2005 Big East Women's Preview
November 08, 2004 05:45 PM | General
November 9, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Connecticut was once again predicted to win the Big East women’s basketball championship, but this year the Huskies are going to have to put forth a greater effort to claim their 12th Big East regular season title.
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| Notre Dame forward
Jacqueline Batteast Big East photo |
Despite winning its third national title in three years last season, Connecticut was upset in the Big East tournament semifinals by Boston College. Two years ago Villanova knocked off the Huskies in the tournament championship game.
"I think what happened the last two years is absolutely tremendous," said Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma. "I go around the country telling people it's a lot harder to win the Big East than it is to win the national championship, and they know exactly what I'm talking about."
UConn has three players listed on the two Big East preseason teams, but must fill a big void with graduated senior Diana Taurasi, a two-time national player of the year. Five-seven guard Maria Conlon was also a big contributor starting all 35 games last season.
Six-foot forward Barbara Turner and 6-foot-2 junior guard Ann Strother averaged double figures last year and return, as does 6-foot-3 senior center Jessica Moore. Auriemma will also find a way to work in one of the country’s top recruits in 6-1 guard Charde Houston of San Diego, Calif.
Notre Dame welcomes back senior forward Jacqueline Batteast, the league’s preseason player of the year. Batteast averaged 16 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 2004 and teams with 5-7 guard Megan Duffy, a second-team all-Big East preseason pick. A third returning starter is forward Courtney LaVere, a freshman All-America selection in 2003.
"I think it's important for the whole team to really feel like they have a huge part in the scoring role," said coach Muffet McGraw after her team's first preseaosn victory. "Teams are going to try to take Jackie away. She's going to have games where she is double-teamed and will not even be able to get the ball."
Boston College appears strong once again returning all but three letterwinners. The Eagles advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament last year and have two gems in 5-9 senior guard Jessalyn Deveny and 6-4 sophomore center Kathrin Ress. Six-four Lisa Macchia and 5-11 forward Claire Droesch have starting experience as well.
Rutgers recovered from a sub-par 2003 season to win 21 games and make another trip to the NCAA tournament. The Scarlet Knights have one of the nation’s top returning playmakers in senior Cappie Pondexter, who averaged 17.9 points to go with 141 assists. Pondexter was a third-team AP All-American in 2004 but has taken a leave of absence from the school in September and probably won't be available until the second semester, according to Coach Vivian Stringer.
"We expect that Cappie will be able to play in the second semester," Stringer said. "The chance that she won't return is as much of a chance that I won't return."
Chelsea Newton, Michelle Campbell and Nikki Jett have plenty of experience and join a nationally ranked recruiting class to give Stringer what should be a strong nucleus to work with.
Villanova is always near the top of the Big East standings and 2005 appears to be no different. The Wildcats won 23 games last year and made their fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance. Israel native Liad Suez developed into one of the conference’s top inside players, averaging 13.3 points per game. Senior guard Jennifer Hilgenberg and senior center Jana Rediger are returning starters.
West Virginia was the surprise of the Big East last year and is picked to finish sixth this season. Coach Mike Carey was named Big East coach of the year after leading the Mountaineers to a 21-11 record and the school’s first NCAA tournament trip in 12 years in 2004.
The Mountaineers must find a replacement for sharp-shooter Kate Bulger, but does have three starters returning including preseason all-conference first-team selection Yolanda Paige and 2004 rookie of the year Meg Bulger. If Carey can work in a top-rated recruiting class that includes JC All-American Joei Clyburn, then West Virginia might challenge for an even higher finish.
Seton Hall has 10 letterwinners back from a team that won 15 games a year ago. Senior guard Ashley Bush is the Pirates’ top returning scorer averaging 10.3 points per game. Six-foot forward Monique Blake started 25 of 30 games last year and averaged 6.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
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| St. John's forward
Angela Clark Big East photo |
St. John’s is making a move under third-year coach Kim Barnes-Arico. The Red Storm made the Big East tournament last year after producing a 10-18 record. Barnes-Arico has one of the conference’s most underrated players in 6-1 forward Angie Clark, a one-time Connecticut recruiting target who wound up staying in New York. Clark averaged 12.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last year as a freshman and came in a close second to West Virginia’s Meg Bulger for the league rookie of the year honors.
Guard Secret Stubblefield also averaged double figures last year and returns for 2005.
Syracuse is in year two of Keith Cieplicki’s rebuilding job. Last year Cieplicki managed a 6-21 record but has four players with substantial starting experience returning. Headlining the list is 5-10 sophomore guard Lauren Kohn, who averaged 8.1 points per game.
Georgetown has a new coach in Terri Williams-Flournoy and she has three starters returning from last year’s 13-15 team. Mary Lisicki averaged 12.6 points per game and must take up some of the scoring slack left with the graduation of all-Big East forward Rebekhah Brunson. The Hoyas must also contend with the loss of promising forward Carmen Bruce, who transferred to Duquesne.
Pitt is looking for a revival under second-year coach Agnus Berenato, who guided the Panthers to a 6-20 record in her first season in 2004. Berenato had some success at Georgia Tech, winning 20 games in 2003 before moving to Pittsburgh.
Berenato has seven players with starting experience to work with led by 5-8 junior guard Jessica Allen, who averaged 7.9 points per game as a sophomore. Berenato is hopeful that a five-player recruiting class will also boost Pitt’s overall talent.
Providence was once again picked to finish last in the Big East. The Lady Friars had a tough time in 2004 winning just four of 27 games. Coach Susan Yow is just 13-42 in two seasons at Providence after coaching stops at East Tennessee State, Drake, Kansas State and UNC Wilmington. Senior forward Gwen Nwafili is Providence’s top returning player averaging 12.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in 2004.
Four Big East teams were ranked in the ESPN/USA Today preseason top 25. Connecticut was fourth, followed by No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 17 Rutgers and No. 18 Boston College.
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Preseason All-Big East First Team |
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Jacqueline Batteast,
Notre Dame, F, Sr., 6-2, South Bend, Ind. |
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Jessalyn Deveny,
Boston College, G, Sr., 5-9, Westford, Mass. |
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Yolanda Paige, West Virginia, G, Sr., 5-6,
Virginia Beach, Va. One of the nation's top playmakers handing out a Big East-best 253 assists last year as a junior. Also contributed 12.1 points per game while hauling down 146 rebounds. |
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Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers, G, Sr.,
5-9, Chicago, Ill. Earned third team All-America honors in 2004 after averaging 17.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Shot 38.1 percent from three-point distance and handed out a team-best 141 assists. |
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Ann Strother, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-2,
Castle Rock, Colo. Averaged 11 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while starting 34 of 35 contests for the national champion UConn Huskies last year. She shot 37.9 percent from three-point distance, making 61 of 161 three-point attempts. |
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Liad Suez, Villanova, F, Jr., 6-2,
Even-Yehuda, Israel One of the top returning inside scorers in the Big East, averaging 13.3 points per game last year as a sophomore for the Wildcats. Shot 37.9 percent from three-point distance and also handed out 62 assists. |
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Barbara Turner, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-0,
Cleveland, Ohio Connecticut's top returning scorer averaging 13.7 points per game last year. The 6-foot guard shot 53.6 percent from the floor as a sophomore and pulled down 4.8 rebounds per game. |
Preseason Player of the Year
Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame
Preseason Rookie of the Year
Charde Houston, Connecticut
Preseason All-Big East Second Team
Meg Bulger, West Virginia, F, So., 6-0, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Angela Clark, St. John’s, F, So., 6-1, Copaigue, N.Y.
Megan Duffy, Notre Dame, G, Jr., 5-7, Dayton, Ohio
Jessica Moore, Connecticut, C, Sr., 6-3, Palmer, Alaska
Kathrin Ress, Boston College, F, So., 6-4, Salorno, Italy
