As of now, Massachusetts women’s basketball coach Joanie O’Brien is not sure which of her players will crack the starting lineup when the regular season opens with Holy Cross on Nov. 16.
Luckily for her, an exhibition game offers the perfect chance to see just where all of her players stand, and O’Brien will open up her 11th season at the helm of the Minutewomen when the National Women’s Basketball League USA Elite Travel Team comes to the William D. Mullins Center for a Saturday showdown.
The game and the 2001-2002 season begin with a 12:30 p.m. tip off.
For the Maroon and White, the main objective to the exhibition game will be figuring out how to replace graduated point guard Kathy Coyner. Last year, Coyner led UMass in almost every statistical category, including minutes played per game (36.8), free throw percentage (.821), three pointers made (47), three pointers attempted (151), assists (132) and points per game (12.9). In addition, the 5-foot-6 guard was tied for first on the team with 58 steals.
Luckily for the Minutewomen, however, Coyner is the only player that was lost to graduation last spring, and there are many signs that the team has matured from last year’s 12-17 (6-10 Atlantic 10) record.
For one thing, Jen Butler is back, and will power the offense down low. Last season, Butler averaged 12.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, and she now has another year of experience under her belt. Undoubtedly, the junior center will once again lead the Maroon and White offense.
Other good news for UMass is that Nekole Smith is more or less healthy again, after missing the entire 2000-01 season with a knee injury. Two years ago, the junior forward averaged 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, and she will once again look to be a force around the basket.
Forward Siiri Liivandi and center Caroline Nehls should also contribute in the frontcourt, complimenting both Smith and Butler.
From the outside, Paige Harris and Amber Sneed are both returning, and will look to take over some of the offense that was lost with the departure of Coyner. A year ago, Sneed averaged 8.9 points per game while Harris chipped in with 6.2 of her own.
Other returning players in the backcourt are Ebony Pegues, Kristen Cannon and Cleo Foster, who all look to become more consistent in the 2001-02 campaign. Freshmen Monique Govan, Katie Nelson and Cindy Gonzalez are also hoping to make a good impression in their rookie years, and hope that a good exhibition performance will go a long way toward the garnering of more playing time down the road.
