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Women’s Basketball Team Picked Fifth in Pre-Season Poll
The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia women’s basketball team has been picked fifth in the 2009-10 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Pre-Season basketball poll released Friday afternoon. The conference’s 14 head coaches conducted the voting.
USP received 45 votes in the poll behind Georgian Court University’s 51. Holy Family University was picked to win the Southern Division getting five first-place votes and 87 points. The Tigers went 26-6 overall and 18-0 in league play last season. Wilmington University also picked up five first-place votes and finished second in the poll with 84 points. Philadelphia University picked up the remaining four first-place votes and finishing thirds in the polling with 78 points.
Bloomfield College collected seven first place votes and 86 points to top the Northern Division poll, while Dominican College was close behind with 82 points and six first-place tallies. Caldwell College was third with 73 points and one first-place nod.
The Devils return four starters and nine letter winners from last year’s squad. In 2008-09 USP recorded a 15-13 record last season under former coach Nate Ware, qualifying for post-season play for the eighth consecutive season with a fourth-place finish in the southern division. The Devils lost to eventual CACC Champion, Philadelphia University in the quarterfinals of the CACC championship.
Leading the way for USP will be the All-CACC forward, senior Erin Chesnavich (Bishop O’Reilly HS/Pittston, Pa.). Chesnavich, a two-time first team All-CACC selection, led the Devils in scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game and was the top field goal shooter in the CACC for the second consecutive year, hitting 56.3% of her shots. Erin also had the fourth best rebound average in the league, averaging 9.3 per game. Her 16.2 points per game was the sixth highest average in the CACC in 2008-09.
A trio of juniors in the backcourt return and should see significant playing time as they vie for a starting position. Alyssa Hamm (Academy Park HS/Sharon Hill, Pa.) and Melissa Rotz (Central Dauphin HS/Harrisburg, Pa.) each averaged nearly 30 minutes per game last season. Hamm started 24 games last season and was the Devils third leading scorer, averaging 7.3 points per game. Hamm was also third on the team in assists last season. Rotz started 19 games last year and was second on the team with 63 assists while averaging 3.9 points/game. Caitlin Shaw (Monmouth Regional HS/Eatontown, N.J.) started 15 games, averaging 21 minutes a game in an injury-marred season. Shaw averaged 5.7 points/game.
Junior Marissa Chesnavich (Bishop O’Reilly HS/Pittston, Pa.) also averaged over 20 minutes a game coming off the bench and was the Devils fourth leading scorer averaging 5.9 points/game. Senior Kaitlin DuRoss (Ocean City HS/Sea Isle City, N.J.) started 12 games while averaging 32.7 points/game. Junior Colleen Christian (Central Bucks South HS/Warrington, Pa.) also saw significant time, averaging 18 minutes a game. Christian, like Shaw also missed several games due to injury. Also returning for the Devils is sophomore Sarah Hickman (Wilmington Christian School/Newark, Del.) (3.6 ppg., 1.1 apg) and senior Amanda Hessinger (Roland Park HS/Baltimore, Md.).
The Devils also add a quintet of five talented freshmen who should contribute to their success in 2009-2010. A trio of 6-foot forwards will bring added depth to the front court for the Devils. Rebecca Ruggear (Oxford HS) was a first team All Ches-Mont league selection this past season and averaged a double-double for the year. Carolyn Edwards (St. Basil’s Academy) was a First Team All-Catholic Academies honoree. Sara Montgomery (Knoch HS) also will join the team at the conclusion of the volleyball season. In the backcourt, the Devils have added Kathleen Connelly (Brick Township HS) and first team All-Ches-Mont selection, Katie Armstrong (West Chester Henderson).
USP opens its season at West Chester University on November 17, 2009.
The 2009 CACC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll is below:
2009 CACC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
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North Division |
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|
School | 2008-09 Records |
Points |
|
1. |
Bloomfield (7) |
14-15/10-7 CACC |
86 |
|
2. |
Dominican (6) |
17-12/13-4 |
82 |
|
3. |
Caldwell (1) |
10-18/8-9 |
73 |
|
4. |
Nyack |
17-14/7-10 |
65 |
|
5. |
Felician |
5-22/3-14 |
40 |
|
6. |
Post |
4-23/1-16 |
24 |
|
7. |
Concordia |
4-23/2-16* |
22 |
|
()-First Place Votes |
||||
*-Record as member of ECC |
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South Division |
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|
School | 2008-09 Records |
Points |
|
1. |
Holy Family (5) |
26-6/18-0 CACC |
87 |
|
2. |
Wilmington (5) |
18-12/11-7 |
84 |
|
3. |
Philadelphia (4) |
21-10/13-5 |
78 |
|
4. |
Georgian Court |
13-14/9-9 |
51 |
|
5. |
USP |
15-13/12-6 |
45 |
|
6. |
Goldey-Beacom |
9-18/5-13 |
29 |
|
7. |
Chestnut Hill |
6-21/4-14 |
18 |
|
()-First Place Votes |
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University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Department of Athletics
600 S. 43rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-895-3133