The 2010-11 Oswego State women's basketball team looks to blend a wealth of experience with several new additions in order to form a cohesive unit that looks to contend for one of the top four spots in the SUNYAC conference. A year ago the Lakers placed fifth in the conference standings at 10-8 and finished 13-13 overall. This year head coach Tracy Bruno has made it a goal to finish in the top four in order to host a playoff game. The team made extensive strides on the defensive end of the court in the 2009-10 campaign, but will need to increase its production in the shooting department and on the boards if it wants to be a team to be reckoned with over the grueling 18-game conference schedule.
Bruno has done a good job of recruiting as she has added a number of talented junior college transfers and freshmen to give the Lakers a spark off the bench. Oswego State has increased its versatility so much so that the team can cycle up to 10 players in and out of its rotation. The squad is balanced between post play, shooting, and the ability to put the ball on the floor, beating their opponents to the bucket.
Oswego State returns four of its five starters from last year, including co-captains Traci Bacon and Kayla Ryan. Bacon will dictate the pace of the game as she serves as the Laker floor general, but is also a proven scorer and rebounder from the guard position. Last year, Bacon led the team in helpers with 2.7 per game, was the team's fourth-leading scorer at 7.3 points per game and 13th in the conference in rebounding with 5.8 per game. Ryan, who led the Lakers at 12.5 points per game, including 10th in conference scoring at 11.1 points per game will prove to be a primary scoring option.
Colleen McCready and Kristen Diglio round out the returning Laker starters, along with Meagan Stover who provided a spark off the bench last year. At 5-11, McCready provides a strong presence in the paint on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. She was 12th in the SUNYAC in scoring last year and third in field goal percentage at 45.6 percent, while blocking the second most shots in conference at 1.5 per game. Diglio proved to be the Lakers' main threat from distance, as she cashed in a league-high 42 three-pointers. She helped to stretch the defense when opponents would double down on the post, and looks to do much of the same this season. Stover averaged nearly four points and three rebounds per contest off the bench for Oswego State and looks to garner a stronger role in her sophomore year.
Also returning for the Lakers are guard Kassie Kleine, combo guard-forwards Wanda Sanchez and Taryn Smith and forward Sue Schoff. Kleine is a very smart player who brings great competitiveness and a good understanding of the offense. Sanchez has come a long way from being cut trying out as a freshman to being the likely fifth starter this year as a graduate student for the Lakers. She is fierce getting to the basket and has really improved her free throw percentage. Smith is a much improved player from last year, especially when it comes to confidence. She is an undersized post player but makes up for it with quickness and athleticism and is strong defensively. Schoff brings incredible focus, determination and hard work. She is a physical presence inside and does a nice job sealing her defender for good looks at the basket.
A large portion of the improved depth comes from four newcomers to the Laker squad; transfer Jenna Rossi, sophomore Karolyn Kipper, along with freshmen Paula Egelston and Lauren Nunziato.
Rossi and Kipper come to the women's squad in different ways, but look to combine to add an extra lift off the bench. Rossi brings valuable winning experience as a transfer from Onondaga Community College, who lost in the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship game last year. She is a great nagging on-the-ball defender while she is quick and can get to the basket on the offensive end. Kipper, who didn't try out for the team last year, was the only walk-on to make the team this year and has been a pleasant surprise thus far for Coach Bruno. She has a quick first step and is a great finisher around the basket with both the right and left hand.
Egelston and Nunziatio both look to make an immediate impact for the Lakers as they make the transition from high school to collegiate basketball. Egelston was primarily a forward in high school but is adapting well to her more guard-oriented role for Oswego State. She is a great rebounder and incredible worker who has adjusted much better to attacking the basket. Nunziato helped lead her Averill Park High School team to the Class A New York State Championship in her senior year. The freshman is fundamentally sound offensively and runs the floor well, while on the defensive side of the ball she is very good at playing the passing lanes and help side defense.
The Oswego State women's basketball team has the ingredients for success in the 2010-11 season. With a strong returning core and a number of key new pieces the team looks to have an array of scoring options and versatility at its disposal. If the team can improve on its shooting percentage from a year ago and continue to buckle down on the defensive end look to see the Lakers fulfill their season expectations.
2010-11 Schedule
2010-11 Roster
2009-10 Statistics
