2006 Season Preview
Since joining the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC; formerly the NEW-8) in 1996, the Clark University women’s basketball team has boasted a solid 176-96 record, scored four conference championships, and earned five post-season tournament berths, including four trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Last season, the Cougars were on pace to add to the record-books with 11-first year players and just six upperclassmen, including two seniors, on the roster. They posted a 17-9 (7-6 NEWMAC) mark and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals for the third consecutive year.
“Some thought last season would be a rebuilding year, but I don’t believe in that,” said long-time head coach Pat Glispin. “The freshmen were the bulk of our team, but we had two seniors who provided great leadership and commitment to the program.”
The 2006-07 squad looks to continue the winning tradition that is Clark women’s basketball. Returning 11 players and three starters, not to mention a trio of top-notch recruits, the Cougars appear armed and ready to make a run at the conference championship.
Despite the loss of point guard Andrea Comen, a D3Hoops.com All-Northeast Region and league first-team all-star, Glispin feels several talented returnees can step up and fill the void. The dynamic duo of junior Kristin Healy and sophomore Sara Hagstrom are top candidates for the job. While Healy brings veteran leadership to the position, Hagstrom is noted for her defensive intensity. Senior tri-captain Jess Lamothe, another strong defender, can handle both backcourt positions, while sophomore Katie McCloskey provides three-point range at the off-guard spot. Second-year players Nicole LeVecque and Catherine Hart, and freshmen Emily Skelton and Liz Popken will also be in the mix.
“We don’t have a wealth of experience in the back-court,” said Glispin. “However, the only way you get experience is to get out there and play. It’s time for the younger players to take a major step forward.”
The Cougars appear to be stacked at the forward position, where Sarah Roderigue (10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is back after a fine freshman campaign. The sophomore sensation will anchor a group that includes three promising freshmen, Jillian Camillari, Ruthie Briggs, and Shinikwa James. While Camillari brings quickness to the front-line, Briggs excels in interior defense and James will add size in the post. Glispin will also count on the trio for rebounding and low-post scoring. Senior tri-captain Kim Harris, a solid rebounder, will provide valuable minutes off the bench. Junior Katelyn Petty, sophomores Alena Katsnelson and Genna Farley, and newcomer Blaize Denfield round out the forward candidates.
With the graduation of Carolyn Towle, senior tri-captain Ashley Auclair (14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg), the top returning rebounder, is penciled in as Clark’s point person in the paint. A second-team NEWMAC all-star last season and the Cougars 14th player to reach the 1,000 career-point milestone, Auclair will give Clark an inside scoring threat.
According to Coach Glispin, the improvement and experience of the substantial sophomore class will be a major factor in the teams’ success this season. “We have to blend our talented young players with the established veterans quickly,” she said. “In addition, some of our first-years are going to need to step up and provide some key support right from the jump.”
Facing another tough schedule, including the Land of Magic Classic in Orlando, Fla., where the Cougars will face one of the strongest programs in the country – the University of Southern Maine, Coach Glispin is optimistic about the year ahead.
“Our goal is to build upon and to improve on last year’s results,” she said. “This team has already shown the extra level of hard-work and commitment it takes to be successful.”
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Haed Coach Pat Glispin Announces Coaching Staff
Tracy Fuller Simeone ’02 and Jessica Daigneault have been named assistant coaches with the Clark University women’s basketball program, head coach Pat Glispin announced on Tuesday. They will join assistant coaches Tracey Hathaway James and Mary Kelleher, who enter their eighth and ninth seasons, respectively.
Simeone joins the Cougars staff as a first-time coach this season. The New London, N.H. native was a former four-year player (1998-2001) for Coach Glispin and helped lead the Cougars to the NCAA Sweet 16 Tournament in 2000.
“She will bring a great deal of playing experience to our program,” said Glispin, who is entering her 23rd season at the helm. “She has a real understanding of what it takes to carry on the tradition of Clark women’s basketball.”
Simeone, a former point guard and two-year captain, will work primarily with the Cougar backcourt. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Simeone will continue to work at Seven Hills Foundation in Worcester.
Originally from Worcester, Daigneault joins the staff after attending Siena (N.Y.) College, where an injury precluded her basketball career. Prior to that, she was a standout player at Notre Dame Academy.
“Jessica is a local individual who will generate a great Worcester feel for our program,” said Glispin. “I’ve had so many Clark grads as assistants along the way that it’s good to have someone come in from a different institution; she’ll bring us a bit of diversity.”
A teaching assistant in the Shrewsbury school system, Daigneault, who is also a novice coach, will work with the front court, and assist in the areas of recruiting.
Hathaway James, a native of Worcester and former Division I University of Rhode Island player, returns to oversee all facets of the Clark women’s basketball program, while Kelleher, a Bridgewater State College graduate, is back to direct the recruiting aspect.
“We have balance because we have first-timers and veterans on our staff,” Glispin said. “They each bring character, experience and different perspectives to the court and all the pieces together, make for a great puzzle.”
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2006-07 First Semester Results
Select the score to view the box score
Home Games in Bold
* NEWMAC Game
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Women's Basketball Office
Pat Glispin, Head Coach, 508-793-7628
Email: pglispin@clarku.edu
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2006 Season Preview
