Minutewomen start 2001-02 Crusade
By Jesse Greenspan
Collegian Staff
Just about every team has high expectations going into its first game of the season.
For the Massachusetts women’s basketball team it is no different, as the Minutewomen feel they will be one of the top squads in the Atlantic 10 conference this year. Tonight, however, UMass will not only have to talk the talk but will also have to back it up, as it competes against Holy Cross to open up the 2001-02 season.
Last year, the Maroon and White struggled to a 12-17 record after getting off to a fairly sluggish start, and Head Coach Joanie O’Brien knows that the outset of this season will be pivotal in deciding just how far her team can go.
“This is huge for us,” the 11th year coach said. “We have struggled at the beginning the past couple of years, but now we are in pretty good shape. For our own peace of mind we need to get off to a good start, so it’s going to be a big one.”
Taking the floor for the Minutewomen to begin the season will be newcomer Katie Nelson at the point, sophomore Cleo Foster at the two, junior Amber Sneed at small forward, junior Siiri Liivandi at power forward and junior Jen Butler at center.
According to O’Brien, this lineup knows that the number one priority will be getting the ball inside.
“If you look at our four kids (Butler, Liivandi, Nekole Smith and Caroline Nehls) in the post, they are our anchors,” the UMass coach said. “They have to be our first option every time down the floor in the post…because we are going to win a lot more games with shots close to the basket.”
When Holy Cross doubles and triple teams inside, however, the Maroon and White have outside threats that can make the opposition pay. Against the NWBL USA Elite Travel Team in an exhibition game on Nov. 2, the freshman Nelson was 4-for-4 from behind the arc and finished the contest with 14 points. Paige Harris also displayed smooth form, going 2-for-3 from downtown in only 13 minutes of play.
On the other side of the ball, UMass will have to contend with a potent Crusader attack that is returning its top four scorers from a year ago. Senior point guard Jeanette Paukert leads the team, as she scored 12.5 points a game and led Holy Cross in assists and three-point shooting in 2000-01.
“She is their best three-point shooter and a tough competitor,” O’Brien said about Paukert. “We have to compete as hard as we can and we can’t let her have one of those monster games where she goes 4-for-6 or 5-for-7 from behind the arc. We have to make her earn what she gets.”
Senior Amanda Abraham and junior Katie O’Keefe will also be active on the offensive end, as they averaged 11.3 and 10.8 ppg respectively last season. O’Keefe was also a force on the glass, hauling down a team-high 6.8 rebounds per contest.
It is not only the veterans that the Minutewomen will have to contend with, however, but also the Crusader rookies. In Holy Cross’ 69-53 exhibition win over the Nor’Easter Storm, freshman guard Maggie Fontana poured in 19 points, and will most likely be a dangerous compliment to Paukert in the backcourt.
“We will probably play mostly man-to-man but we are also going to throw in some matchup zone to confuse them,” O’Brien said. “We throw different things at people because we don’t want to get caught doing the same things over and over again.”
In recent years the Crusaders have been a highly successful program, as they attempt to get back to the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight year. This run of four straight tourney appearances makes them the first basketball team (men’s or women’s) from the Patriot League to ever accomplish this.
Despite its recent success, however, Holy Cross has had some trouble with the Minutewomen. Last year, the Maroon and White interrupted a 21-9 season by overcoming 23 Paukert points to pull out the 62-57 overtime win.
In that game, UMass pounded the ball inside, as Jen Butler (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Caroline Nehls (16 points, 11 rebounds) were both able to total double-doubles in a very hard fought contest.
This year, O’Brien expects more of the same from two squads that both look to put up impressive numbers on the season.
“They execute their stuff very well and they set good screens,” O’Brien said. “For years we have had great games with them, and my biggest worry of all is the experience they have coming back.”
Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. at the Hart Center in Worcester.
