2006-07 Outlook
2006-07 Women's Basketball Outlook
Go Big or Go Home. The Rider University women’s basketball team is Going Big. With a most-ever five six-footers on the roster, third-year head coach Tori Harrison is finally able to Go Big. “Having been an inside player myself, I’ve always been an inside oriented coach, but I haven’t been able to do that until now, now that we have some size,” said Harrison, who as a 6’4” center led Louisiana Tech to a pair of Final Four appearances as the three-time team MVP.
With the return of seven letterwinners, including three starters, and the influx of seven newcomers, including five inside players, the Broncs look to be vastly improved as well as bigger. “The sky’s the limit with this group,” said Harrison. “The key is going to be the attitude. We have to start getting the winning mentality going.”
The Broncs will be led by seniors Kara Borel and Monica Welborn, junior Janele Henderson, and sophomore Danielle Costantino.
Borel has been Rider’s leading rebounder in each of the last three years, and enters the season eighth all-time at Rider. Showing how well rounded her game is, Borel was fifth in the MAAC in steals as a junior and was second on the team in assists and third in scoring. “This will be Kara’s senior year,” said Harrison. “She is a tremendous athlete and I am hoping Kara and Monica both go out with a bang. Kara has played so many different positions; she played center at 5’9” and she will be in her true position this year at the three. I am expecting a lot from her so the bar will be set high. Kara’s game is so vast in that she can be the high scorer one day and be the high rebounder the next day, or she can just shut somebody down on defense.”
Welborn started 21 games last year before a shoulder injury ended her season early. Welborn scored in double figures eight times as a junior and has now had 15 double-digit scoring games in her career. “We were concerned because Monica’s shoulder took longer to heal than it normally would,” said Harrison. “We will depend on Monica for her leadership and her offense. She’s been playing out of position and if she is able to move to her right position, she can flat out put the ball in the hole.”
Henderson ranked 14th in the MAAC in free throw percentage and 16th in scoring, leading Rider in seven statistical categories, including scoring, and was third on the team in rebounds, assists and steals. “I am expecting Janele to have a great year,” said Harrison. “I thought she had a good year last year offensively. Defensively, she needs to step it up a notch and Janele is willing to do it. Janele is one of those kids that whatever you need her to do, she’s going to do it.”
Costantino led the 2006 Broncs in three-point field goal percentage and was second on the team in free throw percentage. Danielle was second on the team in scoring despite being fifth in minutes played and scored in double figures 11 times, despite playing at times with stress fractures in both feet. “If Danielle stays healthy, she will have a great year,” Harrison said. “Danielle was playing hurt at the end of last season but she is healthy now and we are expecting great things. She is a self motivated kid. She’ll try to be the best at everything she does and if I need leadership, she will lead, if I need someone to follow, she’ll follow. Danielle will do everything I ask her to do.”
The newcomers are led by transfer Kelli Sawyer. Sawyer came to Rider from Long Island University and looks to be the Bronc point guard this season.
“I told Sawyer we need a general on the floor and it’s up to her whether she will be our leader,” said Harrison. “Kelli has that kind of charisma to get the team going and she has the game to back it up. If we need her to score, she will score, if she has to defend you, she will defend you. She has true point guard mentality. The MAAC schools know who she is having played at Long Island University in 2004-05, but I do think that people may have forgotten about her after she sat out as a transfer last season. Kelli can score, distribute the ball and has great court awareness. It’s like having a second coach on the floor when she’s in the game.”
The rookies consist of Ashley Anderson, Melissa Kowalczyk, Ilda Llamas, Amanda Sepulveda and Stephanie Wisniewski.
Anderson, a 6’ forward out of East Orange High School, earned first team All-Iron Hills Conference and second team All-Essex County honors, averaging 15.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game as a senior. “Ashley is a tremendous athlete who will help us in the post area,” said Harrison. “Give her some time to get her feet wet, Ashley will be one of the surprises on the team.”
Kowalczyk is a 6’2” center out of Williamsburg, Virginia and was the starting center on the Virginia AA State Champions as a senior, leading her team to the District and Regional Championships as a sophomore. “Melissa is a strong rebounder and plays solid defense,” said Harrison, “She will add a physical presence in the post for us. She has great stature, great hands and a great work ethic.”
Llamas, a 6’3” center from Santee, California, had a 17 point game and a 14 rebound game as a senior at West Hills High. “I’m expecting Ilda to give us some offense, and defensive prowess, just to have a big body in there,” said Harrison. “Her size will give us a good target in the middle.”
Sepulveda is a 5’5” point guard who compiled 13.9 points, 5.3 assists and made 55 three-point field goals in 2005-06, earning first team All-State Prep A honors. “Amanda will add some depth to our point guard position,” said Harrison. “We look for Amanda to be a floor general.” Sepulveda was named first team All-Mid-Atlantic Prep League, first team All-Prep by both the Trenton Times and the Trentonian, and first team All-Girl’s Basketball by the Princeton Packet. Sepulveda, a 2005 graduate of Perth Amboy High School, was the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,282 career points. She made 146 three-pointers in her career, and was named the MVP of the senior all-star game. “Amanda can really shoot the lights out,” said Harrison. “She is a competitive kid who will make everyone around her better each day.”
Wisniewski, a 6’2” forward/center, was a four-year starter at Villa Joseph Marie, averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks per game, earning All-Academy League All-Star honors as her team MVP. “Stephanie brings good size and ability. She should be a solid presence in the post for us,” said Harrison. “She has the potential to be a dominant force for Rider in the paint.”
The schedule begins November 12 at home against Rice and also includes non-conference home games against Penn, La Salle and UMBC. The non-conference road schedule includes Monmouth, Hofstra, Princeton, Towson and Army, which qualified for the NCAA Championship tournament in 2005-06, as well as a trip to Staten Island, New York for the Wagner Christmas Tournament, featuring Cornell, St. Bonaventure and the host Seahawks. “I like our schedule,” said Harrison. “I think it is very doable. Nothing way over our heads, but very competitive. If we come into the season prepared, mentally as well as physically, we should be competitive in every game.”
By Going Big, Harrison is expecting Big Things from the Broncs in 2006-07.