WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Division II
Bowie State
Affiliation: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Coach: Russell Davis, third season at Bowie (22-32)
2001-02 record: 13-14 (6-10 in CIAA East)
Top players: Allyson Hardy, 5-5, So., G (11.9 ppg, 5-3 rpg); Rachill Robinson, 6-1, So., F (8.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg); KC Thompson, 5-9, Sr., G (8.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Outlook: Hardy and Robinson are two talented sophomores for Davis to build his team around. Bowie ended last season with an opening-round loss in the CIAA tournament, squandering a 16-point second-half lead against Johnson C. Smith, but the team's desire to get right back into the gym to begin working for this season has the coach excited.
Division III
Affiliation: Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
Coach: Jody Pepple, second season at Frostburg (8-18)
2001-02 record: 8-18 (3-9 in AMCC)
Top players: Kim Faust, 5-11, Sr., F/C (18.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg), Tracey Little, 6-0, So., F-G (15.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg); Holly Myers, 5-9, Sr., G (10.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Outlook: Faust is the AMCC's preseason Player of the Year and a preseason Division III All-American. A force inside, she complements Myers, the school's all-time three-point field-goal leader. Frostburg has seven returning players.
Goucher
Affiliation: Capital Athletic Conference
Coach: Charleata Neal, fifth season at Goucher (25-69)
2001-02 record: 7-15 (5-9 in CAC)
Top players: Kate Guggino, 5-11, Jr., F (19.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg); Stephanie Tolbert, 5-5, So., G (13.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Outlook: This could be the year Goucher breaks through with a winning season, as all five starters return to a squad that has height and a returning first-team All-CAC choice in Guggino. Senior center Maren Hill may become a force.
Hood
Affiliation: Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference
Coach: Rod Liller, fourth season at Hood (43-42)
2001-02 record: 21-7 (9-3 in AWCC)
Top players: Melissa Kolb, 5-10, Jr., G (13.7 ppg); Mandy Fischer, 5-8, Jr., G (13.0 ppg); Danielle Allen, 6-0, So., F (12.1 ppg, 10.7 rpg); Roxanne Koppenhaver, 6-1, So., C (11.3 ppg, 11.9 rpg)
Outlook: With Hood facing the prospect of leaving for a tougher conference in two years because the school has decided to admit male students, the timing has been right for the team's sudden rise. Last season's 21-7 squad earned the school's first NCAA bid in any sport. Koppenhaver was 14th in the nation in rebounding as a freshman last season.
Johns Hopkins
Affiliation: Centennial Conference
Coach: Nancy Funk, 17th season at Hopkins (272-133)
2001-02 record: 19-8 (10-4 in Centennial)
Top players: Kathy Darling, 6-2, Sr., C (15.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg); Maureen Myers, 5-7, Jr., G (9.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Ashley Shepler, 5-3, Sr., G (5.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Outlook: The gifted Darling is an intimidating presence inside. She'll benefit from the addition of two freshman inside players: 6-2 Diana Miller and 6-0 Amanda Leese.
McDaniel
Affiliation: Cenntennial Conference
Coach: Becky Martin, 22nd year at McDaniel (275-216)
2001-02 record: 22-7 (13-4 in Centennial)
Top players: Jen Piccolomini, 5-6, Sr., G (13.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg); Kelly Cramp, 5-8, So., G (12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Toby McIntire, 5-7, Jr., G (7.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Outlook: Martin might have the best team in her long tenure at the Westminster school, which made its first trip to the Division III tournament last season. Although the Terror lost in the first round to Scranton, 71-61, it should be ready for an even stronger run this season. Nine players, including four starters, return.
Affiliation: Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference
Coach: Scot Reisinger, fourth season at CND (38-41)
2001-02 record: 16-11 (11-1 in AWCC)
Top players: Amanda Poppleton, 5-6, Sr., G (14.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Gabrielle Kenny , 5-10, Sr., F (11.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg); Kathleen Burley, 5-7, So., G (11.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Outlook: The dynamic Poppleton, the AWCC's Most Outstanding Player, averaged close to six assists and five steals. Highly regarded freshman guard Monica Cherry from Catoctin High in Thurmont should be a factor.
St. Mary's
Affiliation: Capital Athletic Conference
Coach: Nan Hambrose, third season at St. Mary's (12-36)
2001-02 season: 5-18 (2-10 in CAC)
Top players: Samanda Hawkins, 5-6, Sr., G (17.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Adele Magnani, 5-10, So., F/C (10.6 ppg, 10.7 rpg); Cat Blakely, 6-0, Fr., F
Outlook: Five starters return from a mostly small team that will be counting on the freshman Blakely to have an immediate impact inside. Blakely can break presses with her ball-handling and power her way over people inside.
Salisbury
Affiliation: Capital Athletic Conference
Coach: Bridget Benshetler, 13th season at Salisbury (191-124)
2001-02 season: 24-5 (13-1 in CAC)
Top players: Amy Campion, 6-0, Sr., G (18.6 ppg, 9.2 rpg); Pam Kenney, 6-0, So., F (13.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Gen Olds, 5-8, So., G (4.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Outlook: Salisbury is positioned to improve upon its Division III Sweet 16 finish last season. Campion, a Kodak first-team All-American last season, is a rare 6-foot Division III guard; she was chosen CAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in rebounds (9.2), assists (4.2) and steals (3.5) and finishing second in scoring (18.6). Campion and the Sea Gulls have won 30 of their past 32 CAC games and captured three straight league titles. Kenney compiled six double doubles last season and was conference Rookie of the Year. Other key contributors are sophomore guard Cyndi Benjamin, sophomore forward Stephanie Szkaradnik, sophomore center Annemarie Rickes and senior guards Kristin Tucker and Lexa Turner.
Villa Julie
Affiliation: Independent
Coach: Chris Ramer, eighth season at Villa Julie (27-145)
2001-02 record: 2-23
Top players: Lorrie Budd, 6-0, Jr., F (7.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Stephanie Giles, 5-6, So., G (5.5 ppg)
Outlook: The Mustangs will be a small, guard-oriented team in a rebuilding mode. Budd will be the hope down low, and Giles and senior forward Sinead Kayser will have to take up a lot of the scoring slack left by the loss of starters Maura Fannin and Alyssa Phoebus, who combined to average 21.6 points and 15.4 rebounds last year. Newcomers Dana Kline, Alicia Barnard, Rachel Bauer and Sara Stortenbecker will be keys.
Affiliation: Centennial Conference
Coach: Lanee' Cole-Smith, 10th season at Washington (117-101)
2001-02 record: 11-14 (5-10 in Centennial)
Top players: Liz Smith, 6-1, So., F (12.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg); Katie Piringer, 5-7, Jr., G (12.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Outlook: Smith (22 blocks) and Piringer (61 three-point field goals) are a strong inside-outside combination for the Shorewomen, who must get immediate help from freshman forward Beth Foster if they want to move up in the standings. Another newcomer, sophomore forward Julie Burke, is also expected to make a big impact.