2008-09 Wagner Women's Basketball Preview
Wagner
Wagner showed signs of progress last season, the third since former NEC Coach of the Year (1989) Gela Mikalauskas returned to Grymes Hill with the task of turning around the program. The Seahawks pieced together a late-season run to win seven games last year - equaling the combined total from the previous three campaigns - and finished one victory shy of capturing the final NEC Tounrnament berth. With three key starters returning, things are looking up on Staten Island.
The Seahawks start one of the league's top ballhandlers at point guard. Junior Andrea Reed led the conference in assists (5.28/gm) and steals (2.48/gm). John'a Poole brings versatility to the Seahawks' backcourt. Playing in all 29 games (18 starts) as a sophomore, Poole averaged 6.4 ppg and 2.5 rpg. Now Mikalauskas hopes the additions she made can be enough to move Wagner one step closer to the level it reached during her first coaching tour of duty in the late 1980s. New Jersey product Kanifa Hicks (Fr., G, 5-9) possess scoring ability and hails from a winning high school program. Her help and increased production from sophomore Ashley Olsen, who played in all 29 games as a rookie and averaged 6.4 ppg, could improve mean improved offensive production. Delaware transfer Sha'ron Harrison (Jr., F, 6-1), who was a member of the Blue Hens' NCAA Tournament team, will have to wait until 2009-10 to contribute, but freshman Lindsey Corcoran (G, 5-8) provides an immediate shooting threat after nailing 165 three-pointers during her career at Villa Maria Academy (PA).
Wagner by the Numbers
Quick Facts
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners R/L: 8/4
2007-08 Record: 7-22
NEC Record/Place: 5-13/9th
NEC Tournament: DNQ
Overall Record (Past Four Years)
Last Year: 7-22
Last Two Years: 10-48
Last Three Years: 12-73
Last Four Years: 14-98
NEC Record (Past Four Years)
Last Year: 5-13
Last Two Years: 6-30
Last Three Years: 8-46
Last Four Years: 10-62
RPI Nat'l Rank/Conf. Standing
2007-08: 309/9th
2006-07: 331/11th
Leading Returning Scorers
Andrea Reed: 8.4 ppg
Ashley Olsen: 6.4 ppg
John'a Poole: 6.4 ppg
Leading Returning Rebounders
Andrea Reed: 4.9 rpg
Ashley Olsen: 4.1 rpg
John'a Poole: 2.5 rpg