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Women's Varsity Basketball

2009-10

2009-10 Season Summary

Season Preview

The women’s basketball team will be looking to reclaim the AUS championship in 2009-10 with a roster that has a mix of veteran talent and younger athletes that will give fans plenty to cheer about. When looking at the roster it is obvious that this year’s team is one of the biggest in the program’s history with six players that are over six feet tall. The added size will help against the bigger teams in the AUS and on the national level.

Doug Partridge returns once again for his 18th season at the helm of the program after winning his fifth conference coach of the year award in 2008-09. Partridge is joined this season again by Judy Byrne. Joining Byrne as an assistant are Bill Wiseman and George Mammen, both of whom are no strangers to the Memorial Athletics scene. Newcomer Nathan Agnew will also act as an assistant coach.

Several of the key players from last year’s team will return this season. At the guard position Memorial will be led by Brittany Dalton, last season’s MVP. Dalton is a tenacious defender who brings a multifaceted offensive game to the court. She is the top rebounding guard in the conference and her mix of length and quickness gives defenders problems. Erin Mullaley will return for her final year of eligibility after sitting out last season. Mullaley is a sure handed ball handler who has performed at the highest level and succeeded. She will provide the Sea~Hawks with leadership and a steady ball handler in the backcourt. Kim Devison, a native of Waterloo, will be back in the lineup for her sophomore season. Devison improved a great deal throughout last season and will be relied upon in a more featured role this season. Rookies Lauren Hawkins, Samantha Kavanagh, and Emily Jameson will all be looking capitalize on their opportunities and find a niche in the rotation as the season progresses.

At the forward position the Sea~Hawks are buoyed by the return of second team All-Canadian Vicki Thistle. Thistle was last season’s leading scorer and a first team AUS all-star. Look for sophomore Grace Fishbein to make a significant impact this season. Fishbein is athletic enough to play the two guard position or out on the wing. Her basketball instincts make her an exceptional passer and rebounder. Robyn O’Reilly, the outside shooter from Witless Bay, returns for her third season with Memorial.

Down low Memorial will welcome back last season’s AUS all-rookies Ally Forsey and Ericka Gratton to anchor the paint. Forsey has a knack for getting to the foul line that can quickly put the opposition’s top posts on the bench with foul trouble. Gratton is a defensive presence and a solid rebounder who has worked at improving her offensive game. This season the interior will have reinforcements in the form of Jennifer Parsons, Stephanie Stewart and Anna Snow.

Red shirting this season will be guards Tiffany Tozer and Laura Power.

Coach Partridge feels this team will have success. He says, "I am very excited about the incoming players and the growth of our veterans. We have great size and depth and should provide a problem for almost anyone we play. We believe that this team has tremendous potential to excel depending on how quickly we can get some experience for our younger players."