2003-2004 CUNY / Con Edison Women's Basketball Review

Hunter & Staten Island Selected To Win Women's Hoops Divisions

Bronx, NY - Hunter, the two-time defending CUNYAC champions, received first-place votes from all ten women's coaches and were selected to win the North Division while Staten Island was picked to win the South Division as the Dolphins also were awarded ten (10) first -place votes. The pre-season polls were announced at Media Day at Baruch College last week.

North Division Poll Results
1. Hunter (10), 2. Lehman, 3. John Jay, 4. CCNY., 5. Baruch

Hunter (19-10, 11-2 CUNYAC)
Hunter will be looking for their third consecutive CUNYAC Championship under head coach Jackee Meadow, now in her 11th season. Senior center Tania Blanco earned CUNYAC All-Star, CUNYAC All-Tournament, ECAC All-Star, and MBWA All-Star honors after pacing the Hawks with 11.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season. Senior forward Jen Agosto (10.2 ppg., 59 three-point goals) is one of the premier long-range shooters in the league and has 186 career trifectas. Sophomore forward Jessica Proscia was a CUNYAC All-Rookie selection after averaging 5.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in her initial season.

Lehman (8-18, 7-6 CUNYAC)
The Lightning returns 2002-2003 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year Melissa Escalera, who averaged 17.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game last season. This season, Escalera, one of the most exciting players in the league, will play the shooting guard position after playing a forward spot a year ago. Head Coach Eric Harrison is extremely excited about his freshmen class, particularly 5'9" guard/forward Monet Pledger, who will be an inside and outside threat and 6'2" center Stephanie Garcia, who has the potential to be a dominating post player.

John Jay (12-15, 4-9 CUNYAC)
The Bloodhounds will look to improve on last year's 12-15 mark as they will return eight players. Senior guard/forward December Bails led the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game and also averaged a team-high 2.4 steals. Senior forward Cherith Pointer finished tenth in the league in rebounding (7.8 pg.) and also added 7.1 points per game. 5'2" junior Latrice “Speedy” Blakely will take over the lead guard spot.

CCNY (16-11, 8-5 CUNYAC)
The Beavers return three starters, including guard Kimberly Neos, who led the team in scoring last season at 11.4 points per game. Juwariya Abdul-Karim and Shallyn Simma are terrific on the defensive end. Rahmat Balogun (7.3 ppg.) is one of the premier rebounders in the conferene (10.2 pg.) and will be joined by 6'2" center Clarice Bell. Four junior college performers are also expected to contribute heavily, led by Anclin Perez, an inside and outside threat.

Baruch (18-9, 8-5 CUNYAC)
Baruch lost their top two players and expect to be rebuilding this season as they will welcome a league-high eight freshmen. The Bearcats will be led by sophomore forward Jessenia Marrero, who made the CUNYAC All-Rookie Team after averaging 12.7 points per game last season. Marrero also finished fourth in the league in three-point field goals made (2.0 pg.) and was eighth in the league in steals (2.8 pg.). Cathy Gonzalez averaged 6.0 rebounds per game last season at the forward spot.

South Division Poll Results
1. Staten Island (10), 2. York, 3. Brooklyn, 4. Medgar Evers, 5. City Tech

South Division

Staten Island (24-7, 13-0 CUNYAC)
Staten Island lost four starters off a team that recorded a school-best 24-7 record and reached the ECAC finals last season. The Dolphins, who lost three 1,000 point scorers, will make junior forward Jacclyn Rock (10.9 ppg., 9.9 rpg.) their focal point on offense and expect the bruising interior player to have a breakout season. York College transfer Tamara Taylor, a 5'9" senior, who won the CUNY Most Valuable Player Award in 2001, is expected to make a huge impact. The Dolphins will also welcome one of the most heralded freshmen classes in the schools history.

York (9-14, 8-5 CUNYAC)
First-year head coach David Aronson hopes that his four upperclassmen will provide leadership this season. Junior guard/ forward Tashana Watson averaged 13.7 points per game in her seven outings last season. Aronson expects big things from 5'7" freshman guard Kimberly Keene.

Brooklyn (4-21, 2-11 CUNYAC)
Despite the loss of the CUNYAC's leading scorer and rebounder Kelly Weismuller, head coach Alex Lang feels that his team will greatly improved this season. Lang believes that all five of his starters will have the ability to score. The Bridges will be one of the youngest teams in the league this year as they do not have a single senior on the squad and will welcome six freshmen this year. Sopomore forward/center Faye Michalakos is an excellent rebounder and will provide some scoring in the post, while junior transfer Traci Davis is regarded as an excellent slasher.

Medgar Evers (4-23, 2-11 CUNYAC)
Medgar Evers will return a pair of quality players in sophomores Jessica English and Thelma Herbert. English, a 5'8" guard has enhanced her stamina and should improve on her 12.1 points per game average from a season ago. In addition she was fourth in the league in steals (4.1 pg.) and added 5.9 rebounds per game. Herbert enjoyed a solid initial campaign, contributing 7.4 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds each night.

City Tech (2-22, 2-11 CUNYAC)
The Yellow Jackets are hoping that their promising group of five freshmen will help turnaround a team that went just 2-21 last season. Guard Melodie Noel is City Tech's top returning scorer after the junior averaged 10.3 points and added 40 steals last season. Sophomore forward/guard Aurora Troche (9.1 points, 43 three-point goals) enjoyed a terrific freshman campaign and could have a breakout year.