Nov. 14, 2001

What a difference a year makes. In preparation for its second season as a Division I independent, the Stony Brook women's basketball team didn't have a single senior on its roster and had six players making their debut in college basketball. Five seniors outline this year's edition, all five starters are back and seven letterwinners from a year ago make their way back to the roster.

Even from a conference standpoint, things look brighter in 2001-02. The Seawolves were unsure whether they would continue the tough road of being an independent for the third straight year. Now, they prepare for their first season as an America East member and will be one of the teams vying for the conference's NCAA tournament berth. It will be a tough road from beginning to end.

SCHEDULE LEGENDS As exciting as all that may be, Stony Brook must climb a mountain of a schedule - especially early on. The team rolls into San Franciso, CA for a pair of games at the St. Mary's Tournament in late November. All three teams in the field were NCAA Tournament participants a year ago - including Western Athletic Conference champion and first round opponent, St. Mary's. Illinois and James Madison will face each other in the second pairing.

Loyola-Marymount (CA), George Mason and Penn will headline the 2001-02 Holiday Inn Express Tournament in Stony Brook a week later. While George Mason and Penn enjoyed the fruits of being in the NCAA's last season, LMU was a 20-game winner and was one of the top three teams in the Western Athletic Conference. Seven days removed, Stony Brook battles host Georgia State in Atlanta as part of the Georgia State Tournament. Georgia State won their respective conference last season, making their way to the big dance as well.

Maine, Northeastern, Boston University and Binghamton all come to the Sports Complex in early January as America East play gets underway. The new year will be kind in the beginning to the Seawolves as they will play six of their seven America East games at the SBU Sports Complex - a place they went 13-1 a year ago. It's the polar opposite in February, where the Seawolves will live in Upstate New York and New England. Seven of their nine games will be on the road during the month - all against America East competition. The road can be brutally unkind in college basketball, which it was to the Seawolves last season when the team went 2-9. The regular season schedule closes with a home game against preseason favorite Vermont on March 2 before the America East playoffs the following weekend. There will be little to no pressure to live up to conference expectations as one of the three newbies in the America East. Although picked to finish the best of the three rookie teams, the Seawolves have been picked to finish seventh overall and 15 points behind the sixth place Northeastern Huskies.

DEFENSE 101 Roberts' philosophy will once again begin with defense. During her first two seasons coaching the Seawolves, Roberts diligence in coaching defense led to the team holding opponents to 60.2 points and 63.6 points per game, respectively - definitely in the upper echelon of the NCAA. Nothing will change this season as Roberts will put defense at the top of the priority list. Last season, seven players had 20 steals or more and four had 31 or more.

HIGH FIVE Predicting Stony Brook's starting five a year ago was much like predicting the stock market in recent days. Eight different players made at least eight starts and as many as 12 different starting lineups were used. That task won't get much easier this season, but one thing is for sure - sophomore forward Sherry Jordan and senior center Jill George will be concrete foundations in the Seawolves starting five if they have healthy seasons.

JORDAN'S IMPACT Cause for concern is Jordan's off-season surgery on both of her feet. The Independent Conference Player of the Year has been limited to what she has been able to do in the preseason. Jordan led the team in eight different offensive categories, including points and rebounds per game. Head coach Trish Roberts believes Jordan will be ready to play the same type of roll she did as a freshman when the season opener rolls around November 17.

GROWTH SPURT For the second straight season, senior center Jill George has been voted the team captain by her peers. No player in the history of Stony Brook women's basketball has had a four-year growth spurt quite like George's. As a freshman and through the first half of her sophomore season, the Manchester, NH native was used in a very limited role off the bench. Diligence in off-season workouts has become George's rallying cry and has paid big dividends. Not only does she begin her senior season coming off a most productive year, but she is in better shape than she has ever been in. Her 9.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and .535 field goal percentage helped carry the Seawolves to 16 wins in 2000-01. Moreover, George is confident she can build upon that success and be a dominating force inside.

DD MOVES INTO STARTING 5 Danielle DeGiorgio did not make a start as a freshman during the team's first 17 games. Once she began starting the rebounds came rushing like a tidal wave. DeGiorgio began nine of the final 11 games on the floor - due mainly to her rebounding ability. The forward averaged 6.3 rebounds per game during that span including a career-high 13 boards that helped the Pack dismiss Albany for the first time in two years. Because of her off-season conditioning efforts, she will likely get the starting nod this season.

STARTERS BY COMMITTEE The final two starters will likely be by committee. Senior Erika Shipley enjoyed her best year last season, starting in 18 games. Shipley's point, rebound, assist and steal totals were all career highs. Theresa LoParrino didn't have lofty expectations on her shoulders when she entered as a freshman. As the season wore on, she did a tremendous job to force herself into the lineup and ended up starting the last five games of the season as the team's point guard. LoParrino quickly became Stony Brook's three-point arsenal, collecting 45 on the year while hitting over 40% from beyond the arc. Four games into the season she hit four, three's and scored 34 points - the fourth highest point total in SB history. Either way, both will see significant time in Stony Brook's three-guard rotation.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT Freshmen guards Stephanie Barlett and Danyelle Ingram possess different skills, but would contribute as starters either way. Barlett hails from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and was a sharp-shooter in leading her high school team to its first sectional title in 20 years. Expect to see Barlett help balance Stony Brook's offense with her long-range shooting. Ingram - from the same area as standout Sherry Jordan - is a slasher with the ball and possesses a tremendous handle. Ingram will need time to learn the offense and adjust to playing college defense. Sarah Burkett comes off a frustrating junior season in which she missed the first 13 games due to sickness. Although she averaged less than a point per game, she has the ability to hit the mid-to-long range jumper and the knack to find her open teammates for the easy basket. Don't be fooled by Sarah's numbers as a junior - she has enjoyed an outstanding preseason camp and has learned much about the game of college basketball in three seasons.

OFF THE BENCH Maggie Triggs and Malica Jibowu will be the first to see time off the bench.

Triggs - a sophomore guard - made 12 starts as a freshman and averaged over 20 minutes per game. She is one of four legitimate threats to shoot and hit the three. She was third on the team last season with 20 three's. Not afraid to shoot the ball - Triggs can be counted on to score points in bunches. Eight times she registered double digits and scored a career-high 22 points against Dartmouth. Fifteen times she hit at least one three-pointer and had two or more six times. Triggs owns a silky-smooth and accurate shooting touch, as advertised in her 86% free throw percentage.

INSIDE GAME A junior college transfer from Chicago, IL, Malica Jibowu gives the Seawolves something they desperately need - size and strength inside. At 5'10", Jibowu is tenacious and possesses great heart and desire. She is a valuable commodity to a Stony Brook front court that is somewhat depleted with the loss of Tamika Cox and an injured Danielle Moseley.

METZ' LAST GO-AROUND Heather and Jennifer Metz begin their third season with two Coaches' Awards belts under them. For good reason. During their first two years, no one has worked harder on the team. Although their contributions at game time been limited, they have been instrumental in preparing the team for opponents and have been an invaluable source of inspiration.