2008-09 York College Women's Basketball Preview
The York College women’s basketball
team enters the upcoming 2008-09 campaign coming off the most
successful year in program history. The Spartans captured 19 wins
last season as they finished third in the Capital Athletic
Conference and advanced to the CAC semifinals.
The Spartans welcome back all but two players
from last year’s squad, however, one of those players,
forward Kristen Daly, graduated as one of the top players in school
history. Daly finished her career with 1,585 points, third on the
all-time Spartan scoring list. She also departs York as a four-time
All-CAC player including being named the CAC Rookie-of-the-Year in
2004-05.
“I enjoyed getting to coach Kristen and
Gina Casadei over the last four years,” states Spartan head
coach Betsy Witman. “However, they are no
longer here and we need to focus on the quality team we have coming
back. We will not be able to replace Kristen’s production,
but, we are hoping to do is have a number of players step up their
performance. Those players are ready to make that transition and
they understand that for us to achieve our goals, we need them to
be even more productive.”
While Witman won’t have Daly returning,
she does get to have three-time All-CAC point guard Keli
Ward return for her senior year. Ward is a member of the
six-player senior class that will be counted on to lead the green
and white, both on and off the floor. Fellow seniors Amanda
Andrews and Donna Figenshu join Ward as
the Spartan captains for the campaign, a combination that Witman
really likes.
“These three kids do a great job of being
captains,” states Witman. “They each bring a different
component to our leadership. Keli, Amanda, and Donna really
compliment each other well and provide our team with very strong
direction.”
That leadership will be complimented by
experience. In addition to Ward, Andrews, and Figenshu, seniors
Chanel Perez, Amy Fry, and
Jackie Garlock return to the green and white.
Ward is the engine that truly drives the
Spartans. She joined the 1,000 career point club last year in
addition to breaking the York College assist record as a junior.
Ward averaged 14.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
She finished ninth in the CAC in scoring, first in free throw
percentage, first in assist-to-turnover ratio, second in assists,
third in three point field goal percentage, 10th in field goal
percentage, 11th in steals, and 17th in rebounding.
“Keli has been so incredible in her first
three years,” states Witman. “She has played so many
crucial minutes and provided us with great on-the-floor leadership
since her freshman year. I have really enjoyed coaching her and I
appreciate all that she has done for the program this year. I am
excited to get to watch her close out her great Spartan
career.”
Andrews returns for her final year in the green
and white coming off an outstanding junior campaign that saw her
average 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and just under two three-point
field goals per game. She was one of York’s top threats from
distance as she made the most of her first extended playing time as
a Spartan. She started all 27 Spartan games and finished with 57
assists, 43 steals, and 10 blocked shots. She shot 42% from the
floor, 36% from three, and 77% from the line.
“Amanda really blossomed last year and I
have seen that progression continue throughout the
off-season,” says Witman. “She is a talented player
that will play a big role in our success this year. Amanda is a
great shooter that has become a good rebounder and defender. Her
improvement is a testament to her work ethic and determination. She
has the potential to be an All-CAC type of player for us this
year.”
Perez is the third of the four returning
starters for the green and white. She finished last year averaging
8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and a team-leading 2.0 steals per game.
Perez shot 39% from the floor and 73% from the free throw line as
she played in 26 games last year. She blocked a team-high 24 shots
while she also had 42 assists for YCP.
“Chanel is primed for a big senior
year,” says Witman. “She is such a good athlete that
she is a tough match-up for most forwards. I expect Chanel to
really step up and provide us with an athletic presence on the
front line.”
The fourth returning starter for the green and
white is sophomore guard April Sparkman. Sparkman
made an immediate impact on the lineup as she started 26 of her 27
games played. She averaged 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as
she established herself as one of the key Spartans for the next
three years. She shot 45.8% from the floor, 34.8% from three, and
75% from the charity stripe. She also did a good job on the glass
with 107 defensive rebounds, the third highest mark on the team.
Sparkman handed out 45 assists, collected 21 steals, and blocked 20
shots.
“April is a player that has the potential
to step up and be one of the top scorers on our team and in our
conference,” says Witman. “However, what gets
overlooked is the fact that she is a strong
rebounder and defender. Her length gives her the ability to mix it
up under the glass while she can shut down perimeter players
defensively. I think April will play a big role in what we do this
year.”
Witman will depend on a core of players that
will be key cogs in the rotation. Fry, Garlock, sophomore
Jaimie Sapp, Figenshu, junior Jamie
Polan, and sophomores Caitlin Byrne,
Gayle Exley, and Valerie Hudson
are all options for Witman, not only in finding a fifth starter but
also in forming the rotation for the season.
Fry played in all 27 games last year as she
averaged 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds. Those numbers were career
lows for the forward but Witman believes she has the ability to
increase those numbers during her senior year.
“Amy is a player that has the ability to
do a number of things for us,” says Witman. “She is
an
accurate shooter from inside 15 feet while she is a very good high
post passer that makes smart
decisions within the offense. Amy also has the ability to be a
solid rebounder and post defender.”
Garlock is a player that has seen limited time
in her Spartan career but she provides great depth for York in the
frontcourt.
“Jackie brings a number of things to the
team, both on and off the floor,” says Witman.
Sapp is a player that Witman expects to be
significantly better as a sophomore. She finished 2007-08 averaging
2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game as she played in 27 games,
averaging 11 minutes per contest. Among her 54 rebounds, she
grabbed 31 defensive caroms and 23 offensive boards while she also
blocked 16 shots.
“Jaimie has worked hard and put herself in
position to be a key member of the rotation,” says
Witman. “Her offensive abilities combined with her ability on
defense can really provide us with a great presence in the paint. I
expect her to be an important part of the things we do this
year.”
Byrne will come off the bench to provide
frontcourt depth for the green and white. Byrne is a player that
has offensive abilities but needs to get better on the defensive
end of the floor to earn more substantial playing time. She has a
nice touch around the basket and also does a nice job of passing
out of the post.
“Caitlin is a player that has the
potential to help us,” says Witman. “However, there are
some things she needs to do better to see more time on the floor.
Caitlin is very solid offensively but we need her to be a better
individual and team defender. With some hard work, she can make
herself into a factor as the year progresses.”
Figenshu brings great leadership to the Spartans
both on and off the floor. Last year she took a step and worked
herself into the Spartan rotation, a place she figures to be this
season. Figenshu is a solid shooter that can run the team from the
point guard slot or also can play the two spot for the green and
white. Figenshu averaged 2.7 points and 1.0 assists in 10.8 minutes
per game last year. She shot 42% from three and 45.5% from the
floor in her 27 games played.
“Donna really does a great job as one of
our captains,” says Witman. “She has continued to get
better as a player and she has worked herself into a player that
will be a member of the rotation. Donna has a strong work ethic and
is a good example for our younger players.”
Polan is another guard that Witman expects to
compete for a spot in the rotation. Polan struggled to shoot the
ball as a sophomore but has worked hard to recapture her freshman
year form when she averaged almost four points a game.
“I expect Jamie to be a part of what we do
this year,” states Witman. “She has the ability to be
an impact shooter for us and I believe she can get back to doing
the things she does well.”
Exley is a player that saw limited time as a
freshman as she battled some injuries during the season. She is a
classic small forward that can shoot it from the perimeter as well
as doing some damage inside the arc. Exley is working her way back
to health and will have a chance to contribute as a sophomore.
“Gayle had a tough season last year thanks to the
injuries she experienced,” says Witman. “If she can
stay healthy, she has the ability to do some good things for us on
the floor. She is a strong
forward that can be a physical presence for us while she is also a
great passer.”
Hudson is another sophomore that was limited as a
freshman due to injury. She is a post player with the ability to
play strong on the glass while she is also a solid defender in the
paint. Hudson saw action in nine games as she averaged 0.7 points
and 1.0 rebounds per game, numbers the coaching staff expects to
improve during her sophomore year.
“Val is a player that has really
improved,” states Witman. “She will get the opportunity
to play in the four or five spot for us and I expect her to take
advantage of that chance. Val gives us great depth and I will be
excited to see what she can do when healthy.”
The Spartans lone newcomer this year is freshman
Mandy Parshall. Parshall is no stranger to York
College as her older sister Melody is a standout cross country
performer for the green and white. Parshall is a very athletic
player that has tremendous endurance and fitness. She brings a
great work ethic to the squad and should give York solid depth at
guard.
“Mandy is a hard worker and someone who,
as she adjusts to the collegiate game, will have a chance to help
us,” says Witman. “She will make our team better with
her physical skills and work ethic.”
Witman looks towards 2008-09 with positive
expectations.
“I really want to enjoy this team this
year,” states the Spartan mentor. “This is a tremendous
group of kids who are the core of a team that set the wins record
last year. We have a tough schedule to start the year but I am
confident that our leadership, both on and off the floor, will help
us have a very good year. I am ready to get started and get this
team on the floor.”
The Spartans open the season on November 15 when
they host Messiah College in a nonconference contest.
