UMass Dartmouth will rely on contributions from three senior tri-captains during 2001-02 season

(Dartmouth, MA) -- First-year UMass Dartmouth women's basketball coach Christine Elliott will lean heavily on the contributions of three senior tri-captains as the Corsairs enter the 2001-2002 season. After three seasons as an assistant coach, Elliott will take over the head coaching position left vacant when Lynn Sheedy stepped down prior to the season.

In her first season with the Corsairs, Elliott has a team which should benefit from the senior leadership and experience of forward Carla Ferreira (Marion, MA) and guards Jess Cummings (Middleboro, MA) and Becky Mackey (Quincy, MA).

Cummings was the Corsairs' third leading scorer last season, averaging 11.23 points per game with 4.1 rebounds, 24 steals and 40 assists. She was also the Corsairs' leading three-point shooter, connecting on 29-86 from three-point range (33.7%) and was second on the team in field goals 92-280 (32.9%). Ferreira averaged 6.82 points and 6.95 rebounds per game, second best for the Corsairs last season. Mackey appeared in 18 games last season and averaged 2 points and 1.6 rebounds.

"I need leadership from my seniors, not only in scoring and rebounding, but also in helping the new players adapt to the system and to playing college basketball for the first time," said Elliott, who will be joined by assistant coaches Peter Lyons, Wayne Williams and Tracey Jackson.

"Carla has to step up her role as a leader and really pick up her game this season," Elliott said. "Jess needs to continue to lead by example and Becky is important to the team because from her point guard position she is going to control our offense."

In addition to her senior captains, another player Elliott has high hopes for is sophomore forward Amy Satkevich (Quincy, MA). In her first season with the Corsairs, Satkevich appeared in 18 games and averaged 3.67 points and 1.94 rebounds per game.

"I'm looking for Amy to really step forward in her role on this team," Elliott said. "She has the potential to be one of this team's best offensive threats. She's got a nice little fade jumpshot and she is a good rebounder too."

Elliott also expects sophomore Kelly O'Neil (Mansfield, MA) to have an impact on the offensive end this season. In her first season, O'Neil got plenty of playing time and made the most of her opportunities. One of four Corsairs to appear in all 22 games last year, O'Neil averaged 7.5 points per game, fourth best on the team with 2.5 rebounds, and finished third in assists with 35 and fourth in minutes with 517. She was third in three point field goals, connecting on 16 of 56 for 28.6% and she made 52 of 73 free throws (71.2%).

"Kelly will get plenty of playing time this season," Elliott added. "She's got a great outside jumpshot and is extremely quick. She's also one of our top defensive players too."

In addition to her returning veterans, Elliott will also call on junior Larissa Morse (Sterling, MA), and a pair of first-year players on the team to round out the playing rotation. Morse averaged 2.75 points and 2 rebounds per game last season, while Sarah Bourque (Rochester, MA) and Bridget Bowes (Mansfield, MA) join the Corsiars for their first seasons. Bourque is a junior who has also played for the Corsairs' women's soccer team, while Bowes is in her first season at UMass Dartmouth.

"Each one of those players, Bourque, Bowes and Morse are all going to get plenty of playing time this season," Elliott said. "I'm just not sure in which order. We're still working on establishing our starting line up and playing rotation."

Entering her first season, Elliott was pleased with her team's early progress and will continue to work with the Corsiars, aiming them toward the Little East Conference tournament at season's end.

"It is a long season and what I want to do is keep working hard every day and keep ourselves focused on our goals." said Elliott. "It's going to be a challenging year for myself and the team. I'm getting myself settled as the head coach and the players are getting used to me. We've got to respond to those challenges."

After opening the season at the Pepsi/Weis Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, the Corsairs open their season with five straight non-conference road games. UMass Dartmouth will finally open its home schedule with a Little East Conference game against Western Connecticut State University at 1 p.m. on Dec. 8.