Nov. 7, 2008

Garden City, NY - The Adelphi University women's basketball season kicks off its 2008-09 season on Saturday, November 15, as they host Merrimack College at 1:00 p.m. in the Center for Recreation and Sports

For nearly 80 years, women's basketball on the Garden City campus of Adelphi University has called Historic Woodruff Hall its home. Some say that a sort-of magic existed in that historic building - a sort-of magic that gave the Panthers a winning percentage of 67 percent over the program's 38 varsity years in the building.

The 101st year of women's basketball at Adelphi ushers in a new era for the program in the Center for Recreation and Sports, a state-of-the-art facility that the Panthers will now call home. "We're excited about the new facility. We have 14 home games this season and the ECC Championship so we need to play well in our new arena," Head Coach Kelley Watts, now in her seventh year at the helm of the Panthers, stated.

A strong effort is certainly not out of the picture as Adelphi has consistently played well at home, with only three losing seasons on the historic court. "I hope we continue to play well at home," coach Watts said. "A sign of a good team is always their consistency, both at home and on the road. I would like to carry that tradition of doing well in Woodruff over to the new arena. Winning 14 games at Adelphi is the key to winning 20 overall."

The combination of winning 20 games and the Panthers 2008-2009 tough schedule is the right mixture to win an East Coast Conference (ECC) title and a berth into the NCAA tournament - a perennial goal of the program. However, this year the team will have to do it without Gianna Smith, a career 13.5 ppg scorer and the Panthers' all-time points leader at 1558, and Mary Lepore; also a 1,000 point scorer and a career 10.2 ppg shooter.

"The loss of their combined consistent points is of course big, but not something we can't overcome. It is a different team this year than it was last year. We are working on our defense more because of our presence of speed. Our program has always been known as a very offensive one, but this year we're going to look to generate points from the defensive end. We're also smarter than we've been. We're going to use our speed, generate points, rebound well and become an outside threat," Watts discussed.

"Our team sat down and discussed our goals for this upcoming season, and as a team we have decided that we really want to win 20 games. If we accomplish this, with our schedule, we will make the playoffs and win the [ECC] championship. This is our focus; this is our drive." Head Coach Kelley Watts

Last season was a tough one for the veteran Panther squad. The Brown and Gold was knocked out in the first round of the ECC playoffs to the University of Bridgeport and struggled on the road, going 4-11. But, the Panthers continued to show that they play their best against the best, winning matches against Molloy College and C.W. Post late in the season.

A contrast to last year's squad, the team is a relatively young one, as the Panthers bring in six new faces. The hoopsters will welcome four freshmen and two transfers, all with impressive resumes that are picking up Adelphi's game quickly. "Overall they are doing very well. Each player is working hard day in and day out as we continue to throw new concepts at them. I'm excited to see how each young player grows individually and see them as a team grow collectively. This is a real class to build upon," coach Watts explained.

Also joining the Panthers' program is a familiar face, not too far removed from the very same team, Kellianne Dunlay. A former stand out player for the Panthers, Dunlay holds records for most points in a single game (36) and sits in the top ten for most points in a season. Dunlay will be welcomed back as the program's post coach and will look to pass along her tremendous knowledge of the position to her players. "Kellie is fantastic. She played the post position during her career, and now she's the post coach. She has the credibility, the records and has a very good rapport with the players," coach Watts stated.

Watts' other assistant, Donna Lohrey, was an ECC standout point guard at her alma mater, Molloy College, who still is the all-time leading career scorer there with 1,731 points. Lohrey will continue her work with the Panthers' point guards. "Donna has done a tremendous job over the last two years and I am excited to have her return this season. She has done an outstanding job with player development, scouting and recruiting."

Backcourt Senior guard Lisa Manetta (Glendale, NY) returns to the Panthers squad, and will look to continue her success from last season into this one. Manetta has found her way into the Panthers' record book in both career 3-point field goals and 3-point field goal attempts, averaging 10.3 points per game and shooting .338 (52-154) beyond the arc last season.

"Lisa runs the team and understands the system very well. She is an excellent player that makes good decisions with the basketball. We are going to need more from her from the perimeter and to lead us again with her 3-pointers like she has in the past," Watts discussed.

Manetta will be a strong force on the Panthers' squad

Last year's recipient of the Mary Ann Beaudry MVP award, senior guard Jasmine Travers (Gaithersburg, MD) picks up the role of captain this season and will still continue to be a major threat on defense; looking to better her 38 steals and 5.5 points per game of last season. "Jasmine is one of our best defender's on the team. She is an extremely hard worker that shuts her opponents down. She always plays with a lot of energy, and we can count on her ability to get to the basket and score," coach Watts explained.

The senior transfer from Holy Family, Danielle Parks (Galloway, NJ), earned her first varsity letter as a Panther last season, averaging 5.2 points in her 25 games. "Parks is a point guard that is very explosive. She can stop and pop anywhere and sees the floor very well. She can come into the game and give us the spark that we need to win," Watts stated.

Sophomore Lekesha Harris (St. Albans, NY) begins her second season with the Brown and Gold after a very promising inaugural run at Adelphi. "Lekesha has become more of a scoring threat," Watts explained. "She has improved her ability to get to the basket and also plays solid defense, causing tips and deflects."

The Panthers also pick up two newcomers in the position with freshmen Erika Cottle (Pittsburgh, PA) and Keri Schumacher (East Northport, NY). Cottle, who helped her team to a WPIAL championship and was PIAA state runner-up in high school, is described by coach Watts as a very tough player. "Cottle is a fast, strong and a physical point guard, who is best when she is running. She can score, pass and defend; we are excited to have Erika at Adelphi."

Schumacher joins the program after a stint at Nassau CCC and winning a county and Long Island Championship. "Keri is an intelligent basketball player who reads the game well; a tremendous athlete. She will help us in two positions this season: playing on the perimeter and inside facing the basket," Watts said.

Frontcourt The frontcourt of Adelphi's program has big shoes to fill with the loss of Smith and Lepore, but it's going to be players like senior Serita Lee (Freeport, NY) that are going to be able do it. Last season, Lee averaged double-double figures, 10 rebounds per game and 10.7 points per game, and showed that she is ready to be a leading force for the Panthers.

Serita Lee averaged double-double figures last season

"Serita is the heart and soul of the team. S is very strong and quick. Her work ethic is tremendous - she plays BIG. We're asking her to do what she did last season again this season, and she is more than capable," coach Watts stated.

Lee will have tremendous support coming from junior captain Caitlin Wetmore (Newton, NJ). "Caitlin is a good rebounder and very tough on defense. She continually goes above and beyond what's required and we hope to see all the great things she is capable to do this season"

Junior Hunter Marek (New Ispwich, NH) will suit up this season, after sitting out the majority of last due to injury. "Hunter has moved back to her natural position playing the post. She has been tremendous so far, and will help is out as our post moves away from the hoop. She knows how to score from the perimeter."

This year's freshmen and transfer class will make an impact right away in the Panthers' frontcourt, and it will start with sophomore captain Ashley Caiafa (Massapequa Park, NY). A transfer from Stonehill College, Ashley possesses a spark in the game that coach Watts is very excited about. "Ashley is a tremendous athlete, with a work ethic second to none. She can shoot the three, take you off the dribble and read and create off screens. She has a passion and a love to be the best when she is on and off the floor."

Caiafa will be aided by freshmen Theresa Foley (Lake Grove, NY), Kayla Schubert (Center Valley, PA) and Kaitlynn Simmonds (Ewa Beach, HI).

Foley picked up all-conference honors at her alma mater and was named team MVP as well. "Theresa is a 6-2 long forward that can run the floor and has great hands. She's good at going to the basket and gives us bigger post presence."

Schubert and Simmonds both were key members of their high school teams and will help the Panthers out greatly off the bench. "Kayla is very physical post player, who is also great on defense. Look for her to also shoot the three," coach Watts stated. "[Simmonds] is already a good rebounder and a good defender that has the potential to be an outstanding player as she grows in our system."

Schedule Coach Watts describes her schedule as pretty competitive, but it may be a little more aggressive than that. The Panthers will go up against teams like #9 Stonehill College, and CACC powers like Philadelphia University, Caldwell College and Georgian Court University. However, the Panthers posses the ability, and most importantly, the confidence, to compete with these top programs. As they have shown in the past, they play their best, against the best.

"We will be tested throughout the year in and out of the conference. In the ECC, the coaches are bringing in better student-athletes and you will see a big difference this year. It's going to be a dog fight this season to see who will win this [ECC] championship. Adelphi is hosting the tournament and I hope that it motivates our team to want to play in it."

This will also mark the last season Adelphi will play in the ECC, as next year the school makes the jump to the Northeast-10 (NE-10) conference.

"In women's basketball, the NE-10 is the second best [DII] conference in the country. To make the transition, our schedule has changed, and we are now playing better teams to prepare. Our recruiting, our style [of play] and our practices have been more demanding- when you go up against the best, you always want to be able to play your best."

"Our team sat down and discussed our goals for this upcoming season, and as a team we have decided that we really want to win 20 games. If we accomplish this, with our schedule, we will make the playoffs and win the [ECC] championship. This is our focus; this is our drive."