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Women's Basketball
2009-10 Season Preview
The Marisa Gallo era begins in 2009-10 and the first-year coach has nine returning players from last season’s 15-12 team to anchor the roster as D’Youville begins its first-season of play in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.
Senior Melissa Kanalley (Tonawanda, NY/Cardinal O’Hara) is the top returning guard (14.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in 08-09). “Look for Melissa to continue her success, she is tough, competitive, and leads by example. Melissa may be in a position this year to see all 3 guard positions, mostly at the shooting guard,” says Gallo.
Junior Holly Beats (Marilla, NY/Iroquois) is the top returning frontcourt player (12.9 points, 12.2 rebounds per game in 08-09). Says Gallo, “Holly is our vocal leader; she gives us the strong, inside presence we need.”
Third-year player Ellen Remillard (Peru, NY/Peru) will operate the team at point guard. Last season, Remillard played in all 27 games averaging 3.4 points and 2.7 assists in her first-season of expanded duty.
Beats and Kanalley were important pieces of the 2007-08 squad that went to the NCAA Tournament. If the Spartan’s are going to have a successful season, the second-year players that played limited minutes last year as freshmen have to be comfortable with their expanded roles.
Gallo is optimistic. “We will be looking to our bench this year and using a number of our players on our roster. We have severalutility players that have the ability to play more than one position, which hopefully will be to our advantage”
Kaitlyn Roland (Victor, NY/Victor) averaged six points and 3.6 rebounds per contest and started 17 contests as a freshman. The sophomore forward is gaining the confidence of Coach Gallo. “Look for Katie to emerge as one of our top scoring threats this season. She is athletic, with good basketball sense, can shoot the ball well from the outside and is big enough to go strong to the basket.
Sara Wozniak (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) led the Spartan’s last season in three-point field-goal percentage (.345) and Haley Bozzo (Hamilton, ONT/Blessed Sacrament) will share the point-guard duties. Center Alyx Iversen (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) will have an increased role. Hannah Norton (Wyoming, NY/Pavilion) is one the team’s strongest rebounders and guard Jen Sauer (Medford, MA/St. Clement) gives the Spartan’s a great defensive presence on the perimeter.
The team has two newcomers. Center Cierra Hawkins (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) states Coach Gallo “…is a great addition to the team. She is a very strong, aggressive player that is a huge addition to our offense.” The team’s other rookie is freshman guard Danielle Backert (Lake View, NY/Mount Mercy).
With AMCC membership, the schedule now features home and home contests with local rivals Medaille College and Hilbert College for the first time since 2004. D’Youvile is expected be a competitive factor in their new league home. The Spartans were picked to finish eighth out of 11 in the AMCC pre-season coaches poll.
The Spartans open the 2009-10 campaign with an AMCC league game November 18th at Pitt-Bradford.
