2003-2004 LYCOMING COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College women’s basketball team enters the 2003-2004 season with two primary goals – improve on last season and return to the conference playoffs. The Warriors know the road will not be an easy one with three Freedom Conference opponents ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation, but head coach Christen Ditzler believes her team is experienced, balanced, and hungry.

“This is a competitive group,” said Ditzler. “None of these players have been to the playoffs before and they are all eager to create that opportunity. We’re a young team overall, but we have a tremendous amount of experience for a team with only two seniors. There are questions that need to be answered, especially on offense, but I’m confident that players will emerge to answer those questions.”

Expected to provide the leadership for the team are senior co-captains Emily DiMarco (Voorhees, N.J.; Eastern) and Katy Kresge (Lehighton, Pa.; Marian Catholic). DiMarco was Lycoming’s second-leading scorer last season, averaging 11.7 points per game. She was the team’s primary outside scoring threat, leading the team with 27 three-pointers. DiMarco will again be counted on to provide significant offensive production this season. Kresge was a role player for the Warriors in 2002-2003 coming off the bench to provide a physical inside presence. This season she will be a valuable piece to Lycoming’s inside game at both ends of the floor.

The backcourt also returns juniors Mindy Culp (New Columbia, Pa.; Milton) and Michelle Stine (Mill Hall, Pa.; Central Mountain), along with sophomore Sabrina Catrambone (Birchrunville, Pa.; Springfield). Culp averaged 9.8 points per game as was the Warriors’ leading scorer in six games last season. She will again be counted on to be one of the team’s top scorers from the outside. Stine took over the starting point guard position last season and led the team with 111 assists while adding 4.2 points per game. A preseason injury will cause Stine to miss the early part of the 2003-2004 season, but her experience will be a valuable asset on the bench until her return. Catrambone had a solid rookie campaign averaging 5.5 points in 18 minutes per game. She appears poised for a breakout season as a sophomore playing at both guard and forward for Lycoming.

Junior Erin George (Annville, Pa.; Annville-Cleona) and sophomores Rebecca Pugh (Pine Grove, Pa.; Pine Grove) and Stacey Lindeman (Whitehall, Pa.; Whitehall) also return from last year’s team to challenge for playing time on the outside. George played in 14 games for the Warriors last season and scored 12 points. Pugh was the team’s three-point specialist connecting on 10 triples in just more than the equivalent of three games. Lindeman played in just three games last season due to an injury. She is a very athletic player with great size and the ability to score. Lindeman could become a key player in the Warriors’ lineup early in the season.

Returning to join Kresge in the frontcourt are junior Amy Herschman (Northampton, Pa.; Northampton) and sophomore Danielle Kern (Lehman, Pa.; Lake-Lehman). Herschman contributed 3.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game a year ago. She will be counted on to increase her offensive production from the paint while remaining strong at the defensive end. Kern is a blue-collar worker who will do anything to help the team win. She is a strong rebounder and a solid passer, giving her the ability to play inside or outside.

“I feel good about our upperclassmen,” said Ditzler. “Even though we only have two seniors, we have eight players who averaged 20 minutes a game last season. There is plenty of experience and leadership to draw from; it’s just a matter of turning it into execution during a game.”

Bringing new talents and energy to the team will be a group of four freshmen and a sophomore transfer. Amy Kile (Muncy, Pa.; Muncy) joins the team after playing in ten games for Albright College last season. Kile is an outside scoring threat with the ability to shoot the three-point field goal. Crystal Gravinese (Millica Hill, N.J.; Clearview Regional) also joins the team as a guard. She brings tremendous speed and quickness to the lineup that will help in both transition and on defense. Nicole Adams (Newport, Pa.; Newport) is a talented swing player who can be physical in the paint and on the boards while also contributing as an outside scoring threat. Lindsey Smith (Saylorsville, Pa.; Pleasant Valley) will join the frontcourt and immediately become one of Lycoming’s top scorers from the paint. Sara Brace (Nanticoke, Pa.; Greater Nanticoke Area) rounds out the freshman class by bringing some much needed size to the Warriors’ frontcourt. Brace can provide defensive help from the middle and has a soft shooting touch on offense.

“I think our new players make us a much quicker and athletic team than we were last year,” said Ditzler. “That added quickness should make our defense stronger and help us create offense off of turnovers. Overall, I’m excited about this year’s team. Our upperclassmen worked extremely hard in the off-season to improve their skills and their strength. They know how tough our conference is, but they also know that we played with the top teams last season and can compete with them. We just need to stay healthy, have players recognize their roles on the team and contribute within those roles.”

The Warriors open up the 2003-2004 season on Saturday, November 22, when they challenge Rutgers-Camden in the first round of a tip-off tournament at Susquehanna University. The game is set for 6 p.m.