(Dartmouth, MA) – It has been ten years since a UMass Dartmouth woman’s basketball team had more than ten wins in a season and as many years since the Corsairs had hosted a Little East Conference Tournament game at the Tripp Athletic Center.

In his first year as head coach of the Corsairs’ women’s basketball team, head coach Mick Klitzner turned the program around with an 11-16 overall record, a fourth-place regular season finish in the LEC, a conference tournament victory and a spot in the LEC Tournament semi-finals.

Despite the Corsairs’ season-ending loss to eventual champion Southern Maine, the 2003-04 season was a success at UMass Dartmouth, considering the Corsairs’ predicted eighth-place finish in the LEC coaches’ pre-season poll. Although the Corsairs got off to a slow start, posting a 1-7 mark during the first semester, UMass Dartmouth took full advantage of the holiday break.  Starting in January, the Corsairs produced a 10-9 record the rest of the way, including a season sweep of Western Connecticut and three victories over Keene State College.

The Corsairs’ fourth-place regular season finish was rewarded with an LEC Tournament home game in the first round. Playing in front of an enthusiastic Tripp Center crowd, the Corsairs advanced to the LEC semi-finals with an 80-64 win over Keene State.

The keys to UMass Dartmouth’s success started with the play of senior co-captains Amy Satkevich (Quincy, MA) and Kelly O’Neil (Mansfield, MA).  Satkevich capped a four-year career by being named a First Team LEC All-Star after leading the Corsairs with 13.5 points (4^th in LEC) and 7.2 rebounds per game (6^th in LEC).  An LEC Player of the Week selection earlier in the season, Satkevich shot .491 from the floor (137-279) and was .762 from the foul line (64-84).  She also added 32 steals and 11 blocks.

In the backcourt, O’Neil provided the steady leadership the Corsairs needed to improve throughout the season. She averaged 5.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game with 25 assists and 24 steals. She connected on 28 of 114 three-pointers (.246) and was 33-42 from the free throw line (.786).

In addition to the Corsairs’ seniors, Klitzner had several other players improve their play throughout the campaign.  Junior guard Bridget Bowes (Mansfield, MA) was second in team scoring with 12.5 points (7^th LEC) and 2.9 rebounds per game.  Bowes was very effective from beyond the three-point line, making 52-154 (.338) (3^rd LEC). Bowes led the LEC in free-throw shooting .857 from the line (47-54, .870).

First-year guard Katie Lunnin (South Boston, MA) was the third Corsair to average in double-figures, scoring 11.2 points per game (11^th LEC) and adding 3.8 rebounds.  Lunnin was the Corsairs’ top three-point shooter, making 67-187 (.358) and was 89-275 (.324) from the floor. Lunnin was second in the LEC in three-pointers made per game (2.52) behind Bowes (2.55).

Junior point-guard Casey Ridge (Quincy, MA) turned into an outstanding point guard, appearing in all 27 games and finishing sixth nationally in the NCAA and leading the Little East Conference with 182 assists (6.63/game). She also led the LEC in steals (86, 3.19/game) to go along with 6.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

The Corsairs also used a very deep bench to its advantage, as Klitzner never had a shortage of players to move in and out of the game.  Sophomore guard Sarah Lynch (Lakeville, MA) averaged 6 points and 4.3 rebounds, while sophomore forward Kerri Augenstein (East Greenwich, RI) added 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.  Junior forward Maura Armstrong (Worcester, MA) led the LEC in blocked shots with 38 (1.73/game) and chipped in five points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench.

For a team which had compiled 53 wins in the last ten seasons, an average of slightly more than five wins a year, the Corsairs’ turnaround in 2003-04 season was impressive.  Eleven wins more than doubled the season’s average and more importantly Klitzner was able to develop a lineup and bench filled with talent and experience for future seasons.