The loss of four players who started at least 10 games last season has left the Lakers trying to mix in a new group of players with the already experienced group.

“This year is an interesting one for us,” said fifth-year head coach Tracy Bruno. “It's a year with a lot of new. With eight returners and seven new people, we are really looking at four new starters.”

The Lakers went 11-15 overall last season and reached the SUNYAC tournament for the 10th straight season.  Finishing in the top eight in the league and extending that streak is something the Lakers expect to do again.

“Our first goal is to make our 11th straight conference tournament,” said Bruno. “When you can compete in SUNYAC at any level, it shows something. That streak is pretty important to us.”

Long before they can achieve that goal, the Lakers have some work to do.

“Our goal before we look at wins and losses is just blending,” said Bruno. “We are learning a lot about one another right now. We are getting comfortable playing with one another and trying to find out what our best offensive and our best defensive line-ups will be.”

One thing is for sure, though, the team will be built around senior forward Kayla Ryan (Schaghticoke, N.Y.), a three-time Second Team All-SUNYAC player. She has led the team in scoring all three years, including 13.4 points per game last season. She also paced the Lakers with 23 blocks, was second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game and added 26 assists and 41 steals. Ryan enters the season ninth all-time in scoring at Oswego State with 1,010 points.

“Our biggest question mark is where is the rest of our scoring is going to come from outside of Kayla,” said Bruno. “When you lose four starters, other people need to emerge in a competition setting.”

Junior forward Meagan Stover (Lake George, N.Y.) is the other forward expected to start early on this season. Stover started 10 games last season and led the team with 46 steals. She also added 7.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

“Our forwards are difficult to guard because they can face-up and take people off the dribble, but they can also shoot,” said Bruno. “Because of their athleticism, it gives us a chance to get out and run.”

The other starting spots are still up for grabs, something that has created a fun practice environment for the coaching staff.

“This group is incredibly competitive. We try to do as many drills that put us in the competing spots,” said Bruno. “Sometimes that's not always easy with women's teams and I think that is a direct reflection of those open spots.”

Those battles have helped the team make big strides during early season practices.


That outside play will come, in part, from five players who have college experience.

Senior guard Jenna Rossi (Phoenix, N.Y.) started 14 games last season and was third on the team with 7.9 points per game. Rossi was second on the team with 39 assists and 45 steals to go along with 3.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore Lauren Nunziato (West Sand Lake, N.Y.) started one game last year and played in all 26 for the Lakers. She scored 5.0 points per game last season and added 12 assists and 8 steals. Junior Kari Kipper (Loudonville, N.Y.) scored 2.5 points per game in 20 games last season, adding 9 assists and 5 steals.

“Lauren is more of a shooter and Kari is more of a slasher,” said Bruno. “I like that we have that competition and this year that line-up may change based on match-ups and who is playing well.”

Junior Kassie Kleine (Cazenovia, N.Y.) played in 17 games last season and scored 3.4 points per game to go along with 1.9 rebounds per contest and 16 assists and 6 steals. “Kassie didn't play a lot of minutes as a freshman or sophomore, but as she's come out of soccer season has emerged as one of our better shooters,” said Bruno.

Junior Alyssa Georgiade (Clay, N.Y.) scored 6.9 points per game in 26 games at Tompkins Cortland Community College two seasons ago.  “Alyssa is very athletic and a good rebounder as a guard,” said Bruno. “It's all about who is on the floor at the end of the game and we certainly have a lot of players who are competing for those kinds of minutes.”


Also looking to make an impact will be the seven newcomers on the squad. Freshmen guards Cate Ruland (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), Brittany Pritchard (Walworth, N.Y.), Emily Birchall (Endwell, N.Y.) and Lexi Gillard (Oswego, N.Y.) along with sophomore forward Emma Baker (Walworth, N.Y.) and freshman forward Devon Kaminsky (Walton, N.Y.) all hope to make an impact this season.

“As the freshman start to get more comfortable at the college level, I think our depth will be a strength for us,” said Bruno. “I feel like we are more athletic than we have been in the past, which makes me excited.”

The other change this season for the Lakers will come during the non-conference portion of the schedule, starting with a trip to Rochester on Nov. 15.

“We open with Rochester and are throwing ourselves in the lion's den with them being nationally ranked,” said Bruno. “We play a tough non-conference schedule by design. Last year we played a little easier schedule and started 5-0, but got slapped in the face a little bit when we moved to our conference schedule.”


“Cortland returns almost everyone, including the player of the year.  Geneseo won the conference last year. They lost a lot of people, but they have a good recruiting class. Buffalo State is a very athletic team and presents some difficult match-ups,” said Bruno.  “To me the greatest thing about this conference is that on any given night you have to come to play or you will get beat.”

At the end of the season, the Lakers will find out if their questions have been answered when the SUNYAC tournament starts on February 21.

Video Credit: Sports Information intern Brady Farkas caught up with Laker co-captains Kayla Ryan and Taryn Smith to talk about the upcoming season.

2011-12 Roster
2011-12 Schedule
2010-11 Statistics