After narrowly missing the PSAC playoffs in 2002-03, the Clarion University women’s basketball team is looking to make a run back to the postseason in 2003-04.

That run won’t be an easy one, as Clarion has to replace four starters from last year’s team that went 15-12 overall and 5-7 in the PSAC-West missing the playoffs by one game.

"We have a strong nucleus coming back, and we will endeavor to build a team around it," 15^th-year head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons said. "We have a giant task ahead of us, though, to reload after losing four program kids."

Gone from last year’s team are four four-year players: Jen Duhnke, Allison Stodart, Tameka Washington and Courtney Willman. The quartet combined to play 405 games with 260 starts while scoring 3,125 points, grabbing 1,422 rebounds and dishing out 729 assists. Stodart was just the 11^th player in school history to score 1,000 career points finishing with 1,022, while Washington added 944, Willman 873 to go with 612 rebounds and Duhnke 286 points to go with 207 assists.

"It is impossible to replace that experience in one year especially their experience in the PSAC-West and their leadership" Parsons said.

Also gone from last year’s team are She-ree Glover and Emily Rolf. The six total players gone from a year ago mean the Golden Eagles must find a way to replace 58 percent of their scoring (41.2 ppg), 47 percent of their rebounding (17.7 rpg) and 72 percent of their assists (12.3 apg).

While the Golden Eagles have a lot to replace, they also have a group of returning players who could form the nucleus of a good team.

Junior forward Heather Cigich leads that group of players. Cigich, who was chosen as a pre-season All-American by the "Women’s DII Bulletin" this year as well as a first-team PSAC-West preseason selection, was a first-team PSAC-West performer a year ago after finishing third in the PSAC in both points (18.6 ppg) and rebounds (10.4 rpg). She was the first Clarion player since Mona Gaffney in 1995-96 to average a double-double. Cigich ranks in the top 20 in both career scoring (814 points – 20^th) and rebounding (522 – 14^th) in school history. The scary part might be that Parsons believes Cigich has gotten better since last season.

"Heather has gotten better over the summer," Parsons said. "She has really worked hard on her all-around game. She was so thrilled with the All-American recognition. She really wants to do well. We mentioned to her when we were recruiting her that records are meant to be broken, and she has a shot at breaking some records before she is done."

Additional returning players joining Cigich include junior guard Amelia Harris (5.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg), sophomore guard Kate Bekelja (4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg), junior center Danielle Moseley (1.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and senior guard Lindsay Kostorick (1.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 17 steals).

"We are hoping they rise to the occasion," Parsons said. "Some of them worked very hard over the summer knowing there are a lot of open spots available. Their biggest asset to us will be those intangibles like knowing our system and knowing what it takes to win in the PSAC-West."

Joining the five returning players will be six key newcomers including two guards who red-shirted last season: junior Angela Phegley and freshman Dominique Kelly.

Two seasons ago Phegley averaged 13.9 ppg at Owens Community College. She should be able to step and challenge for the starting point guard position for the Golden Eagles.

"Angie is a true point guard," Parsons said. "She is quick-on-quick. She is a tough, hard-nosed player who has a lot of savvy at the point guard position."

Kelly had a tremendous high school career at Pittsburgh’s Peabody High School setting the school scoring record with 1,755 points and in the process bettering the previous mark that was held by Clarion’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder Carlita Jones. Kelly was twice named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette All-City League team. She averaged 24 ppg, 3 rpg and 3.1 apg her senior season and 21.1 ppg her junior year.

"Dominique is a gamer," Parsons said. "She can do some clipboard dropping things on the court. She really worked on her fundamental over the last year. I give her a lot of credit. It had to be hard sitting out last season, but she hung in there."

Parsons said that while Kelly broke Jones’ scoring mark at Peabody, the two are different types of players.

"Carlita was more of an inside post player," Parsons said. "Dominique is more of a swing player who can play both guard and forward."

In addition to the two red-shirted players, two junior college transfers should step in an contribute immediately for the Golden Eagles.

Shay Godwin, a forward who did not play last season, was a NJCAA Division II All-American two years ago after averaging 16.9 ppg and 13.2 rpg two years ago at Sinclair Community College. The big question will be how she responds to having a year off.

"I can’t tell you how the year off will effect her," Parsons said. "I do know she is tough player, a really good kid and a nice person. If nothing else, her maturity will be a positive."

Tiffany Peacock, a guard, averaged 18.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 spg and 2.8 apg last season for Sinclair Community College.

"Tiffany is still learning the system, but she is such a great athlete," Parsons said. "She can jump, and she is very fast. She has a lot of talent and is an explosive player. The question with her is the same as it is with our other junior college players. How fast do they adjust to this level of play and competition?"

The Golden Eagles also have three true freshmen on the roster including guards Shelah Bolyard, Jessica Skeggs and Felicia Giles.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Clarion opens the season by hosting Ashland at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 ... The Golden Eagles will also play host to the three-day Clarion Classic Nov. 21-23 with West Liberty and Queens (NY) ... The Golden Eagles start PSAC-West play Jan. 14 at home against California.