Women's Basketball Preseason In Full Swing

Oct. 20, 2004

AUDIO: Coach Dacko is excited to begin preseason.

It will be a completely new feel this year for the University of Massachusetts women's basketball team. The Minutewomen have more players on this year's roster that did not play last year than did, but there is a lot of optimism around those associated with the team. Five freshmen as well as two players who sat out last year join six incumbents to make up what head coach Marnie Dacko considers a very deep team.

"This season, we are going to have more depth in every position," said Dacko. "The sky is the limit for these kids, but the jury is still out on us. The attitude among everyone is tremendous, both newcomers and players who have been here. No starting job is secure and there will be a dogfight from one through five right until opening day."

The Backcourt

Katie Nelson

The biggest addition to the backcourt this year will be the return of redshirt junior Katie Nelson. Nelson sat out all of last season following knee surgery towards the end of the 2002-03 season and she is back at 100 percent. Prior to injuring her knee Jan. 26, 2003 at Dayton, Nelson had started in each of her 48 career games since arriving in Amherst. She averaged 37.1 minutes as a sophomore in 2002-03 and was the only member of either team to play in all 50 minutes of the Minutewomen's, 78-70, double-overtime loss to Florida in the State Farm Classic Dec. 28, 2002. Nelson, whose father William is the head men's basketball coach at Johns Hopkins (Md.) University, has already cracked the top five in three-point field goals made and attempted. Nelson currently ranks third all-time in school history with 296 attempts, while her 91 trifectas are good for fourth. Nelson also ranks 10th with a .307 percentage from behind the arc.

"I think everyone is excited to see Katie back," said Dacko. "Last year, she was someone who kicked us to the curb on the scout team. She grew as a player everyday and benefited greatly from sitting on the bench with the coaches every game. Katie comes back with a great deal of enthusiasm for the game. She will be a great leader for us on the floor and is someone who can shoot the three, create openings for others on the floor and also runs the break better than anyone on the team."

Senior Monique Govan will be Nelson's primary back up at the point. She has battled back problems for the better part of two years now,

Monique Govan

but did a fine job filling in for Nelson last season. The Chicago, Ill., native has averaged just about 2.0 points and rebounds in her career while playing in 86 games over the past three seasons. Govan is the team's defensive leader.

"Monique brings us exceptional quickness in the backcourt," said Dacko. "She has nothing to lose and everything to gain in her senior season. She is an aggressive defender and can bring the ball up the floor as well as anyone in the league."

One of freshmen providing depth in the backcourt will be Kaylie Schiavetta. Schiavetta was a first-team All-State pick last year after averaging 23.5 points, seven assists and four rebounds per game at Northport High School in Northport, N.Y. She was the Newsday Suffolk Player of the Year and a first-team All-Long Island pick. She scored 1,387 career points and was a four-time All-County and All-Section pick.

"Kaylie is a very gutsy player," said Dacko. "She took seven charges in one game while in high school so that tells you what type of player she is. She is small, but looks are deceiving. When she runs the floor, she has great court awareness so that will free up some of her teammates. She will also help with her ability to stick the outside shot."

Joyce Massey

Also adding depth at the guard position will be sophomore Joyce Massey. Massey had a solid freshman season in which she averaged 6.0 points and just under 2.0 rebounds per game. She started seven games and played in all 28 averaging 18.6 minutes per contest.

"Joyce worked hard all summer and came back physically stronger," said Dacko. "I would like to see Joyce come in and create for other people. She's probably one of the best athletes on the team and I look for her to take a leadership role. Knowing what we did a year ago, Joyce does come in with a great deal of experience and can play a multitude of positions."

Redshirt junior Ashley Sharpton is also a valuable asset to the Minutewomen. The sharpshooter from Conyers, Ga., battled an ankle injury last year and that seriously reduced her minutes. Sharpton still managed to lead the team from three-point range (.395) and would have been among the league leaders in three-point field goal percentage had she played in enough minutes to qualify.

Ashley Sharpton

"Ashley has been our most improved player in one year's time," said Dacko. "My hat goes off to her. Here is a kid who had a chance to play a significant role last year and she spent most of the season battling injuries. Her ability to shoot from the outside makes her a great zone buster and we could have really used that last year. Ashley worked incredibly hard this summer and has a renewed sense of self-confidence."

Another freshman in the backcourt mix will be Pam Rosanio. Most likely, Rosanio will be an off-guard. She holds the Archbishop Wood (Pa.) High School record for points (1,417) for both boys and girls. The three-time All-Catholic team member and native of Southampton, Pa., averaged 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals last year.

"Pam was recruited for her ability to shoot from the outside," said Dacko. "Pam has a great ability to penetrate and create shots for herself. That is what we need more of. She is a very headsy, gutsy player. We are all impressed with her play on both ends of the play."

The Front Court

Edris Bailey

The biggest addition to the frontcourt is a player who did not even play last year. 6-4 center Patrycja Gulak had to sit out last year after transferring from St. John's but the Poland native is eligible and ready to contribute in a big way this season. Gulak played two seasons at St. John's University and was a two-time All-Big East Academic team member. She averaged 8.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in two seasons for the Red Storm and also had 65 assists, 35 blocks and 53 steals.

"Patrycja has great scoring ability both inside and outside," said Dacko. "She posts up very strong and is a great target. I see her as someone who can be a fifty percent shooter from the paint and forty percent on the perimeter. I have high expectations of her in terms of putting the ball in the basket. I think the key with Patrycja will be to concentrate on finishing inside and establishing a strong post presence. I see her as someone who can be a solid scorer for us."

Seniors Edris Bailey and Brooke Campbell will both see significant time this year up front. Bailey led the team in scoring last year pouring in 11.4 points per game and was second pulling down 6.1rebounds a contest. The Mt. Hope, Trinidad & Tobago native also had 45 steals to lead the club as well as 10 blocked shots. Bailey was the team's best shooter from the field, converting at a .486 clip.

Brooke Campbell

"Edris gives everything she has on the floor," said Dacko. "Edris will spark our transition game. She can fill the lanes as well as anyone I've coached . Edris takes great pride in her defensive abilities and her tenacity on the floor creates easy scoring opportunities. I look for Edris to really dominate the boards. As thin as she is, she's got a nose for the ball."

Brooke Campbell returns after missing the final 10 games of last year due to personal reasons. The Baltimore, Md., native still managed to average 9.4 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds in 18 games last year.

"Brooke comes back with a great deal of excitement and a something to prove attitude," said Dacko. "Brooke is somebody we've asked to do just about everything from breaking the press to scoring from the outside to defending the opponent's top scoring threat. She has just gone out and been a leader. Brooke is very comfortable with her role now and will be a fun player to watch."

Sophomore Tamara Tatham exceeded most expectations last year and had a very solid first year. The Brampton, Ontario, native averaged 30.0 minutes and started every game as a freshman. She posted 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and was also a solid defensive player with a team-high 19 blocked shots and 41 steals.

Tamara Tatham

"Tamara is someone who is continually improving," said Dacko. "Over the summer and preseason, she has developed some counter post moves as well as an outside shot so that just makes her even more effective. I am excited to see what she can bring to the table now that she has a year under her belt and I really think she can be a defensive specialist inside and see a lot of minutes."

Kate Mills is another freshman that Dacko expects to be in the mix for playing time up front. Mills averaged 13.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 assists and and two steals last year en route to honorable mention McDonald's All-American accolades. The Elkton, Md. native scored 1,483 career points and hauled in 863 rebounds while being named the Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year.

"Kate is going to be that kind of player who is going to get to loose balls and always be in the right position," said Dacko. "She is someone who will be effective running our offense and can either bang on the boards or shoot from the outside. She is willing to learn and do what it takes to get her game to the next level. She has a head for the game of basketball and we are more versatile with her because she can play so many different positions."

Alisha Tatham, the younger sister of Tamara, is one of the freshmen that could make an immediate impact. Tatham averaged 25.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 4.0 steals last year and has spent the summer with the Canadian Junior National Team. She averaged 6.4 ppg as Canada earned its first trip to the World Championship next summer by winning the bronze medal at the qualification tournament this year. Last summer, the Brampton, Ontario, native helped the Ontario Juvenile Provincial Team to the National Championship and was named Miss Basketball in Canada.

"Alisha is somebody whose defense should ignite her offense," said Dacko. "She has amazing quickness, especially in her first step. I'd like to see her be that person defensively who can really get her hands on the ball. She brings a sense of calm and leadership to the team and is somebody who will work hard at her game. She does not accept mediocrity. She needs to just work on getting her game legs, but again is someone who is so versatile due to her ability to play the two through four positions."

Rounding out this year's roster is Whitney McDonald. McDonald averaged 21.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and two blocks per game last year at Ossining (N.Y.) High School and was the Section I/Putnam Player of the Year. The Ossining, N.Y., product was a second-team All-State pick and poured in 1,236 career points.

UMass Minutewomen

"Whitney brings great size, attitude and a competitive edge to the team," said Dacko. "She is physically strong and doesn't mind banging bodies down low. We are working with her on the post both offensively and defensively and she will definitely thrive from real-game situations. She's a player we have a lot of confidence in and could see some time alongside Patrycja."

Wrap-Up

Although young and inexperienced, the potential exists for a successful season for this year's UMass women's basketball team.

"My goal has been to turn this into a top 20 program," said Dacko. "You can't be a top 20 team unless you play ranked teams and that is exactly what we are doing. Our non-conference schedule has us playing teams from four top conferences and three of those teams won at least one game in last year's NCAA Tournament. I have my own goals for this season and the team will make their own. Ultimately, everyone's goal is the same. We are ready to take this program to the next level."

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics

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