Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Opens 2005-06 Women's Basketball Season Friday at Stony Brook
11/16/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The entertainment level of the Bucknell women's basketball team should rise this year as ninth-year head coach Kathy Fedorjaka hopes to return to the high-scoring, fast-paced style of play she prefers.
"I am very excited about this group," exclaims Fedorjaka. "I know I can do my best coaching job when I have the personnel to fit an up-tempo style because that is what I have always taught. From a pure speed perspective, this is one of the fastest teams I have ever coached."
After averaging close to 69 points per game during Fedorjaka's first seven years at the helm, including a program-record 76.4 in 2000-01, the Bison scored just 59.4 points per game last year. With six letterwinners returning, and the addition of five newcomers, Fedorjaka thinks she has the depth, speed and scoring options to return to the fast-paced style she enjoys.
Bucknell's first key to employing a faster tempo will be increased depth. Despite being a young team without a senior and only one junior who has played at the Division I level, depth is expected to be a strength. Preseason All-Patriot League choice junior Lindsey Hollobaugh headlines the list of returning players who saw significant playing time last year. She is joined by sophomores Kesha Champion, Kristina Collymore and Hope Foster to form an experienced quartet of returning players. Sophomores Sarah Latham and Ashton Sprouse should combine with that foursome and the five newcomers to give Fedorjaka more than 10 players she can comfortably use in any game.
The added depth will also allow the team to improve every day in practice.
"People tend to not think of how depth helps practice," explains Fedorjaka. "It will be easier to simulate game situations in practice and keep our starters playing as a unit. Also, the deeper a team is, the more competition there is for playing time."
Another key for Fedorjaka to return the Bison, who were chosen fourth in the Preseason Patriot League poll, to their fast-breaking ways will be finding a second, and possibly third, scoring option in addition to Hollobaugh, who was third in the Patriot League in scoring with 14.9 points per game last year. Among the early candidates are Foster, who is the second-leading returning scorer behind Hollobaugh, and freshman forward Lauren Schober.
"I think Hope has made strides and I think she could be that inside option to give us a good one-two punch," comments Fedorjaka. "I also think Lauren Schober can come in and help us on the offensive end. She looks to score, and she can score."
Even if the team is successful in returning to an up-tempo style, one key to the season will be leadership without a senior on the 11-person roster. Hollobaugh and fellow junior Jacquie Seawright, a transfer from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, were selected as co-captains prior to the season. They are just the third and fourth juniors to serve as captain during Fedorjaka's nine-year tenure as head coach at Bucknell.
THE BACKCOURT
Even though Bucknell is expected to employ more people in its rotation, the one constant on the floor should once again be Hollobaugh, a Second Team All-Patriot League choice in 2004-05. A durable player, Hollobaugh has averaged 37 minutes per game in her two-year career.
The 2004 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Hollobaugh has scored 899 points through two seasons to trail only Molly Creamer (1,008) and Jennifer Walz (973) for the most points scored by a Bison after their sophomore campaign.
The Loganton, Pa., native, who is a preseason All-Patriot League choice, is by far the most experienced player on the Bucknell roster having started all 57 games in her career, more than twice as many as her closest teammate. An outstanding player who is fourth on Bucknell's career scoring list with a 15.8 points per game average, Hollobaugh completed her sophomore campaign third in the Patriot League in free throw shooting (80.6%) and 12th in field goal percentage (41.7%).
In addition to her scoring prowess, which has seen her tally at least 10 points in 50 of her 57 career games, Hollobaugh is an excellent rebounder from her guard position, finishing second on the squad in rebounding each of the last two years. For her career, the 5-9 guard has pulled down 5.3 rebounds per game.
"We are not a program that is new to having a player capable of winning the Player of the Year award, and I think Lindsey should contend for that honor this year," says Fedorjaka. "I would rate her as both one of the top offensive and top defensive guards in the league, but she needs to make that next jump, and that is part of her leadership. She needs to drive this team and demand the ball at crunch time. I have lofty expectations for her. She has the same goals and is ready to meet them."
A trio of other guards will both play alongside Hollobaugh and give her more rest this season.
"Even the best conditioned athlete has trouble playing 37 minutes a night for 27 games in the up-tempo style I want us to play," explains Fedorjaka. "If we can conserve wear and tear and keep everyone fresh, that would be a positive."
With Hollobaugh, Champion and Collymore, three of the most experienced players on the roster are at the guard position. Many times last year Fedorjaka played all three at the same time in a three-guard lineup. Amanda Brown, a freshman point guard who can score, should challenge the incumbents for playing time.
Kesha Champion was a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie Team in 2004-05.  |
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"Kesha has raised it a level and become more consistent," Fedorjaka mentions.
Collymore, a sophomore, is the only other returning guard that saw significant minutes last year. She played in every game and drew two starts. An outstanding one-on-one player, she has learned to play within the offense with a year of experience under her belt.
"Kristina has shown a lot of maturity this year," explains Fedorjaka. "We have been pleased with her leadership and her ability to play under control."
Brown, a native of Texas who was named one of the three-best guards in the metro-Dallas area last year, is the lone newcomer who is a guard. A potent scorer who plays with great confidence, she averaged more than 20 points per game as a senior in high school. Brown, who is a point guard, also provides another athletic and fast player who can shoot the ball from the perimeter.
One guard that is not eligible to play this year after transferring from Penn is sophomore Andrea Wright. She is sitting out this year per NCAA rules, but is still practicing with the team on a daily basis. A talented defensive player, Wright, who is an outstanding athlete, will be used to challenge Hollobaugh in practice.
THE FRONTCOURT
The frontcourt features a mix of three returning players and four newcomers, however, only Foster has played extended minutes for the Bison. Ashton Sprouse and Sarah Latham, both sophomores, combined to play just 235 minutes as rookies last year. The quartet of Ashley Branch, Corrine Keller, Lauren Schober and Seawright will have the opportunity to make an impact in their first year at Bucknell.
Hope Foster was a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie Team in 2004-05. |
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"Hope's greatest strides have been in her knowledge of the game and where to be on the court," says Fedorjaka. "She was digesting so much information last year, but now she knows what spots to be in when. She is also much more confident on the block and is looking to score more. It is also in her head now to go rebound. She got a lot of rebounds last year just because she is long and tall, but now she is going after rebounds."
Sprouse saw action in all but four games last year, but averaged just under nine minutes a game. An adept outside shooter at 6-1, Sprouse connected on three 3-pointers and scored 37 total points.
Latham played 21 total minutes in nine games and tallied six points last year. A physical player, Latham is best known for her defensive presence inside the lane.
"Both Ashton and Sarah are more confident this year," comments Fedorjaka. "Sometimes players make the jump quicker when they have to. Without many juniors and seniors, I think they, along with all the sophomores, have stepped up their games this year."
Branch, the biggest of the newcomers at 6-1, will provide another physical player inside. Despite being a big, strong and physical player, Branch moves very well. She also possesses a great understanding of the game, according to Fedorjaka.
"Ashley has improved faster than we originally anticipated," says Fedorjaka. "She has to continue to acclimate herself to this level of play, but the rate at which she is improving has impressed me."
Schober is another inside player and should challenge for a coveted starting position alongside Foster, who was a Patriot League All-Rookie selection last year. A confident player who is a good passer, good rebounder and can score, Schober is physically ready to play at the college level. An impact player, she could become a main scoring option for the Bison in her first year.
"I expect her to make a major impact, not only in playing time, but in production," predicts Fedorjaka, who has coached four winners of the Patriot League Rookie of the Year award.
Seawright is more of a wing player than an inside player despite being listed 5'11". A co-captain, she adds much-needed maturity to the team after playing the last two years at South Plains College, the same school WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes attended before finishing her college career at Texas Tech. There, Seawright helped lead the Lady Texans to a 31-4 record and fourth place in the NJCAA Tournament last year. A good shooter from 15 feet, Seawright uses her height to elevate and shoot over her defender. She also fits well within the transition game.
"Jacquie has played at a level where she has played in a number of big games," says Fedorjaka. "Her overall perspective will help this young team."
Keller, who can play either forward position, will be a solid player for the Bison. An athletic player that won't make a lot of mistakes, the Rochester, N.Y., native can help out on the press as well as play defensively against strong post players. A good shooter, Keller won't create a lot of her own shots, but she is a talented finisher in transition.
"I'm not sure what her role will be yet," comments Fedorjaka. "She does a lot of things well and does not make many mistakes. We have a lot of options with Corrine."
