WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.-- Last season was a key developmental year for the Lady Warrior basketball program.  Head coach Christen Ditzler brought along many underclassmen during the 2006-2007 campaign, setting the stage for 2007-2008 and several seasons to come. Her recruiting efforts in the offseason garnered speed and talent for the backcourt, as well as much needed height for inside the paint. 

By bolstering her roster, Ditzler looks to improve on Lycoming’s eight wins last year. Sitting at 5-5 before the holiday break, the Lady Warriors slowed in midseason before notching successive victories against Freedom Conference foes FDU-Florham and Wilkes. In 2007-2008, Lycoming moves to the Commonwealth arm of the Middle Atlantic Conference to compete with the likes of Albright, Elizabethtown, Lebanon Valley, Messiah and Widener.

Conference play begins on January 22, but first the Lady Warriors face 12 out-of-conference opponents, including York, Susquehanna, William Smith and two Penn State branches. The blue and gold also travel to Phoenix, Arizona before New Year’s Eve to play in the Grand Canyon Classic.

5’10” guard Andrea Cooper will be the key to the Lady Warriors’ success in 2007-2008. Cooper is the sole junior on a Lycoming roster that is dominated by sophomores. She averaged a team-best 11.4 points per game in 2006-2007, while leading the Lady Warriors in minutes played (29.2 per game), and blocked shots (21). Cooper was second on the team with 134 rebounds and 26 steals. She is a major scoring threat, as well as a source of veteran leadership on the court.

"Andrea is very versatile,” says Ditzler. “She’s got great range, but she also has the ability to drop down underneath. We really look for her to continue to be a leader this season.”

Another Lady Warrior to keep an eye on will be sophomore forward Rebecca Leid. Leid was named Freedom Conference Rookie of the Year for her performance last season, in which she averaged 9.2 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game. Leid also showed quick hands, recording 25 steals on the year and a team-high 142 rebounds. She started all but four contests and appeared in all 25 games

Michelle Wisla and Allison Palubinsky are the only seniors on this year’s roster. Wisla played in nearly every contest for the Lady Warriors last season, bringing energy to the court whenever she entered the game. Palubinsky also proved her value off of the bench, totaling 58 rebounds and 2.4 points per game. When Ditzler needed support underneath the basket, Palubinsky supplied important minutes. Both Wisla and Palubinsky averaged over 10 minutes on the court per game and will bring solid experience into 2007-2008.

Sophomore Jessica Zerbee made a big splash in her first year, compiling a team-high 70 assists and 43 steals (1.73 per game). Dishing more than shooting, Zerbee nonetheless averaged 5.9 points per contest, good for fourth on the team. She should be in charge of getting Leid and Cooper the rock in 2007-2008.

Ditzler remarks that “Zerbee handled herself well last year. She learned a lot as the starting point guard for most of the season and I think she’s going to return with a better knowledge of the game and her responsibilities.”

Sophomore Jessica Nabholz should continue where she left off last season. Nabholz averaged 6.5 points per game, often facing taller competition. She appeared in all but three of Lycoming’s games, grabbing 84 tough rebounds for the season. Look for Nabholz to crash the boards early and often for the Lady Warriors this year.

“Jess is a great athlete,” says Ditzler, who also coaches Nabholz in softball. “She’s a hard-working rebounder with excellent defensive skills.”

Alicia Engler is another second-year player looking to improve on a solid rookie showing. Engler started only five times last season, but appeared in every Lady Warrior game. Her tenacity brought the team four points per game along with solid defense, a skill she continues to develop.  Engler posted 28 assists and 21 steals in 2006-2007.

Other sophomores who made strong contributions last season were guards Amanda Clouse, Allison Mock and Gina Manbeck, and forwards Renee Freeden and Amanda Hart. Senior forward Jamie Buriak should help bring along freshman forwards Meagan Pittius, Kaitlyn Ober and Rebecca Spencer, while first-year guards Angela Cecere and Marisa Jacobs hope to see their first action at Lycoming. Likewise, sophomore Samantha Ruby returns from an injury which held her out of 2006-2007.

“I know the team worked hard to improve over the summer and I’m anxious to see the results of their efforts this year,” concludes Coach Ditzler.

Lycoming returns 12 players who started at least two games in 2006-2007. This widespread preparedness should bode well early in the year as they search for their ideal chemistry. With a fresh Commonwealth alignment and a year of maturity under their belts, don’t be surprised if the Lady Warriors make a strong run at a conference title in 2007-2008.