In Gotham City, the loss of a dynamic duo might lead to potential disaster. In the case of the 1992-93 Mary Washington College women's basketball team, it does raise concern. However - despite the graduation losses of All-Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) performers Kim Nagy and Susan Myers - the Eagles look not to rebuild, but to reload with a number of potent performers.
While Nagy (1,207 career points and the CAC Player of the Year as a senior) and Myers (1,206 career points) were the floor generals and catalysts during their four seasons, their leadership will have proven valuable as a young Eagle team hopes to approach or improve on last year's 16-10 campaign. First-year players provided immediate firepower last season, with the trio of Chris Gleisner (Jr./Burke, VA), Jeanette Alexander (So./Madison, VA)and Corinne May (So./Nesconset, NY) leading the way. A fourth proven performer is guard/forward Chris Paige (Sr./Vienna, VA), the team's most versatile player. This foursome combined for 35 points and 22 rebounds per game, and each player contributed individually within their own specializations. Gleisner showed a deft touch around the basket as well as inside toughness which helped her finish second in team rebounding at 7.1/ game. Alexander started slowly but became a force in mid-season, and finished the year as MWC's top rebounder at 8.6/ game, including a stretch of nine games out of 11 in double figures. She was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference
(ECAC) South Region Rookie of the Week for two consecutive weeks in February. May provided a smooth touch from the outside and quicksilver hands, which led to 9.4 points/game and 38 steals. Paige made a successful return after a year's absence (mononucleosis) in averaging 9.0 points and 3.7 rebounds/game.
"These players stepped up and made considerable contributions during the last half of our season," said Gallahan. "They were instrumental in helping us to a number of important victories down the stretch." A primary task for head coach Connie Gallahan is to form a strong group of role players to assist the proven veterans. Senior Alisa Ramirez(Charlottesville, VA) has displayed excellent shooting range and good court sense, while Sandy Garrett (Jr./Storrs, CT) is probably the team's best outside shooter and an excellent athlete. Angie Parker (Sr./Hartwood, VA) handled the playmaking duties for most of the 1991-92 season and was a hardnosed defensive stopper who tied May for the team lead in steals (38). Returning veterans Jennifer Bushman (So./Delmar, MD), Bridget Rooney (So./Fredericksburg, VA) and Christy Vernon (So./Spotsylvania, VA) showed signs of promise as freshmen and look to contribute more this coming season.
"We do have a solid nucleus of returning players with considerable playing experience," said Gallahan. "This should allow us to build upon last year's success rather than rebuild. A substantial number of highly successful recruits will hopefully make an impact by mid-season, to combine with our veterans and improve on last season's record and try to capture our first Capital Athletic Conference championship."