Looking ahead to 2009-10

Two young ladies have already signed on to play basketball at KU next season.

Jackie Burg
Position: Guard
Hometown: West Chester
High School: Bishop Shanahan

Notes from www.kubears.com: "Burg was a three-time letter winner. In her junior season she was the leading scorer and named to the all-conference and all-area teams."

Other notes: Here are two of her recruiting videos from Youtube. She runs the point in high school, appears to have a ton of speed, and, as you can see, can make some very athletic plays.
Video 1
Video 2

Melanie Mahan
Position: Shooting Guard
Hometown: Mullica Hill, N.J.
High School: Clearview Regional

Notes from www.kubears.com: "Mahan is a three-time varsity letter winner for basketball and was named first team South Jersey. She is also a letter winner in lacrosse for two years and cheerleading for two years."

Other notes: You’ll notice she is from Mullica Hill, NJ, which happens to be the hometown of recent KU standout Mercedes Van Wagner. Van Wagner does not have to worry about her breaking her rebounding record, however, since Mahan is not a center like Van Wagner, but rather a guard. I spoke to Van Wagner about Mahan and she had this to say: “She plays really hard. She likes to drive to the basket and is a really good defender. She has a lot of energy on and off the floor.” I don’t have her exact height, but Van Wagner said she is around 5’9”.

Spotts the most recent of KU athletes gone pro

If you haven’t already heard the news, former Kutztown University quarterback Kyle Spotts signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League last week. Spotts, originally from my hometown of Pottsville, Pa., was one of the premier quarterbacks in the PSAC during his three seasons at KU.

The Dragons already have two quarterbacks on their roster, including starter Aaron Garcia, who is third all-time in the AFL with more than 20,000 passing yards. Spotts will be the third string quarterback, but will be inactive on the practice squad in the near future.

The AFL season is currently in full swing and the Dragons sit third in the National Eastern Division with a 7-6 record. If either Garcia or backup quarterback Juston Wood is injured, Spotts could be activated this season. You can follow both Spotts and the Dragons at New York’s official website: www.newyorkdragons.com.

While I’m on the topic of KU grads gone pro (and since it’s major league baseball draft day), now is as good a time as any to get you caught up on KU’s recent baseball players who made a run at pro ball during the past few years.

In case you’re unfamiliar with who the minor leagues work, I’ll give you a quick run through. The MLB is obviously the goal for each player, but when you’re drafted you are most likely going to start out playing rookie ball. Most clubs have three teams for rookies and most first-year players will play on that team for an entire season. If the player is good enough, they will then advance to ‘A’ ball. From there, a player would advance to ‘Advanced A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’. The majors would be next in line after AAA.

Now, on to the players (who are in no particular order)…

Kyle Sadlowski (2003-05) – Sadlowski was drafted by the Cardinals in 2005 and has worked his way up to AA Springfield. He has done a very respectable job at each level and that has earned him opportunities to shine at the next level. Sadlowski started the 2008 season at Advanced A Palm Beach, notching a 3-1 record and a 3.89 ERA. Since being called up to Springfield, Sadlowski has been even more effective, holding a 2-0 record with a 3.24 ERA. Combined, he has struck out 40 in 50 innings of work and opponents are hitting just .246 against him.

Mike McCardell (2004-07) – McCardell was drafted by the Twins in the sixth round of last year’s entry draft. Since his arrival, he has been on a steady uphill climb to the major leagues. Last year, he began his pro career with the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Twins, before quickly being promoted to the Elizabethton Twins (a more advanced rookie ball team). In 2008, he is pitching for the A Beloit Snappers and is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances (six starts). McCardell has struck out an impressive 36 opponents in 32 innings of work, while walking just 12.

Jason Mills (2007) – Mills pitched just one season for KU, but the MLB scouts took notice. The Orioles drafted him in 2006, signed him in 2007, and then sent him to play rookie ball for the Bluefield Orioles. Mills made five appearances in 2007 and allowed just one earned run on five hits in 6.2 innings of work. He struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone. He is currently listed on Bluefield’s 2008 roster, but that could change after the draft. Bluefield is set to start their season on June 17.

Ron Chiavacci (1998) – Chiavacci was drafted by the Expos in 1998 and has since spent time with the minor league affiliates of the Pirates, Tigers, Phillies, and most recently, the Astros. Chiavacci actually began the 2008 season with the AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, but was traded to the Astros on June 2. He has yet to be assigned to a club. He was 1-7 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts with LV this season. In 11 minor league seasons, he has a combined 62-79 record and a 4.03 ERA. He has 1,001 career strikeouts at the minor league level, averaging just under eight strikeouts per nine innings.

Ryan Vogelsong (1996-98) – Vogelsong was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round of the 1998 draft and made his major league debut with the Giants in 2000. In 2001, Vogelsong was traded to the Pirates in a deal that included Jason Schmidt. He spent a majority of his time in Pittsburgh in the majors before leaving the majors in 2006 to sign with his current team, the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Professional Baseball League. On May 29, Vogelsong was dropped for readjustment, which is basically the major league baseball equivalent of being demoted to the minor leagues. He was 2-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 27.2 innings of work prior to the demotion.

Matt Maradeo (2005-06) – Maradeo signed with the Cubs in 2006 just a few days after the conclusion of KU’s season. He was sent to the A Peoria Chiefs where he struggled in his first year of pro ball, recording a 1-1 record and a 10.24 ERA in 19.1 innings. In 2007, Maradeo did a much better job for the Chiefs. He made 28 appearances out of the bullpen, notching an 0-3 record and a 2.96 ERA. In 45.2 innings of work, Maradeo struck out 45, while walking just 16. Opponents hit just .165 against him. The Cubs, surprisingly, decided to release Maradeo on the last day of 2008 spring training, so he signed with the Washington Wildthings of the independent Frontier League. He has made six relief appearances this season and is 0-0 with 5.73 ERA. He has 12 strikeouts in 11 innings of work.

Matt Keller (2003-07) – Keller was not drafted, but he did sign with the Slippery Rock Sliders of the Frontier League following KU’s 2007 season. He was traded not long after that to the River City Rascals who released him just six days later.

Tim Bausher (1998-01) – Bausher was drafted by the Mariners in 2001 and, despite spending a majority of his baseball career in the minor leagues, he became the third Golden Bear ever to play in the majors in 2005 when the Red Sox called him up for one game. He also had stints with the Brewers, Rockies, Reds, and Royals. After being released by the Royals in 2007, Bausher signed with the Nashua Pride of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (CanAm League). Nashua exercised its option on Bausher for the 2008 season, but placed him on waivers in February. The New Jersey Jackals claimed him on February 14, but he was released on May 3 and is now a free agent.

Glenn Woolard (2000-02) – Woolard was drafted in the 10^th round of the 2002 draft by the Giants. He spent time at low A Salem-Keizer in 2002 and A Hagerstown in 2003 before getting traded to the Brewers on March 30, 2004. He pitched a majority of the 2004 season for AA Huntsville, but also saw some time at AAA Indianapolis. In 2005, Woolard wrapped up his minor league career with a 7-11 record and 4.92 ERA for Huntsville. He managed a 25-26 record and 3.77 ERA in his minor league career.

Andy Bausher (1995-97) – Bausher was drafted by the Pirates in the sixth round of the 1997 draft. He spent 1997-2000 playing low-A, A, and high-A ball for the Pirates before being traded to the Padres on August 8, 2000. He started 2001 with San Diego’s high-A team (Lake Elsinore) before working his way up to AAA Portland by the end of 2002. Bausher’s minor league career concluded after making seven AAA appearances in 2003. He had a 27-37 career record and a 4.44 career ERA.

Steve Fitch (1997-00) – Fitch was drafted by the Indians in the 2000 draft. He worked his way up to AA Akron in 2001, but spent 2002 playing at A Hickory and advanced A Kinston before signing with the Pirates on December 6, 2002. He made just 12 appearances at high A Lynchburg in 2003 before his career came to an end. He managed a 15-14 career record and a 4.11 ERA.

John Rozich (1996-99) – Rozich, the only KU non-pitcher to get drafted, was drafted by the Dodgers in 1999 and lasted just one season at low-A Yakima. The catcher hit .231 and hit two homers in his 134 at bat career.

Matt Haverly (2002-04) – Haverly’s professional baseball career lasted just one season as a part of two independent Northern League teams in 2004. He pitched a combined 7.1 innings for Lincoln and Winnipeg, notching an 8.87 ERA before he was released.

Nick Johnson (1999-00) – Johnson played for three Frontier league teams following the conclusion of his career at KU. The Designated hitter/outfielder started out with Cook County in 2003 and played through the 2006 season with Windy City and Rockford. He hit .304 and notched 21 homers in 1087 career at bats.

Clay Kuklick (2002-05) – Kuklick, a catcher and current KU assistant coach, spent 2005 with the Elmira Pioneers of the CanAm League before moving on to the New Jersey Jackals for the 2006 and 2007 campaigns. Kuklick had a .280 career batting average and hit three homeruns in 389 at bats.

Donny Langdon (2003-04) – Langdon signed with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League in 2004 and spent and year and a half there before signing with the Mariners to play at A Wisconsin. He managed a 0-3 record and 4.75 ERA there before returning to Evansville in 2006. Langdon moved on to the North Shore Spirit of the CanAm League in 2007. Combined, he managed a 7-8 record and 3.23 ERA in his minor league career. Langdon is currently a member of the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association League and is the pitching coach at King’s College. He is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 6 relief appearances for the Pelicans this season.

I believe I covered everyone from the 1990s until the present time. If you find something I missed, please email me or leave a comment on this article and I will be sure to update it.

Also, some other random alumni news: Women’s basketball center Mercedes Van Wagner heads to Europe in July to try out for a European team and then will play overseas for three to four months starting in September.

Senior Day!

Rachel Weidensaul, Molly Brown, and Mercedes Van Wagner each played their final game at Keystone Hall on Saturday afternoon. As always, photos by Tony Vasquez.

Loss overshadows Senior Day

East Stroudsburg Warriors 83
Kutztown Golden Bears 72

Recap:
Despite already knowing they were eliminated from the PSAC playoff race, the women’s basketball team gave it their all in the team’s regular season finale. Unfortunately for them, playoff-bound East Stroudsburg played an outstanding game and was able to come away with the 11 point victory.

Key Stat:
838. The game was meaningless with both team’s postseason fates already set, so why not focus on some history. Mercedes Van Wagner will one day be a member of the Kutztown University Hall of Fame and she added to her already outstanding resume today. In her last game as a Golden Bear, the senior center hauled in 11 rebounds to give her 838 for her career, a new KU career record. She is also KU’s all time block leader and one of 11 ladies to score 1,000 career points.

Key Moment:
As much as I’d like to ignore the disappointing end to the season and focus on the positives, the moment of the game that really turned the tables was pretty clear. KU trailed by 20 with 9:16 left in the game before they went on an 8-0 run that stole them the game’s momentum and got them to within 12 with 7:00 to play. Right when it seemed like the Golden Bears were about to wheel in the Warriors, a timeout was called. It is officially listed as a media timeout, but the referee appeared to gesture as though KU coach Janet Malouf called for it. Regardless of who called it, the timeout proved to be costly as ESU came out of the timeout strong with a 5-0 run that put the game away for good.

Golden Performance:
As mentioned, Van Wagner was stellar, hauling in 11 rebounds. She also scored 12 points, which marks yet another double-double, one of dozens in her successful career at KU. Van Wagner was 6-of-6 from the free throw line and also recorded a steal and block. She will be missed.

Not-So-Golden Performance:
No one on KU played a particularly poor game, so there aren’t many negatives to point out in that regard. The most disappointing thing about the game to me was the fact that Molly Brown played just 8 minutes. Playing in her final game, the senior center managed 3 boards and 4 points on 1-of-4 shooting. It was unfortunate that coach Malouf didn’t allow her more minutes, especially since it was a meaningless game. Brown struggled with injuries throughout her four-year career and never saw consistent minutes because of that. However, she stuck with it and has done a decent job off the bench for KU when she has been healthy. It was really upsetting to me to not see her play more than 8 minutes. Even though they are both centers, Van Wagner and Brown certainly could’ve played at the same time, similar to how they did last year.

Impact:
ESU will head off to Millersville for the playoffs, while the Golden Bears will begin planning for 2008-09. KU will lose Mercedes Van Wagner, Rachel Weidensaul, and Molly Brown to graduation, so they will need to find a way to replace that size. Rachel Wisemiller will likely step into the starting lineup for Weidensaul and Coach Malouf apparently has at least two freshman forwards set to step into significant playing time. Chauntelle Schroeder and Claire Sitarz will also be expected to step into significant minutes in the front court in an attempt to replace the production of Van Wagner. KU will return 3 starters in Meredith Starr, Lara Dellegrotti, and Melissa McQuade. McQuade was superb as a freshman and will be expected to be the top scoring threat for KU in 2008-09. Dellegrotti will enter her senior season looking to carry the torch in the back court and will be counted on to distribute the basketball and hit three point buckets. Starr did a decent job handling the ball as a freshman and will need to improve in her sophomore campaign. Wisemiller, Melvin, and Dovey will also likely be big parts of the KU rotation next year.

The Golden Bears finish the season with an 11-16 overall record. They went 4-8 in the PSAC East, the worst divisional mark put up by a Janet Malouf team since her arrival in 1994-95. In Malouf’s first eight years at KU, her team’s posted a 64-32 record against PSAC East opponents. Since that point, KU has gone 32-40 over her last six years.

2006-07 Women's Basketball - PER Rating

I managed to create an excel spreadsheet that I can use to find out the KU players PER. If you are not familiar with PER, it is an extremely complicated player rating system created by John Hollinger. It is widely known and used as a way to rate NBA players.
My first project was to plug in the women's basketball statistics from last season (2006-07). Here are the results:
1. Mercedes Van Wagner - 25.00
2. Jess Brady - 17.98
3. Claire Sitarz - 16.59
4. Molly Brown - 16.08
5. Amanda Jennings - 15.61
6. Rachel Wisemiller - 15.07
7. Katie Harlor - 14.33
8. Rachel Weidensaul - 13.88
9. Lara Dellegrotti - 13.54
10. Amanda Giannotti - 12.05
11. Vivian Melvin - 11.92
12. Katie Dovey - 11.52
13. Kelley Healey - 7.50
14. C. Schroeder - 4.18
15. Jenn Loprete - 4.01
16. Laura Petriello - 3.72
17. Shir Suez - 0.00

What I've learned from my formula and from PER is that size is a big factor in women's basketball. Have you noticed how centers and forwards rate convincingly better than guards? It's science my friend.

I'll continue plugging stats into PER and have some results on the men and women next week.

Ladies look for revenge against ESU

What: East Stroudsburg Warriors @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, March 1, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

When the Kutztown Golden Bears face off with the East Stroudsburg Warriors on Saturday, it will be a meaningless game with both teams’ postseason fates already determined…or will it?

KU will be taking on the team that barely beat them out for this season’s fourth and final PSAC East playoff spot. The Warriors (5-6) beat Mansfield on Wednesday night, which clinched them the fourth seed, thus eliminating the Golden Bears (4-7). KU could try to exact some revenge on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears enter the game 11-15 overall this season and will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season. KU is coming off a 72-59 loss at Cheyney (7-5) this past Saturday and has lost five of its last seven games. This will be the team’s season finale.

The Warriors, meanwhile, will be looking to build some momentum for their first round playoff bout with Millersville (11-0). ESU cannot improve it’s standing in the division, but will likely not back down with a tough challenge ahead of them the following Tuesday. The Warriors are coming off Wednesday’s 64-44 shellacking of Mansfield, but have lost six of their last nine games.

The teams first met this season on Feb. 2 with ESU defending its home court by a score of 67-59. Melissa McQuade carried the KU offense with 20 points and 11 boards. ESU had three scorers reach double-digits, with Kristen Murray scoring 17, Jackie Yandrisevits notching 15, and Monika Fogelsanger dropping 11.

Probable Starters:

East Stroudsburg:
F- # 45 – Monika Fogelsanger
G- #11 – Keri Cahill
G- #20 – Mel Villano
G- # 32 – DeAnna Rayam
G- # 43 – Jackie Yandrisevits

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:

The Golden Bears have failed to play consistent basketball down the stretch, thus costing them an opportunity to play postseason basketball. They will look to find some of that consistency and to build for the 2008-09 season in this game.

The seniors (Van Wagner, Weidensaul, Molly Brown) will likely see significant action with the team already eliminated. With that said, don’t expect KU to lay back and let the Warriors run all over them. The Golden Bears should be motivated to knock off the team who beat them out for the final playoff spot. KU has the talent to do it, starting in the frontcourt.

The Warriors will see a lot of Van Wagner and McQuade, both who have double-double potential in the paint. If they struggle, Coach Janet Malouf will look to leading scorer Weidensaul or to guards Lara Dellegrotti and Rachel Wisemiller, who has been stellar as of late.

Meanwhile, the ESU front court is not so shabby, with Fogelsanger and Yandrisevits working the inside. Yandrisevits generally leads the team in scoring, but this is far from a one woman team. Murray, Fogelsanger, and Rayam each average over 8.5 points per game and any one of them can go off for 20 at any given time.

The Golden Bears will have their hands full on both ends off the court, much like the first meeting, but KU does have similar (if not more) talent than the Warriors and could easy take care of business in their season finale.

Prediction:

The games that don’t really mean anything are the hardest ones to predict. Will KU come out motivated to knock off bitter rival ESU? Or will they come out downtrodden and unmotivated after being eliminated from the playoff picture?

Personally, I can’t see it going over too well with the seniors on this team if they fall in their last game at Kutztown. Expect Van Wagner to be as motivated as ever with nothing to lose in her final game. Only one of 11 1,000 point scorers in school history, she has been a treat to watch for the last four years and isn’t about to disappoint with the end of the line in plain view.

McQuade, Wisemiller, Brown, and Weidensaul (yes, in that order) will all add in enough scoring to lead KU to a slim season finale victory.

East Stroudsburg 61
Kutztown 62

Ladies look for revenge at Cheyney

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Cheyney Wolves
When: Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Cope Hall on the campus of Cheyney University

The Golden Bears head into Saturday’s matchup with Cheyney in need of a victory if they hope to qualify for the PSAC playoffs. KU is 4-6 in the division and currently trails East Stroudsburg by one-half game for the final playoff spot (See Playoff Picture).

The Golden Bears have won two of their last three games, but are coming off Wednesday’s 13 point loss to division-leading Millersville (9-0).

The Wolves have already clinched a postseason berth, meaning this season will mark their first trip to the playoffs since the 1989-90 season. Cheyney is 6-4 in the division and is playing for an opportunity to host a first round playoff game. The Wolves are coming off a game in which they were shellacked by West Chester 84-52.

These teams last met on Feb. 2, with Cheyney making an improbable comeback in the second half to upset KU by a score of 77-66. The Golden Bears led throughout that game, by double-digits at most points, but collapsed in the final minutes and scored just 2 points in the overtime period.

Probable Starters:
Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Cheyney:
F- # 15 – Angel Stephens
F- # 32 – Stephanie Orgi
F- # 21 – Lillian Penn
G- # 24 – Ashley Blake
G- # 20 – Danielle Jones

Scouting Report:
The Golden Bears will enter this game looking to continue their gameplan of moving the ball all over creation until they find someone open for a shot. This offensive style has been successful as of late and has resulted in a conference leading 164 assists during divisional play.

The problem with KU’s offensive attack has been a lack of consistency. One player will step up and have a big couple of games and then disappear for the next few. If Coach Malouf can get consistent play from her core of talented athletes, KU can contend with anyone, even Millersville. Sure the Golden Bears were swept by the Marauders this season, but it was episodes of epic collapses during parts of those games that were the difference. At one point or another this season, KU has outplayed every divisional opponent.

Melissa McQuade was outstanding in the team’s first meeting with the Wolves. She had a double-double, scoring 14 points and hauling in 17 rebounds. Three other Golden Bears reached double digits, but KU turned the ball over a whopping 35 times.

The Golden Bears will look to McQuade, as well as, Mercedes Van Wagner to carry the load in this game. Both have been playing better and better as the season goes on and they will need to step up against a respectable front court.

In the last meeting, the three other double-digit scorers for KU were guards (Wisemiller, Melvin, Starr). If the Cheyney defense collapses on the KU frontcourt on Saturday, the guards will once again be relied on to hit jump shots.

As for the KU defense, they will be looking to their front court to shut down the efforts of forwards Angel Stephens (16 points and 14 rebounds in the first meeting) and Stephanie Orgi (12 points, 8 rebounds). Meanwhile, the guards will have their hands full with Danielle Jones, who led all scorers with 18 points in the first meeting and leads Cheyney in scoring.

Prediction:
The Golden Bears had this game won in the last meeting, and there is no reason to doubt them this time around. This team has collapsed late in games on several occasions, but the one against Cheyney was the worst of them and unlikely to be repeated. As for the Wolves, they were on a roll, but they were just smoked by West Chester and you have to believe that experience will play a factor down the stretch. Cheyney is already in the playoffs and KU is more talented with more to play for. It will be tough on the road, but the Golden Bears will pull it out in the end.

Kutztown 67
Cheyney 61

Slow start spoils upset bid

Kutztown Golden Bears 43
Millersville Marauders 56

Recap: Millersville opened the game by taking a 15-0 lead and led by as many as 22 in the first half en route a PSAC East victory over KU on Wednesday. The Golden Bears climbed to within 9 points in the early stages of the second half, but the Marauders, now 9-0 in the PSAC East, held on for the 13 point victory. KU is now 11-14 overall this season.

Telling Stat: The game was fairly even once the Golden Bears gave the Marauders a 15 point handicap. Had the first 8 minutes of the game not counted, KU certainly could have pulled off the upset. With that said, the most telling stat of the evening was the Golden Bears shooting percentage of just 14% (3-of-21) in the first half. Not to be discounted is KU’s 27 turnovers, 20 of which were forced by MU steals.

Key moment: The quick 15-0 MU run might seem like the obvious key series of the game, but the truth is that KU had a chance to come back. With 17:56 left in the second half, Mercedes Van Wagner dropped in a layup to cut the KU deficit to 9. That was as close as the Golden Bears would get, however, as the Marauders answered with a 7-2 run to all but put the game away. KU wouldn’t get any closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Chauntelle Schroeder has been anything but a regular in the KU lineup this season, but she has to be earning Coach Malouf’s confidence as of late. Last evening, Schroeder scored a career-high 13 points, hauled in 5 boards, and recorded 2 blocks. She was 3-of-4 from the field and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. She has had some foul troubles in her career, but committed just one last night. The most impressive stat you ask? She played just 8 minutes! Do the math. If she played 24 minutes (near the average for a KU center), she was on pace to score 39 points and haul in 15 boards. Sure, she would’ve dropped off from her pace in all likelihood, but damn, I hope you were watching Malouf. Schroeder has proved she has the size and athleticism to cause problems for opposing defenses.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: There are a few players who played poorly last night, but the one that stands out the most in the boxscore is Vivian Melvin. The sophomore was 0-for-5 from the floor and scored just 2 points in 22 minutes of work. She had two steals, but failed to chip in with an assist, a must for guards in this offense.

Impact: The loss, coupled with East Stroudsburg’s win over Bloomsburg last night, drops KU back out of the top 4 in the PSAC East. KU is now 4-6 in the division, one-half game behind the 4-5 Warriors. Left on the schedule is Cheyney and ESU. KU may need to beat Cheyney, but definitely must beat ESU if they hope to be playoff bound. Look for a more in depth outlook on the playoffs later.

Ladies look to upset East-leading Marauders

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Millersville Marauders
When: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 @ 6 p.m.
Where: Puscillo Gymnasium on the campus of Millersville University

The Golden Bears have quite the challenge on their plates as they prepare to head to Millersville on Wednesday evening. Kutztown (11-13, 4-5) is coming off back-to-back wins for the first time since December, but will be going up against the PSAC East-leading Millersville (19-4, 8-0).

The Golden Bears currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the PSAC East. They trail Cheyney (6-3) by two full games for the three seed and lead East Stroudsburg (3-5) by one-half game for that final playoff spot.

The Marauders have already clinched a PSAC East playoff berth and are winners of nine straight games including a 65-40 beatdown of KU on Jan. 23 at Keystone Hall.

Both teams struggled out of the gate offensively in that game, with MU taking just a 24-19 advantage at the half. The Marauders exploded in the second half, however, outscoring KU 41-21. Jenna Craig and Gladine St. Julien dominated KU’s frontcourt, accounting for a combined 28 points and 19 rebounds. The Golden Bears actually outshot the Marauders from the field, but turned the ball over 25 times, were outrebounded by 11, and made a telling 19 less free throws.

Probable Starters:
Millersville:
F- # 3 – Jenna Craig
F- # 22 – Gladine St. Julien
G- # 30 – Kari Cover
G- # 32 – Jenna Philo
G- # 34 – Aiesha Bellamy

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:
The most glaring deficiency for KU in the teams’ first meeting was the lack of a front court presence. The Golden Bears played solid defense in the first half, but fell flat on their faces in the second half, allowing Millersville’s big scorers to dictate the game. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Craig and St. Julien were winning on their offensive end, they also shut down KU’s offensive attack, holding them to a season low 40 points.

The Golden Bears will need a stellar defensive showing from front court leaders Mercedes Van Wagner and Melissa McQuade. If the Golden Bears can slow down Craig and St. Julien and find a way to score the basketball, they can contend with this team.

With that all being said, MU is far from a 2-lady team, as they’ve had five different players lead them in scoring over their last six games. Ashley Moyer, Jenna Philo, and Kari Cover are also excellent scorers who can easily pave the way to victory for the Marauders.

It won’t be easy, but KU needs to play disciplined basketball and do several things better than they have if they want to keep this close. It will start by slowing down the Marauder scoring attack and will end with protecting the basketball and finding ways to get clean looks at the net. The Golden Bears gameplan should be similar to what has been working over the last few weeks. They need to pass the ball all over the floor until someone gets a clean look. KU has worked the ball around so well that they’ve been left open for wide open three pointers on multiple occasions. A big day from beyond the arc would keep them in the game and, if they play solid defense, would be a recipe for an upset.

Prediction:
KU has some confidence following back-to-back wins, but Millersville is a powerhouse in the PSAC and will not allow a KU upset on their court. The Golden Bears have the tools to pull off the shocker, but they need to do way too many things perfect to actually win the game. For a veteran team, I’d give them more of a shot here, but coach Malouf loves playing the underclassmen and that won’t change on Wednesday. The ladies will fall behind early and won’t be able to overcome the tough Puscillo Gymnasium environment.

Kutztown 53
Millersville 68

Ladies complete sweep of Huskies

Bloomsburg Huskies 56
Kutztown Golden Bears 76

Recap: The Golden Bears took an early lead and never looked back as they easily handled the Huskies at Keystone Hall on Saturday. KU led by as many as 15 in the first half and extended that to 20 by the final whistle. The Huskies hung in the game early on thanks to a few buckets from leading scorer Colleen Kegerreis, but it wasn’t long before it was clear that KU was the superior team.

Telling Stat: The Golden Bears did not shoot much better than the Huskies in this game, but they did hit 8 three pointers and outrebounded them 47-36. The most significant stat of this affair was a margin of 21-9 in the assist department. KU, tops in the PSAC during conference play in assists, wore down the BU defense by continuing to work the ball around the court until someone was open for a clean look.

Key series: KU appeared to have put the game to bed late in the first half when they led by 15 points. However, the Huskies went on a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to single digits at the break and were within 5 with 17:27 left in the second half. The key series of the day game next as KU answered with a 9-0 run and a stretch in which they outscored the Huskies 20-5. It was started by a Rachel Weidensaul jumper and continued with two layups and a free throw from Mercedes Van Wagner. Vivian Melvin completed the 9 point swing with a layup.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Van Wagner was a monster on the boards (8 points, 13 boards), but the athlete who seemed to make the big shots and took the air out of every BU run was Rachel Wisemiller. The sophomore scored a team-high 16 points and was 4-of-5 from beyond the three point arc. She also had 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: KU hosted the mascot Olympics yesterday with several local mascots battling it out for mascot supremacy during breaks in the action. This award goes to whoever came up with the idea for that pink, creepy-looking softball team’s mascot. What was that thing?

Impact: The Golden Bears’ win was huge as it propelled them back into the playoff picture. KU currently sits at 4-5 and holds the fourth and final playoff spot in the PSAC East. With the win over BU, KU’s biggest challenge for the final playoff spot will be East Stroudsburg, who trails them by just one-half of a game. Left on the schedule for the Golden Bears are trips to Millersville (8-0) and Cheyney (6-3) before a huge regular season finale at home against ESU (3-5).

Ladies continue playoff push against Huskies

What: Bloomsburg Huskies @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, February 16, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

The Golden Bears head into Saturday’s contest with the Bloomsburg Huskies knowing that a loss would result in devastating consequences with regards to their playoff hopes. Just off a convincing win at Mansfield on Wednesday, KU currently sits in fifth place in the PSAC East at 3-5. The Golden Bears trail Millersville (7-0), West Chester (5-2), Cheyney (5-3), and East Stroudsburg (3-4) for one of the four divisional playoff spots.

Meanwhile, the Huskies are in a similar situation. They sit just behind KU with a record of 2-6 and need this win to creep back into playoff contention. BU is coming off a game in which they were smoked 72-50 at Millersville on Wednesday.

These teams last met in Bloomsburg on Jan. 26 with the Golden Bears coming away with a convincing 71-52 victory. KU shot an impressive 49 percent in that game and were led by a 20 point day from leading scorer Rachel Weidensaul. 11 Golden Bears scored in a game in which KU outrebounded the Huskies 44-25.

Probable Starters:

Bloomsburg:
C- # 25 – Colleen Kegerreis
F- # 31 – Monica Dennison
F- # 20 – Kelly Joyce
G- # 21 – Lauren Healy
G- # 22 – Stephanie Jones

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:

The Golden Bears should have no trouble in this game, but that does not mean Bloomsburg is short on players who can help them to an upset. In the first meeting, center Colleen Kegerreis played the entire game, scoring a team-high 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Kegerreis the team’s clear best player and is one rebound per game short of averaging a double double on the season. KU will be looking to it’s inside game to try and shut her down, with Mercedes Van Wagner and Claire Sitarz likely to see much of the time defending her. Lauren Healy scored just 5 points in that first game, but averages just over 11 points per game this season.

Coach Malouf is likely to continue her trend of going with the hot hands and running a pass first offense. KU has been playing better on the offensive end lately and much of that credit goes to an improved passing game. The Golden Bears lead the PSAC in assists in conference play and that has been a product off them focusing on passing the ball all over the court until someone has a clear lane to the net. That is likely to continue on Saturday, as KU will be looking to build some offensive momentum for a tough road game against Millersville next Wednesday.

The Golden Bears cannot afford to lay back and let the Huskies dictate this game. KU needs to come out strong and put this game out of reach as soon as possible to give BU no hope for an upset. If the Huskies build some confidence in the first half, there is no reason to believe they can pull off the win in the second half.

Prediction:

Expect KU to come out and play well. The players know they need to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive and they won’t allow a letdown. Coming off a throttling of Mansfield, the Golden Bears will have a big first half before coasting through the second frame to back to back PSAC East wins.

If Weidensaul plays well early, look for her to score near 20 points again. If not, expect Melissa McQuade and Mercedes Van Wagner to carry the scoring load for KU.

Bloomsburg 55
Kutztown 70

Mansfield no match for Van Wagner, Golden Bears

Kutztown Golden Bears 63
Mansfield Mountaineers 49

Recap: The Golden Bears erased a three game losing streak by taking care of business in Mansfield on Wednesday evening. KU allowed the Mounties to keep the game close early on, leading by only two at the half, but the ladies pulled away early in the second frame fueled by a 9-0 run. Four Golden Bears scored in double figures with Melissa McQuade leading the way with 13. Lara Dellegrotti and Katie Dovey (pictured) added 12, while Mercedes Van Wagner scored 11.

Telling Stat: The Golden Bears were on fire, outshooting the Mounties by 20 percent on the evening. KU shot 47 percent from the floor, while Mansfield hit just 27 percent of their shots. That margin was the clear difference in the game. Also of note was a 2-of-9 shooting day from MU’s leading scorer, Alicia Espigh. The PSAC leader in three pointers made was held without an attempt from beyond the arc and scored just 8 points, four of which came from the free throw line.

Key moment: As mentioned, this game was tight throughout the first 22 minutes, but KU was able to pull ahead early in the second half. Up two points with 17:55 to play, KU recorded a 9-0 run which was fueled by a Dellegrotti three pointer, back to back buckets by McQuade and Dovey, and a three point play by Van Wagner.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: For the second time in as many tries this season, Van Wagner notched a double-double against the Mountaineers. Last evening, the senior scored 11 points and hauled in a game-high 14 boards. She was 4-of-6 from the floor, 3-of-3 from the charity stripe, and had 4 blocks. As mentioned in my preview for this game, Van Wagner should be relied on if KU hopes to climb back into the playoff race. She certainly did the job last night against the Mounties.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: I hate to give out this award following a win, but there is always someone who had a rough day. Last evening it was freshman Meredith Starr, who has struggled during divisional play. Starr was 0-of-3 from the floor, recording 0 points, 1 assist, and 1 turnover in 14 minutes of work. The freshman has now failed to hit a field goal in three straight games, shooting 0-of-12 from the floor for a total of 3 points. In that time, coach Malouf has allowed her a mind-blowing average playing time of 25 minutes per game.

Impact: The game was a must win for KU and they certainly came through. The Golden Bears are now 3-5 in the PSAC East, which is still not quite enough to put them in one of the top 4 playoff spots. They have Bloomsburg next before taking on Millersville, Cheyney, and East Stroudsburg. Bloomsburg should be an easy win, while Millersville won’t be an easy task. Fortunately for KU, they get to play CU and ESU, the two teams just ahead of them for the final playoff spot, in the season’s final two games. Wins in both, and possibly one, of those games would send them to the postseason.

Profile: Mercedes Van Wagner

Vitals:
Player: Mercedes Van Wagner
Height: 6’1”
Number: 53
Class: Senior
Hometown: Mullica Hill, N.J.
High School: Clearview Regional
Major: Elementary Education
Position: Center
Depth Chart: Starter

Stats: Mercedes “Benz” Van Wagner is KU’s all-time leader in blocks. She had 136 coming into her senior season and eclipsed Becky Savage’s previous mark of 164 on Jan. 19. Van Wagner also joined the 1,000 point club earlier this season, making her just the 11^th KU women’s basketball player to reach that mark. Benz was the 2004-05 PSAC Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-PSAC second team following the 2006-07 season. Last season, she recorded a career high 11.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. Van Wagner has shot over 50 percent in each of her seasons at KU. This season, she is third on the team in scoring (8.4 PPG), second in rebounding (6.4 RPG), and first in blocks (48).

Breakdown: Van Wagner has been an impact player ever since her arrival at KU four years ago. She has been a fixture in the Golden Bears’ starting lineup, notching a start in all but 6 of the games she has appeared in. Benz has been a constant presence in the lane, forcing opponents to base their game plan around her. She generally has either a very good or a very bad day, usually depending on how the defense handles her. If Van Wagner makes a few buckets in a row, it could be a long day for the opposing frontcourt.

Strengths: As mentioned, Van Wagner is hard to stop when she is on a roll. She is 6’1” and very few players in PSAC can match up with her. If she gets the ball on the block, there is a good chance she will finish. Teams will tend to double her when she gets the ball inside, which certainly limits her offensive ability. Van Wagner is even more of an asset defensively. The PSAC’s premiere distributor of blocks over the last few seasons, Benz is also a monster on the glass, averaging near a double-double on most occasions. Opposing centers generally have a hard time scoring on her in the lane.

Weaknesses: Van Wagner often gets rattled once defenders shut her down a few times early in games. Her impact on a game generally will rely heavily on those first few opportunities. If she scores a few times, she will be fired up and have a big game. If she gets the ball blocked away or misses a few close range shots, it could be a long day. Although she generally has the size advantage, she sometimes tries to do too much in the lane and ends up shooting poorly from the field. Van Wagner does not move around too well so, like most centers, she struggles when she gets the ball and isn’t within a few feet of the net. Benz doesn’t have great hands and defenders can often knock the ball out of her grasp following a rebound or once she receives a pass not directly to her.

Impact: Van Wagner could be utilized better on the offensive end, but there is no doubt that she is a superior defensive asset. With more opportunities offensively, she would likely be much more of an impact player. As mentioned, her major flaw is becoming rattled early and allowing that to cost her throughout games. The reason she excels when she starts off well is because her confidence is sky high and she gets aggressive, using her body to pound the ball inside and score possession after possession. If KU hopes to recover and make the PSAC playoffs this season, much of it will hinge on Van Wagner. She is coming off a big game against West Chester and if she can carry that momentum and confidence into the remainder of the team’s games, there is no reason to believe she can’t score 20 in each outing.

Ladies look to 'Mountie' a comeback

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ Mansfield University
When: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ 5:30 p.m.
Where: Decker Gymnasium on the campus of Mansfield University

The KU women’s basketball team will head to Mansfield this Wednesday for a game that certainly has playoff implications for both squads. The Mounties sit at 1-6 and are bringing up the rear in the PSAC East, while the Golden Bears are just one game ahead of them at 2-5. A KU loss would all but extinguish their playoff hopes, as they would need a lot of help from the divisions other teams if they hoped to sneak back in. Kutztown is 9-13 overall this season.

The Golden Bears are coming off Saturday’s 67-65 home loss against West Chester. It was their third straight loss and fifth of their last six games. KU led in the late stages of each of their last three games, but mistakes down the stretch allowed their opponents to take charge and steal the wins. The Golden Bears divisional wins have been over Mansfield and Bloomsburg, while losses were to West Chester (twice), Cheyney, Millersville, and East Stroudsburg.

The Mountaineers head into Wednesday’s affair coming off a game in which they were manhandled by division-leading Millersville by a score of 62-39. Mansfield is 6-16 overall this season and has lost 8 of its last 9 games.

These teams last met on Jan. 16 at Keystone Hall. The Golden Bears came away with the 59-51 win, but the Mounties led for much of the day. KU trailed by 8 at the half, but quickly erased that deficit in the second half thanks in part to an 18 point, 13 rebound day from Mercedes Van Wagner. The Golden Bears turned the ball over just 9 times in that game, but a 33 percent shooting day allowed the Mounties to keep it close.

Probable Starters:
Mansfield:
C- #35 – Merissa Gaeta
F- #24 – Emily Akins
F- #25 – Alicia Espigh
G- #34 – Clarissa Correll
G- #10 – Jeanette Meacham

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:

Much like KU, Mansfield does not showcase one or two superstars and often has a different leading scorer from game to game. With that being said, the focal point of the Golden Bears game plan will be focusing in on Alicia Espigh and Clarissa Correll, both double digit scorers. Correll is a machine in the steals and assists category, while Espigh averages just under 14 points a game and is a 48 percent shooter. Jeanette Meacham (9.5 PPG) and Courtney Brooks (8.9 PPG) should not be overlooked. Brooks returned to action on Saturday against Millersville after missing 9 straight games.

The Golden Bears have had there problems shooting the ball this season, but looked much better against West Chester. If KU shoots how they did against the Golden Rams, they should roll over the Mounties. If they struggle with the shooting game, it will be a crapshoot similar to the first meeting. The Golden Bears must focus on continuing to move the ball around on offense in order to find ways to get the ball inside to top scorers McQuade and Van Wagner. Van Wagner is ten times the player when she gets the ball on the block rather than when she is forced to make a play from the top of the key. McQuade can shoot from anywhere, but coach Malouf must find more ways to take advantage of her exceptional ability to maneuver in the lane, especially in the second half.

Prediction: The Golden Bears will win this game. They took care of business against the Mounties at home earlier this season and they know they are the superior team in this case. KU should have won their last three games and late game implosions were the only thing that is keeping them from a 5-2 record as opposed to 2-5. There is no reason to believe this team cannot recover and make the PSAC playoffs. It will start Wednesday with a pounding of the struggling Lady Mounties.

Kutztown 450
Mansfield 12

Haha! You thought I was serious. As nice as that would be, here is the real prediction:

Kutztown 71
Mansfield 54

Another collapse overshadows 1,000 for Benz

West Chester Golden Rams 67
Kutztown Golden Bears 65

Recap: The Golden Bears blew another game that they lead throughout the day, allowing their opponent to erase a second half deficit for the third straight contest. The collapse put a damper on the performance of Mercedes Van Wagner who led all scorers with 24 points, which included the 1,000 point of her career. KU, who led by as many as 10 in the first half, went with a different look for much of the game, with Katie Dovey, Rachel Wisemiller, and Vivian Melvin replacing Mercedes Van Wagner, Rachel Weidensaul, and Lara Dellegrotti in the starting lineup. Van Wagner saw regular minutes, while Dellegrotti played just 10 minutes and leading-scorer Weidensaul sat out the entire first half before playing over half of the second. The removal of the three stars from the starting lineup was reportedly due to late arrival at the arena.

Telling Stat: The Golden Rams stole the ball 15 times, which accounting for a majority of the Golden Bears’ 22 turnovers. KU didn’t do an awful job protecting the ball, but the aggressiveness and speed of the Golden Rams allowed them to make the big plays when it counted most.

Key play: With KU up by one point with 28 seconds to play, WCU’s Natalie Winters missed a three pointer that was rebounded by Meredith Starr. This should have significantly improved KU’s chance of winning the game, but the freshman didn’t know what to do with the ball and couldn’t find a teammate to dish the ball to. Megan Stewart stepped in, ripped the ball out of her hands, and laid the ball in for an easy bucket, which gave the Rams the lead and, in turn, the win.

Most Valuable Golden Bear: Van Wagner was the star of the day, but how about rarely-used sophomore Chauntelle Schroeder. She stepped into the game with Melissa McQuade in foul trouble and made her presence felt in only 2 minutes of work. Schroeder was 2-of-3 from the floor for 5 points, hauled in 3 rebounds, and recorded a steal.

Least Valuable Golden Bear: Vivian Melvin has had her problems throughout the past few weeks, but Saturday was certainly one of her worst efforts. The sophomore was 1-of-6 from the floor, notching just two points in an astounding 33 minutes of work. Melvin turned the ball over 7 times, but did help the KU cause with 2 steals and 4 assists.

Impact: This loss is probably more devastating mentally than actually. Kutztown is certainly still in the PSAC playoff race, but I’m not sure how the players can continue to bounce back after falling apart down the stretch game after game. If the Golden Bears can manage to win 3-4 of their final 6 games, they should be playoff bound. Currently they sit at 2-5, one-and-one-half game back of East Stroudsburg (3-3) for the fourth and final PSAC East playoff spot.

Ladies look to recover against rival Golden Rams

What: West Chester University @ Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday, February 9, 2008 @ 1 p.m.
Where: Keystone Hall on the campus of Kutztown University

The KU women’s basketball team will head into this Saturday’s bout with West Chester in need of a big win. The Golden Bears (9-12, 2-4) have lost two straight and are currently on the outside looking in at the PSAC East playoff picture. KU opened divisional play with a win over Mansfield, but has since won just one of its five games, including two recent heartbreaking losses against Cheyney and East Stroudsburg.

West Chester (12-8, 4-2), meanwhile, is coming off a 73-63 loss to division-leading Millersville, but the Golden Rams have already knocked KU off once this season.

Back on Jan. 19, the Golden Bears headed to West Chester looking to improve to 2-0 in the division. The Rams had KU’s number, however, and handled them relatively easy by a score of 68-56. Rachel Weidensaul had a huge day for the Golden Bears, dropping a career-high 23 points, but it was not enough for the win.

An upset by KU would put them right back in the thick of things in the playoff race, while a loss would but them in an even deeper hole.

Probable Starters:

West Chester:
F- # 25 – Janelle Garber
F- # 13 – Megan Stewart
G- # 12 – Dana Weems
G- #10 – Lindsay Weller
G- # 23 – Catherine Andrews

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:
Despite a season-ending injury to their best player, Katie Kline, West Chester has been able to keep up in the highly competitive PSAC East. The last time these two teams met, four Golden Rams scored in the double digits, leading WCU to the convincing win.

The Golden Bears will need to win the one-on-one matchups if they want to earn the victory this time around on their home floor. KU was out-rebounded 48-41 and allowed the Rams to shoot over 40 percent in the first meeting. Also of note was KU’s 3-of-12 performance from the free throw line in that game.

KU will need to focus there attention on Dana Weems. Weems has been the go-to scorer for the Golden Rams as of late, leading them in scoring in 5 of their last 7 games. She scored 12 points and grabbed 12 boards in the first meeting.

Weidensaul was sensational the first time around, but she had little help. Melissa McQuade has been the majority scorer as of late for KU, but, again, she has done most of the scoring by herself. The Golden Bears will need to spread the ball around and get production from all of their scorers, particularly Weidensaul, McQuade, Van Wagner, and Dellegrotti.

Prediction:
As much as I’d like to pick KU to pull off the upset, they’ve given me little to work worth to make that case. The Golden Bears have had a hard time finishing games and, unless adjustments are made, there is little reason to believe that will change on Saturday. KU will stay close in the first half, but the Golden Rams, clearly the better team in the first meeting, will pull out the win down the stretch. Expect Weidensaul and Van Wagner to provide a bulk of the scoring, but it won’t be enough.

WCU 69
KUTZTOWN 61

Lady Bears, Warriors bout for final playoff spot

What: Kutztown Golden Bears @ East Stroudsburg Warriors
When: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 @ 6 p.m.
Where: Koehler Fieldhouse on the campus of East Stroudsburg University

The KU women’s basketball team will be heading to East Stroudsburg tomorrow evening to take on the East Stroudsburg Warriors in a clash of two PSAC East playoff contenders.

Both teams come into the game with divisional records of 2-3 and are tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the competitive eastern division.

KU, 9-11 overall this season, is coming off Wednesday’s heartbreaking loss to the Cheyney Wolves, generally an automatic two wins in the division. With losses to the three teams currently ahead of them in the divisional standings, KU needs to beat ESU to remain in line for a playoff berth.

ESU, meanwhile, is 8-11 overall this season and coming off a 72-64 loss to division-leading Millersville. The Warriors kicked off PSAC East play by defeating Cheyney and Bloomsburg, but have since dropped three straight to West Chester, Mansfield, and the aforementioned Millersville Marauders.

These teams have quite a history together, particularly over the past two seasons, so it should come as no surprise that there is something on the line this time around. During the 2005-06 season, KU lost by just one point at ESU in the final game of regular season, which allowed the Warriors to claim the PSAC East title. Just four days later, the Golden Bears returned to ESU for the PSAC playoffs where they upset the top-seeded Warriors 55-50.

Last season, the Warriors got there revenge, defeating KU twice, including a 72-48 ass-kicking in the last game of the regular season, officially eliminating the Golden Bears from playoff contention. It was the first time KU missed the playoffs in 12 years.

Probable Starters:
ESU:
F- # 45 – Monika Fogelsanger
G- #11 – Keri Cahill
G- #20 – Mel Villano
G- # 32 – DeAnna Rayam
G- # 43 – Jackie Yandrisevits

Kutztown:
C- # 53 – Mercedes Van Wagner (pictured above)
F- # 23 – Melissa McQuade
F- # 15 – Rachel Weidensaul
G- # 13 – Meredith Starr
G- # 5 – Lara Dellegrotti

Scouting Report:

KU’s success will hinge on its ability to stop Yandrisevits. The junior guard is averaging just over 15 points and 6 rebounds a game this season for ESU. If she has a big day, KU could be in trouble. The Golden Bears are generally an outstanding defensive team, but the Warriors come in with a relatively deep team. Unlike the game against Cheyney, the KU defense will be unable to rely on forcing the Warriors to shoot mid range jumpers and three pointers. ESU is expected to start 4 guards and, despite an average team shooting percentage, open looks from the three point arc could result in a field day for the Warriors.

The Golden Bears will have the size advantage in this game and must use it to their advantage. McQuade, Weidensaul and Van Wagner each need to find ways to score in the lane. Coach Malouf may be tempted to counter ESU with an extra guard on the floor, but KU should try to slow down the game and win by dominating the front court.

Prediction:

If the Cheyney game was a must win for KU, this one is a must-must win. The Golden Bears will fall out of the driver’s seat for a PSAC playoff berth with a loss, forcing them to play catch-up the rest of the season with tough road games at Mansfield, Millersville, and Cheyney on tap. With that said, expect KU to come out as motivated as ever. Van Wagner will have a big day inside, scoring near 20 points and notching a double-double. McQuade will be able to get to the net and will also hit double digits in scoring. KU will contain, but not stop Yandrisevits. ESU will struggle to score, as is usually the case for KU opponents, and despite turning the ball over 10 more times than the Warriors, the Golden Bears will sneak away with a close win.

ESU 59
KUTZTOWN 61

Clay Rating System determines top 10 women since 2003

I plugged the women's basketball statistics from the last 5 years (including this season as of 1/31/08) into my player rating formula in order to determine the best 10 single season performances. Only ladies who played significant minutes are included. Enjoy.

1. Danielle Warntz (2003-04) 44.3
2. Rachel Weidensaul (2007-08) 44.0
3. Amanda Zinobile (2003-04) 40.3
4. Melissa McQuade (2007-08) 37.7
5. Lara Dellegrotti (2005-06) 36.6
6. Monique Boykins (2005-06) 34.8
7. Mercedes Van Wagner (2004-05) 34.8
8. Trish Dudeck (2005-06) 34.2
9. Trish McElmoyle (2005-06) 33.7
10. Jessica Brady (2004-05) 33.5

Wait…Cheyney beat who?

What: Women’s Basketball Action: Cheyney Wolves vs. Kutztown Golden Bears
When: Saturday February 2, 2008
Where: Kutztown’s Keystone Hall

The Cheyney Lady Wolves are in town this weekend. Typically that means and easy win for Kutztown, but that is far from the case in 2008.

Despite a 1-9 start to what seemed like the same old dismal season, the Wolves have now won four of eight games and are sitting at 2-3 in the division, one-half game behind KU for the fourth and final PSAC playoff spot. One of their two wins was over perennial Eastern conference powerhouse West Chester, who was fresh off a 68-56 shellacking of KU. On Wednesday they fell to division-leading Millersville by just 5 points.

The win over WCU proves that Cheyney is for real this year and will be no pushover for the Golden Bears. This, of course, is despite the fact that KU has beat them 29 straight times. KU won last seasons matchups by scores of 73-64 and 64-53.

Cheyney is led by senior guard Danielle Jones and sophomore forward Stephanie ‘is this safe to say on the air’ Orgi. Jones leads the team in scoring with 10.1 PPG and is an 85% free throw shooter. Orji is the inside presence for the Wolves, averaging 7.7 PPG, while leading the team in steals (50), and blocks (20).

Other likely starters for Cheyney include senior forward Lillian Penn (7.8 PPG), sophomore forward Angel Stephens (47.3 FG%, 7.6 RPG), and senior guard Ashley Blake (36 assists).

Cheyney has won games by making strides in the paint. The Wolves lead the PSAC in conference play in steals and offensive rebounding. KU will need to counter with a big day from senior center Mercedes Van Wagner if they hope to make it 30 straight wins.

Van Wagner has been inconsistent this season, but is generally a forced to be reckoned with when divisional play kicks off. With that said, following back-to-back double doubles against Mansfield and West Chester, she has been held to 3-of-14 shooting for a total of 10 points and 7 rebounds in the last two games. Without a bounce back by Van Wagner, KU will have issues in the paint.

KU will lean heavily on senior guard Rachel Weidnesaul. She has been on a tear as of late, scoring at least 20 points in three straight games. She currently leads the PSAC East in inter-divisional play scoring.

Joining Van Wagner on the list of players who need a big rebound game is freshman forward Melissa McQuade. The rookie has had her share of consistency issues, but when she is in the zone, she is hard to stop. Following 4 straight double-digit scoring days, McQuade has stumbled to a combined 11 points over the last 3 games.

Freshman guard Meredith Starr and junior guard Lara Dellegrotti will fill out KU’s starting lineup. Starr has done a respectable job handling the ball and filling the role of an assist-happy point guard. Dellegrotti has had another injury-plagued season, but can light up the scoreboard when she gets opportunities to shoot.

Key off the bench will be playmaker Vivian Melvin and consistent contributor Rachel Wisemiller. Coach Janet Malouf will also look to either Claire Sitarz or Molly Brown to relieve Van Wagner at center, while Katie Dovey and Lisi Reyna could also see some work at small/power forward.

In summary, KU will need to be sharp, especially early on, against a rejuvenated and confident Cheyney team. A loss here could be devastating to the Lady Bears playoff chances, where as a win would push them to 3-2 and into the driver’s seat for a chance to play in March.

Prediction:

Kutztown is coming off a solid win against a poor Bloomsburg team and will come out sharp, frustrating a confident, but less talented Cheyney team. KU’s stifling defense will force too many poor shots by the Wolves and KU will sneak away with a 7 point win.

Kutztown 61, Cheyney 54.

Sitarz, Dovey shine in Clay Rating System

I’ve been developing my own rating system for basketball players and I’ve spent quite a bit of time applying it to the KU women’s teams from the last few years. It does rival the Hollinger Player Index, but my formula takes a few more things into consideration. Unfortunately for me, stats like plus/minus are not available for division II basketball, so my progress will be limited.

With that said, I’ve developed a formula that focuses on per-minute production. The big pro to such a method is that it places players who play significant minutes on an even playing field with those who play in limited action. The obvious con here, however, is that a player who comes out and grabs 3 boards and scores 6 points in 5 minutes of mop up work will have a significantly inflated score. The only cure for that is to manually weed out the players who rarely play in key situations. If you’ve seen a few games, this is easy to do.

Here are the ratings for the 2007-08 Lady Bears as of January 30, 2008.

1. Weidensaul 33.3
2. Sitarz 30.3
3. McQuade 29.6
4. Van Wagner 26.3
5. Dovey 26.0
6. Wisemiller 22.7
7. Dellegrotti 19.6
8. Melvin 16.2
9. Schroeder 14.6
10. Reyna 14.0
11. Starr 12.0
12. Brown 7.8
13. Percich 5.1
14. Petriello -9.9

The only two players I would consider to have inflated ratings would be Schroeder and Petriello. Schroeder has seen little action and Petriello is no longer on the team.

If you’ve seen a few games, you are probably not surprised to see names like Weidensaul and McQuade at the top of this list. However, names such as Sitarz (pictured)and Dovey might be shocking. Neither of them sees significant action, but both make quite an impact when they do. Sitarz has scored, rebounded, and caused problems for opposing offenses in the lane. Dovey might be the most fearless player on the KU roster and is an absolute machine on the boards.

So, now you’re probably thinking: Are you saying Sitarz should be seeing more minutes than everyone except Weidensaul? Not necessarily. As coach Malouf was quick to point out when we discussed this type of formula, it fails to take into consideration intangibles such as hustle, discipline, consistency, awareness, etc. Sure the production is there, but this formula is not perfect. Watching a team practice or play a game every day might be enough to evaluate talent for some. This rating system is meant to be used as a tool to help support what you might already know and maybe bring to light something you may have been missing.

What does the formula mean to me? Well, the reason I even decided to formulate it was because I noticed the impact Sitarz and Dovey were making despite limited work. In my opinion, both need to see more action. Van Wagner and McQuade block them from significant minutes, but it can’t hurt to give them extra rest when you have playmakers riding the bench.

As you might imagine, there will be plenty more on this topic later. Comment below.