Division II
Bowie State
Affiliation: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Coach: Ed Davis (118-53, sixth season).
1997-98 record: 28-2.
Top players: Rashida Brooks, 6-5, Sr., C (13.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg); Beverly Winstead, 5-8, Jr., F (11.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Naronda Leggett, 5-7, Jr., G (2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg); Deidra Fields, 6-2, Jr., F (25.2 ppg, 16.5 rpg).
Outlook: The two-time defending CIAA champion Bulldogs should have little drop-off in scoring with the return of Brooks and Winstead. The biggest impression, however, could come from Fields, a junior college transfer and All-American out of Macomb Community College in Michigan. The backcourt has three new faces, and its quick development could lead to Bowie's fourth consecutive trip to the NCAAs.
Division III
College of Notre Dame
Affiliation: Atlantic Women's Collegiate Conference.
Coach: Tim Engle (100-106, 10th).
1997-98 record: 10-13.
Top players: Shannon Skopp, 5-5, Sr., G (10.5 ppg, 2.0 apg); Nicole Kilgannon, 5-11, Sr., F (10.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg); Daniela Rados, 5-10, Soph., F (8.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg).
Outlook: The strength is the frontcourt, where Kilgannon and Rados return, but the Gators will need stronger play from their guards if they hope to claim a fourth straight conference title. Skopp is the only proven player in the backcourt, which consists of freshmen Karen Burley, Sherry Dawkins and Lesley Ann Dobson, all of whom are expected to see key minutes.
Affiliation: Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.
Coach: Jim Crawley (457-268, 34th).
1997-98 record: 18-7.
Top players: Shannon Rexrode, 5-6, Jr., C (15.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg); Anne Rivers, 5-6, Sr., F (5.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg).
Outlook: The thrust of the scoring will come from Rexrode, but other than Rivers, the rest of the starting lineup includes players who started no more than three games a season ago.
Goucher
Affiliation: Capital Athletic Conference.
Coach: Charleata Beale (first season).
1997-98 record: 1-24.
Top players: Kim Rogers, 5-9, Soph., G (12.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Zeena Huang, 5-5, Sr., G (8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg); Sarah Zona, 5-8,
Soph., G (5.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg); Dana Bollinger, 5-3, Jr., G.
Outlook: The Gophers have won only three games over the past two seasons, but with four returning starters, they expect a higher level of play under first-year coach Beale. A fresh start means Goucher must improve upon its 28 percent shooting of a season ago, when the Gophers were outscored on average by 28 points. Rogers returns as the team's leading scorer but needs more support from Huang and Bollinger, back after missing last season because of a knee injury.
Johns Hopkins
Affiliation: Centennial Conference.
Coach: Nancy Black (318-194, 12th).
1997-98 record: 20-4.
Top players: Leslie Ritter, 5-5, Jr., G (10.2 ppg, 3.6 apg); Marjahna Segers, 5-10, Jr., C (8.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg); Joy Vaccaro, 5-8, Sr., G (3.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg); Jennifer Deaderick, 5-9, Sr., G-F (1.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg); Kelly Hamilton, 5-10, Jr., G-F (2.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg).
Outlook: If anything, the Blue Jays will be a more versatile group. The loss of All-American Julie Anderson leaves Hopkins without a dominant post player, so Black is leaning toward a three-guard ++ offense. The backcourt has depth and experience, led by Ritter, who could challenge the single-season school record for assists, Vaccaro, Deaderick and Katie Fitzgerald. With a more up-tempo style, the Blue Jays look for a third consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.
St. Mary's
Affiliation: Capital Athletic Conference.
Coach: Shann Hart (34-20, third).
1997-98 record: 20-8.
Top players: Erica Pearson, 6-2, Sr., C (17.2 ppg, 12.1 rpg); Kim Brown, 5-8, Sr., G (7.6 ppg, 2.9 apg); Yvonne Heffernan, 5-9, Jr., G-F (6.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Amaris Johnson, 5-6, Sr., G (5.6 ppg, 2.9 apg); Megan Van Wambeke, 5-9, Sr., F (5.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg).
Outlook: The Seahawks are in good position to defend their conference title, with four of last season's top six scorers returning. All-CAC first-teamer Pearson is one of the conference's dominant post players, and she led the team with 57 steals and 34 blocks a season ago. There isn't much of a drop-off beyond Pearson. Brown and Johnson combined for 160 assists last season, Heffernan had 56 steals and Van Wambeke gives the Seahawks another strong rebounder. The defense figures to be no worse than the team that last season finished 12th in the nation in field-goal percentage (.332) and eighth in rebounding margin (plus 11.7).
Salisbury State
Affiliation: Capital Athletic Conference.
Coach: Bridget Benshetler (109-95, ninth).
1997-98 record: 14-12.
Top players: Amy Cooke, 5-5, Sr., PG (14.6 ppg, 7.9 apg); Jessica LaTour, 5-7, Jr., G (15.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Lisa Neylan, 6-0, Soph., F (11.1 ppg, 11.3 rpg); Elisabeth Barfuss, 5-11, Soph., F (9.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg).
Outlook: The Sea Gulls feature one of the conference's best backcourt duos in LaTour and Cooke, who finished third in the nation in assists a season ago. And they are complemented by strong post players Barfuss and Neylan, who led Salisbury in rebounds in 20 of 26 games last season. Depth in the backcourt should keep the Sea Gulls in the running for the conference title.
Villa Julie
Affiliation: Capital Athletic Conference.
Coach: Chris Ramer (10-64, fourth).
1997-98 record: 4-21.
Top players: Heidi Moldenhauer, 5-8, Soph., G-F (12.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Nancy Lentz, 5-11, Jr., F (8.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg); Cori Bradford, 5-5, Soph., G (6.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg).
Outlook: The Mustangs likely will find the going tough, with Ramer having to rely mostly on returning sophomores and incoming freshmen. Moldenhauer and Bradford stabilize the backcourt, but Lentz needs help in the middle. Former area players Amanda Foster (Seton Keough), Alyssa Phoebus (Perry Hall) and Adrienne DiPietro (Mercy) figure to get key minutes.
Affiliation: Centennial Conference.
Coach: Lanee Cole-Smith (69-52, sixth).
1997-98 record: 16-8.
Top players: Maggy Kilroy, 5-7, Jr., G (10.5 ppg, 3.2 apg); Diane Zeng, 5-8, Sr., G (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg); Kerry Lomax, 5-5, Soph., G (10.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg); Kate Bierzenski, 6-1, Soph., F (7.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg).
Outlook: The Shoremen will again lean on their perimeter players, particularly Kilroy and Lomax, in an attempt to get back to the postseason. Their leadership will be important, as Cole-Smith will use three freshmen to bolster the interior, which is larger than last season.
Western Maryland
Affiliation: Centennial Conference.
Coach: Becky Martin (207-181, 18th).
1997-98 record: 16-10.
Top players: Kathi Snyder, 5-10, Sr., F (12.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg); Kristen Miller, 5-6, Sr., G (2.5 ppg, 1.4 apg); Jill Ibex, 6-0, Soph., F (7.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Michele Jarman, 5-11, Sr., C (4.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
Outlook: The Green Terror had a tendency to rely on one player last season, but the graduation of Katie Haley might work to its advantage. Martin has a good mixture of experience at the key positions, beginning with Snyder, a heady post player who has ** the improved Ibex beside her. Returnees Patty Russo and Miller get starting roles, yet must improve on their combined 28.5
percent (57-for-200) shooting of a season ago.
Pub Date: 11/13/98