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Raiders Ready to Start Fresh
The 2009-2010 Rivier College Women's Basketball Team will be led by their senior class. Captains Jess Mellen and Monica White have been the cornerstone of this program since their arrival 4 years ago. The duo has taken this program to new heights and wants to leave one final mark to cement their legacy.
Returners
Jess Mellen returns to the hardwood after another stellar season. Jess was named to the 2nd Team All-Conference after averaging a double-double of 15.4 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Jess dished out 4.23 assists and grabbed 3.42 steals per contest. Jess is our best all-around player and will need to have the ball in her hands for us to be successful. Monica White returns as a 4-year starter at the point guard position. White is difficult to defend because she can drain the 3, pull up for the mid-range jumper or drive to the basket and finish at the rim. She is our best defender and will need to shut down opposing players. White averaged 9.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists last year and will look to increase those numbers in her final season. Juniors Steph Adams, Stacey Laine and Kelsy LaRose all add depth and experience to a potent Raider offense. Steph is a solid post player who can also drain the open jump shot. She is tough on the boards and will be relied upon to increase her rebounding numbers. Stacey will give us quality minutes off the bench. She has a nose for the ball and makes very few mistakes when she in on the floor. Kelsy is a deep-range threat for the Blue and Gray. She drained 34% of her treys a season ago and led the team in that category for much of the season before a foot injury sidelined her. Kelsy has worked hard at developing sound footwork which should allow for more open opportunities from beyond the arc. Sophomore Karen Waterman spent the majority of her freshman campaign on the sideline recovering from a torn ligament and a broken bone. Karen hopes to be back on the hardwood helping the Raiders get to the top of the GNAC standings. She is a fundamentally sound player with great hands who brings a toughness that will allow her to be a rebounding force for years to come.
Newcomers
Six new players highlight a very strong recruiting class for Riv. Leading the way will be sophomore transfer Amandra Purcell. She is a floor general who possesses great court vision. Amandra is explosive off the dribble and can either drain the "J", get to the rim or find an open teammate. She has an uncanny knack of putting the ball in the exact spot her teammates need it to be. The 5 freshmen on the roster are all looking to make an immediate impact on the program. Ashley Metivier is a high-profile guard with exceptional court vision and an even better jump shot. Ashley's biggest impact may come on the defensive end of the floor as she is always jumping into passing lanes which produces quick steals and easy points. Lauren Brett is another highly-touted shooter who drains just about anything she puts up. Lauren is quick and athletic and is as fundamentally sound as they come. She is another very good defender who will look to have an impact on both ends of the floor. Mackenzie Brooks is a solid post player who will give the Raiders needed depth at that position. Kenzie is tough and aggressive on the glass and she will look to create many of her scoring opportunities from crashing the boards. Sarah Howard and Liz Dean round out the Raider roster. Sarah is a solid all-around player with a smooth stroke who keeps getting better and quicker on the defensive side of the ball. Liz has already picked up the nuances of our defense and brings a great energy to the floor.
The returning players have played through the rigors of a 25-game schedule. They know what it takes to win and will be relied upon to set the standard for the newcomers. Through hard-work, dedication and cohesiveness, this team will undoubtedly be a tough matchup for any opponent we play.
