2006-07 Women’s Basketball Outlook

After earning the school’s first ever PSAC playoff berth last season head coach Ruth Hermansen expects the 2006-07 Mountaineers to pickup were they left off last year.

Mansfield returns three starters, including two of the top three scorers and six other letter winners from last year but will be missing the program’s all-time greatest player in Alison Tagliaferri who is currently playing professionally in Europe.

“Obviously you don’t replace a great player like Alison,” said Hermansen as she enters her seventh season at the helm of the Mountaineer program. “I’d be lying if I said we weren’t going to miss her but I honestly believe we maybe a more dangerous all around team because we have some exceptional players returning and they are going to have more opportunity to display their skills”.

The 2006-07 squad will be built around three exceptional players in senior forward Jessica Uhrich (Palmyra/Palmyra), junior shooting guard Alicia Espigh (Lewistown/Lewistown) and sophomore point guard Courtney Brooks (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township).

A three-year starter, and preseason All-PSAC East selection, Uhrich ranked among the national rebounding leaders last season averaging 9.8 boards in earning all-conference honors. She also ranked among the PSAC scoring (12.1 ppg) and blocks (34) leaders.

Espigh was one of the most accurate long distance shooters in NCAA Division II last year, ranking second in the PSAC in 3-pt field goal percentage (43.4%) while finishing in the among the top 20 overall scorers (11.2 ppg).

Brooks split time with senior Tiffany Taylor at point guard as a freshman last year but still managed to ranked among the PSAC steal leaders (2.5 p/g) while dishing out 64 assists and averaging 5.7 points per game.

The Mountaineers have an abundance of sharp shooting guards to run a motion offense. Sophomore Mallory Hafer (Sayre/Athens) appeared in 27 games last season with her 24 3-pointers the second most on the team. Hafer, whose 98 3-pointer in her senior season at Athens High School were the most in Pennsylvania, is expected to break into the starting lineup this year.

Junior Kelli Eastman (Wattsburg/Seneca) saw action in 20 games last year and can penetrate as well as shot from the outside. Sophomores Clarissa Correll (Mansfield/Mansfield) and Brittany Reed (Lewes,DE/Cape Henlopen) got valuable playing time last season and both are excellent athletes who can play the one or two spots and both will contribute this season.

Sophomore twins Emily and Katie Akins (Elmira,NY/Southside) were a pleasant surprise as freshmen last year where the combined for 76 points and 94 rebounds. Emily appeared in all 28 games last season, averaging 9.1 minutes per game. She pulled down 57 rebounds and scored 50 points. Twin sister Katie will add size and depth at the post position this season. Katie appeared in 25 games as a freshman, scoring 26 points and pulling down 37 rebounds.

Joining the Mountaineer lineup this season are three newcomers in Jeanette Meacham (Clairton/Mercyhurst North East), Danylle Jones (Millerton/Troy), and Merissa Gaeta (Kirkwood,NY/Windsor).

Meacham transfers from Mercyhurst Northeast where she was 20^th in the nation in scoring in the NJCAA.  A 1^st team All-Region selection, Meacham and brings collegiate experience to an already experienced squad and will vie for a starting spot at forward

Gaeta, a true freshman, brings a tall and talented frame that the Mounties will need with the absence of Tagliaferri. She has the size and talent to be aggressive on the boards while scoring from the paint or the outside.

Jones, the only other true freshman, comes from nearby Troy High School where she was named the MVP of the NTL last season after setting the Troy record for 3-pointers with 123. She will add another talented shooter to the guard-heavy roster of the Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers open the season when they travel to Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia on Nov. 18.