Fairleigh Dickinson
Peter Cinella guided Fairleigh Dickinson to a .500 record in NEC play during his first year as a member of the Division I coaching ranks. Things won't get easier for Cinella as he attempts to build FDU's first championship team since 1992. The Knights' head coach faces a major challenge in trying to replace Jennifer Walkling, but his reputation indicates he will be up to the task. The 300-game winner, who coached to the tune of a 291-130 mark at D-II American International, loses the top scorer and rebounder from last year's 13-win team, but returns an exciting core headed by junior Christy Altamirano (10.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg).
Altamirano leads an all-Garden State group of top returning scorers that includes all-rookie selection Jasmyra Saunders (8.8 ppg) and sharpshooter Jenna Strich (4.6 ppg). Playing in 29 of 30 games and earning 10 starts, Saunders ranked third amongst freshmen NEC scorers and 25th overall. Strich, who made seven starts, appeared in only 19 games due to injury, but still managed to finish second amongst team leaders in three-pointers made. A healthy Strich amongst other factors could help Fairleigh Dickinson where it struggled most last season - shooting. The Knights owned the NEC's second-best field-goal percentage defense (.374), but ranked near the bottom in field-goal percentage (.372) and last in free throw shooting (.628).
Freshman Mariyah Laury, a former standout at Orange High School, strengthens FDU's Jersey connection. Averaging 29.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.0 steals per game her senior season, Laury earned the Newark Star Ledger's Performance of the Year award for pouring in 41 points to defeat rival West Orange. Cinella also reached out to Pittsburgh, his old stomping ground of Massachusetts, and Vermont to round out his freshmen class. Amy Longo, a 5-foot-11 forward, was a 1,235-point scorer at North Catholic in Western Pennsylvania, enjoying all-state honors and a WPIAL Section I title during her time there.
FDU by the Numbers
Quick Facts
2007-08 Record: 13-17
NEC Record/Place: 9-9/5th
NEC Tournament: Lost QF to No. 4 Long Island
Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners R/L: 9/5
Overall Record (Past Four Years)
Last Year: 13-17
Last Two Years: 24-35
Last Three Years: 34-53
Last Four Years: 36-78
NEC Record (Past Four Years)
Last Year: 9-9
Last Two Years: 17-19
Last Three Years: 23-31
Last Four Years: 24-48
RPI Nat'l Rank/Conf. Standing
2007-08: 243/5th
2006-07: 253/8th
Leading Returning Scorers
Christy Altamirano: 10.0 ppg
Jasmyra Saunders: 8.8 ppg
Jenna Strich: 4.6 ppg
Leading Returning Rebounders
Christy Altamirano: 6.2 rpg
Shenika Chang: 3.0 rpg
Alyssa Mayrose: 2.8 rpg