UMass Dartmouth women's basketball team will combine experience with new players in 2002-03

(Dartmouth, MA) - In her second season as the head women's basketball coach at UMass Dartmouth Christine Elliott's team has something very important which she didn't have last year.

Along with six players back from last season, Elliott has several newcomers to the program who should give the Corsairs enough depth to execute Elliott's fast break offense and pressing defense.

"The big difference this year is that I've got a bench with people at every position to serve as a back-up," said Elliott. "We're still a very young team but with some more people to put into the rotation we are going to be able to do more things on offense and defense."

UMass Dartmouth should enjoy the benefits of an experience returning backcourt. Sophomore Casey Ridge (Quincy, MA) , sophomore Bridget Bowes (Mansfield, MA) and junior co-captain Kelly O'Neil (Mansfield, MA) both had solid seasons for UMass Dartmouth last year. Ridge will run the team from her point guard position, while O''Neill will be counted on to provide scoring and to take advantage of her three-point shooting skills.

O'Neil was the Corsairs' second leading scorer last year and the leading scorer among the returning players. She averaged 9.9 points per game along with 2.5 rebounds with 30 assists and 29 steals. O'Neil connected on 30 of 85 three pointers (35.3%),while shooting 56 for 162 from the floor (34.6%). Ridge led the Corsairs with 98 assists along with 39 steals, while averaging 4.5 points per game and 2.5 rebounds. Bowes averaged 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with 43 assists and 17 steals.

Junior co-captain Amy Satkevich (Quincy, MA) will be the most experience player on the Corsairs' front line this season. In 24 games last season, Satkevich averaged 8.6 points per game, third best on the team, and was second in rebounding with 5.6 rebounds per game.

"Amy is going to be a very strong presence for us in the low post," said Elliott, who will be joined by assistant coaches Peter Lyons and Tracey Jackson.

Sophomore Leang Chhean (Fall River, MA) is another returnee from last season who Elliott thinks will move into the starting lineup. In 21 games last year, Chhean had 2.3 point and three rebounds, but she gained valuable experience while she was on the floor

"She has incredible leaping ability and this year has the confidence to be a positive addition to our team," Elliott said. "She has played with much more confidence this year."

Among the players who are back for another season are sophomores Lauren Johnson (Swansea, MA), Shuba Ramaiah (Brockton, MA) along with a pair of transfer students in Maura Armstrong (Worcester, MA) and Debora Harmsen (Buzzards Bay, MA). Armstrong is a sophomore transfer from Eastern Connecticut State University who does a very good job of defending the ball and someone who can score on the inside. A transfer from the University of Toronto, Harmsen is also a sophomore. She has been injured during the preseason but Elliott said she expects her to be healthy by the beginning of the season.

During pre-season practice several newcomers to the program made a strong impression on Coach Elliott. Among the new players who will be part of the UMass Dartmouth rotation are first-year players Stephanie Senat (Malden, MA), Sarah Lynch (Lakeville, MA), Celina Vital (Cambridge, MA) and Danielle Jones (Malden, MA).

Lynch is a 5-9 guard who played at Apponequet and brings a nice jump shot and solid rebounding skills. Jones, Senat and first-year player Nathalie Fanfan (Malden, MA) all played for a very good Malden High team last year and should all be able to make some contributions. Vital will be a back up at point guard behind Ridge.

"We've got two juniors on the roster so we're still a young team" said Elliott. "But most of those players got a lot of experience last year and what I want to do this year is work the new players into the rotation so that they can make positive contributions while they're in the game."

The Corsairs will open Little East Conference play when they host Plymouth State College at the Tripp Center on Saturday, December 7 at 1:00 p.m.

"That game will be a true indication of where we're at and where we need to go this season," said Elliott.

"We have the talent and the potential on this team," Elliott said. "We have played better in our early scrimmages so I hope we can get more experience as the season continues.

 Last Updated On: 9/1/06