 points and has 95 assists.

"Jen is one of our co–captains," Parsons said. "She is a born leader. She is the hardest worker on the team, and we are looking for her to make an impact on the floor this season."

Stodart, a shooting guard, averaged 8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 2.5 apg last season. She hit a team-high 54 three-pointers and shot 34.6% from beyond the arc. In her career, she ranks fourth in school history with 176 three-pointers while scoring 714 career points, dishing out 171 career assists and grabbing 249 career rebounds.

"Ali is a strong shooter who has an increased focus this season," Parsons said.

Washington, a shooting guard, averaged 8.1 ppg and 3.3 rpg last season. She shot 81.3% from the charity stripe (39-of-48). In her career she has scored 676 points while dishing out 131 assists and grabbing 307 rebounds.

"Tameka is a well-rounded student-athlete," Parsons said. "She has an electric personality, and she provides us with valuable game experience. She is really dedicated to basketball."

Willman, a center, missed the final 12 games last season with an ankle injury. Before she got hurt she was she was third on the team in both scoring (9.1 ppg) and rebounds (5.4 rpg) while shooting a team-leading 56.8% from the floor. In her career she 635 points and grabbed 447 rebounds.

"Courtney is also a co-captain," Parsons said. "She has recovered from the ankle injury she suffered last year and is very hungry to play. She is a very strong post player, and we are looking for her to have a great senior season."

Four underclassmen also return for the Eagles – sophomore Heather Cigich (Davidsville/Conemaugh Twp.), sophomore Amelia Harris (London, Ohio/London), junior Lindsay Kostorick (Pittsburgh/North Catholic) and sophomore Emily Rolf (Defiance, Ohio/Defiance).

Cigich, a forward, had one of the most successful freshman seasons in school history last year averaging 12.0 ppg and 9.3 rpg while being named PSAC-West Second Team. She was the fourth all-time leading freshman scorer (312 points) and rebounder (241) in Clarion history, and her 241 rebounds were the 13^th most in school history in a single season. An excellent free-throw shooter, Cigich finished with the second-beat charity stripe mark in Clarion single-season history (83.2% – 89-of-107).

"Heather is coming off a solid freshman season," Parsons said. "She is a motivated player who should be even better this year."

Harris, a swing player, averaged 3.6 ppg and 2.2 rpg. She added 19 assists and 16 three pointers.

"Amelia has a great work ethic," Parsons said. "She is a versatile player who is looking to contribute."

Kostorick, a defensive specialist as a guard, averaged 2.2 ppg and 2.2 apg while grabbing 35 steals. She also hit 14 of the 17 free throws she attempted.

"Lindsay is the most positive player on the team," Parsons said. "She is a defensive specialist, and we are looking for her to provide an impact on both sides of the floor."

Rolf, a point guard, averaged 2.3 ppg and had 29 assists and 10 steals.

"Emily is an intense player," Parsons said. "She has near perfect form on her jumper, and she will see playing time at point guard."

In addition to the eight returning players, the four newcomers for Clarion bring a lot of experience.

The top newcomers should be junior forward Sher-ree Glover (Alliance, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) and junior guard Angela Phegley (South Bend, Ind./Clay), both transfers from junior colleges.

Last year Glover led Lakeland College to a 22-7 record while averaging 26 ppg, 14 rpg and 2 apg. She was named third-team All-American and first-team All-Conference and All-Region.

"Sher-ree is an experienced player who brings tenacity to the team," Parsons said. "She is a blue-collar worker who will get the job done any way she can."

Phegley, who played at Owens College, helped lead Owens to a two-year record of 45-20 including a semifinal appearance in the NJCAA Regional Tournament. She averaged 13.9 ppg, 6 rpg and 3 apg and hit a school-record 10 three-pointers in one game.

"Angela is a quick player who can shoot the ball," Parsons said. "She bring a lot of experience with her, and she is a court leader. She will see playing at the point."

Joining Glover and Phegley are center Danielle Moseley (Bloomfield, NJ/Montclair) and freshman guard Kate Bekelja (Mechanicsburg/Trinity).

Moseley is a transfer from NCAA Division I SUNY-Stony-Brook where she sat out the last two seasons with two separate injuries. As a senior in high school she averaged 5 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 spg and 2 apg.

"Danielle is getting healthier," Parsons said. "She will gain confidence with playing time and will provide us with depth at the post."

Bekelja comes to Clarion from Trinity High School and legendary head coach Harry DeFrank. She led the Shamrocks to a 32-3 record and the PIAA Class AA title her junior year and a second-place finish her senior year. She averaged 16 ppg, 3 rpg and 2 apg while being named first-team All-Conference and All-District and to the Harrisburg Patriot-News Big 15 team.

"Kate is a pure shooter from a great high school program," Parsons said. "She has great potential."

According to Parsons, the Golden Eagles want to play an up-tempo style of basketball.

"We want to play tenacious, get-in-your face defense," Parsons said. "And we want to be balanced on offense. We believe our offense can have a very complimentary inside-outside game. We have a good mix of post players and guards. We have also improved our team speed from last year."

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: After winning her 300^th career game last season, Parsons will get her 200^th win at Clarion when the Eagles reach four wins this season. Parsons is 196-166 in her 13 years at Clarion and is 306-239 in her 21-year coaching career that included an eight-year stint at Thiel ... Clarion starts PSAC-West play Jan. 22 when it hosts Slippery Rock ... The Golden Eagles will once again play seven conference mandated cross-over games with the PSAC-East ... The Golden Eagles are in one other tournament this season. Clarion will travel to Miami, Fla., for the Barry To. Dec. 29-30.

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by Chris Rossetti