Young Malone Women’s Basketball Squad Aiming For Improvement In 2009-2010
The use of a young lineup in athletic competition can have both costs and benefits. In the short term, a team’s youthfulness can sometimes produce less than desirable results in the win/loss column. However, over the long term, the valuable experience gained from early playing time often provides significant dividends.
With freshman and sophomores accounting for nearly two-thirds of its minutes played last year, the Malone University women’s basketball team battled through a difficult schedule to finish the season with a 6-21 overall record, including a 3-12 mark in American Mideast Conference play. Although her young squad was unable to fight its way into the conference tournament a year ago, seventh-year head coach Lori Wynn believes that last season’s growing pains will translate into substantial improvements for the Pioneers this winter. “We are still pretty young,” noted Wynn. “But I feel like we will be better than last year. We should be deeper and I feel really good about our guards.”
Without a senior on the roster, junior guards Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.), Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) and Ashley Speicher (Plymouth H.S.) will each be looked upon to provide leadership, as well as more of the strong and steady play that all three supplied throughout the 2008-2009 campaign as sophomore starters.
Wilson, who is entering her third year as the starting point guard, collected both All-AMC Honorable Mention and NCCAA All-East Region First Team honors a year ago after pacing the squad in scoring (12.1 points per game), rebounding (6.1 boards per game), assists (58 total), steals (49 total) and minutes played (35 per game). After this outstanding season, Wynn will be looking for more of Wilson’s solid, all-around play this year. “Allyson has a lot of speed and quickness,” said Wynn. “She has really good ball-handling abilities and gets to the rim really well.”
After seeing limited playing time as a freshman, Kittle started all 27 games last season and made the most of her opportunity, earning NCCAA All-East Region Second Team accolades after averaging 6.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per outing while ranking second on the team behind Wilson with 43 assists and 23 steals. “Amy is very steady and consistent,” stated Wynn. “She plays hard, defends well, can play a lot of minutes and has really improved her three-point shooting.”
Shooting from beyond the arc is Speicher’s specialty as she ranked ninth in the 16-team AMC last season with an average of 1.85 three-point field goals made per game (50 total). The 5’8” guard can also score closer to the rim, though, as she ranked second on the team last season with an average of 10.7 points per game and led the squad in free-throw percentage, knocking down 83.3% (50-60) of her attempts from the charity stripe.
Other returnees in 2009-2010 include 6’2” junior forward Alison Schloz (St. Ursula Academy), sophomore forward Kelly Anatra (Mansfield St. Peter’s H.S.), sophomore guard Alivia Myers (Canton Central Catholic H.S.), sophomore guard Tyler Darland (Lakota East H.S.), and sophomore forward Hope Newton (Fredonia, NY). After seeing limited playing time off the bench the past two years, Schloz will have more of an opportunity this season. “Alison has gained some experience as a backup the last couple years,” commented Wynn. “Now it is time for her to step it up.”
Anatra contributed 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15 minutes per game last season and, like Schloz, is also likely to see more playing time. Myers, Darland, and Newton will return to the lineup this fall after seeing limited or no playing time last year due to injury.
Seven newcomers will also join the roster this season, led by freshman guard Elise Coudriet from Wadsworth High School, freshman post player Jessica Anderson from Roosevelt Kent High School and freshman forward Tara Kies from Cloverleaf High School. Each player brings plenty of talent to the team and Wynn will be hoping for immediate contributions. “Elise is quick, athletic, and can really shoot,” said Wynn. “She can play several positions and is a great worker from a great program. Jess is big, strong and aggressive in the post. She is currently injured, but should be back on the court in December. Tara can definitely shoot the ball and provides us with some depth up front.”
Also new to the squad this year is freshman forward Jasmine O’Neal (Roosevelt Kent H.S.)and freshmen guards Cindy Netti (Lake H.S.) and Catie Wolfe (Meigs H.S.). Freshman forward Mary Pat Heckman (Canton South H.S.) will also join the team once she becomes eligible to play in January.
Members of the 14-team American Mideast Conference will play a 19-game divisional schedule this year. The Pioneers will face divisional foes Carlow (PA) University, Daemen (NY) College, Houghton (NY) College, Notre Dame (OH) College, Point Park (PA) University, and Roberts Wesleyan (NY) College twice and all other conference members once. In addition to this always challenging AMC slate, Malone will also participate in 11 non-conference games, including match-ups with former AMC members Ohio Dominican University and the University of Rio Grande.
The Pioneers will open their season on November 7th with a 2:00 p.m. non-conference contest at Ursuline College. Malone will then play at Walsh University on November 10th in the 14th annual Mayors’ Cup game. The Pioneers’ first home contest will be on Tuesday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m. against NCAA Division II Ohio Valley (WV) University.
2009-2010 Malone Women's Basketball Roster
Complete 09-10 Malone Women's Basketball Schedule