Season Outlook

Transcription

1 SEASON OUTLOOK

2 Season Outlook After posting the most wins in eight seasons in , the Lafayette women s basketball program is both eager and cautiously optimistic, to use the words of sixth-year head coach Tammy Smith. There s no place to go but up. The Leopards usher in a new era beginning in , hence the combination of caution and excitement, armed with its first scholarship class in the program s 33-year history. After the College s trustees voted to award athletic scholarships in 2006, women s basketball was offered monetary support for the impending season and those to follow. Lafayette adds four talented rookies to a very capable corps of returning players. We re very excited about having a great nucleus of returners and a good freshman class to add into the mix, Smith said. The veterans are a year older and are all healthy at this point. They have great attitudes and continue to work really hard. Smith and her staff are hoping to guide the surprise club in a Patriot League that is as competitive as ever. The Leopards enjoyed marquee wins over Lehigh and league powerhouse Holy Cross in , and would like nothing more than to capitalize on similar wins within the Patriot League this season. According to Smith, there are both challenging and winnable games on this year s schedule, but it will be fitting into a league with growing parity that will be essential to the Leopards success. The Backcourt Expect Lafayette to go with the same offensive philosophy that Smith implemented two years ago. A perimeter-oriented club, but one with the ability to work the ball inside depends largely on the talent of its backcourt. Employing a three-guard, motion offense, the Leopards have the ability to cut hard backdoor, attack the gaps and pull up from beyond the arc. Senior point guard and four-year starter Kara Stetler will lead the charge, striving to provide consistency and leadership on the court. It s going to be her decision-making on the court that will be vital to how well we do, Smith said. When it s all said and done, she s our floor leader and the ball is in her hands, assistant coach LaRonda Murphy echoed. An added luxury to this year s club will be depth. The Leopards can go two-deep at any position and not lose much in terms of skill. We can get players rest as needed, Smith said. It doesn t matter who starts. It s who is in the game and who finishes the game that matters. I will not hesitate to shake the line-up around. A pair of juniors in Val Gomez and Maureen Johnson offer experience and size to the Leopards roster. Gomez played through a nagging knee injury last season, starting 15 contests and developing into a playmaker with 37 assists over a 13-game stretch at one point midway through the season. Off-season surgery has alleviated the pain, and she is expected to break out as an impact player in Sophomores Jessica Spicer, Cristin Zavocki and Laura Cullen contributed solid relief minutes a year ago, but with the freshman jitters out of the way, they opened preseason practice with a newfound confidence and mindset. Zavocki took the court in all 28 games as a rookie, while Spicer logged minutes in all but one. The pair hovered around 10 minutes a game a number that will surely grow at the start of this season. Sophomore transfer Meaghan Malone becomes eligible in January, while freshmen Danielle Jenkins and Amanda Leone will also challenge for floor time. Up Front After what could be described as an upand-down season last year, junior Vanessa Van De Venter will again fill the role as the Leopards go-to player. The 6-0 Tannersville, Pa. native slashes to the basket and provides the versatility to play either the four or five positions. After a stellar All-Patriot League Rookie season, Van De Venter s talent was no longer a secret in Opponents would sit on her and she wouldn t have her best scoring day, but that didn t stop her from having an impact on the game, Smith said. She s very receptive to change and is a true team player. It s amazing how she has come in this year on a mission, recognizing and then solving her shortcomings for the coming year. Classmate Brittany Purr missed nearly half of the schedule due to mononu Leopard Basketball

3 cleosis, but still managed to have a breakout year. The 6-0 Purr gave the Leopards a strong inside presence, pulling down 6.2 rebounds a game to go with her 7.2 scoring average. After a standout start to her rookie campaign, injury also plagued Emily Garner, who suffered a concussion and a fractured orbital bone midway through the season. Smith said Garner is cleared to go and will be counted on immediately. Garner averaged 5.8 rebounds per game, including a season-high 10 versus Fairleigh Dickinson (12/21), over her first 11 games in a Lafayette uniform. A pair of highly touted freshmen in center Amanda Smith and power forward Brooke Niquette will also vie for minutes. A 6-3 product from Las Vegas, Nev., Smith averaged a double-double as a senior captain at Coronado High School. She set school records in points (1,084), rebounds (784), and blocked shots (171) in her career as a three-year starter. Niquette comes to Lafayette as one of the top female players in Vermont, bringing a 6-2 stature with her. A first-team all-state honoree, Niquette recorded 909 points, 843 rebounds and 289 blocks in her career. She was nominated as a McDonald s All-American and was a state finalist for the Wendy's High School Heisman. Both post players have the potential to contribute right off the bat, but making a smooth transition to the Division I level will be crucial. Smith anticipates the freshmen will shake their inexperience during the non-conference slate and be ready for significant playing time at the start of the Patriot League schedule. Once our freshmen class becomes more acclimated to the college game and our offensive schemes, their value will increase, Smith said. The Coaches Smith enters her sixth season with the Leopards, the fourth-longest tenure of any Patriot League head coach, and is on the cusp of returning the program to prominence. Smith has more than doubled her win total since her first season in , when she became just the fourth coach in the program s history. Murphy has been by Smith s side for all five years of her tenure, while spending eight total seasons with the Leopards program. Lafayette added Downingtown, Pa. native Jen Wedo as its second assistant, while Margo Connors embarks on her second season as the third assistant on the Leopards staff. The Schedule A balanced schedule both in and out of the conference awaits Lafayette in The Leopards longest home stand is three games, while the longest road stretch is two, including a pair of season-opening games at St. Francis (N.Y.) on Nov. 12 and Mount St. Mary s on Nov. 15. Lafayette s home-opener on Nov. 18 against Cornell caps a jampacked weekend on College Hill, following the men s home-opener versus Saint Joseph s and the 142nd gridiron meeting between Lafayette and Lehigh. The Leopards return home on Nov. 27 to take on Coppin State, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, for the first ever meeting between the two schools. A short road trip to Fairleigh Dickinson precedes a three-game home stretch, as Kirby Sports Center is set to host Vermont (12/2), Penn (12/7) and Morgan State (12/12). Lafayette will hit the West Coast for a set of games at UC Davis (12/20) and Pacific (12/22) before breaking for the holidays. The Leopards get back to work with three non-league contests to prepare for the Patriot League opener on Jan. 6 against Holy Cross. An out-of-conference contest with Columbia (1/25) is sandwiched by league bouts at home versus defending champion Army (1/23) and American (12/27) in the span of just four days. Lafayette will celebrate Senior Day against archrival Lehigh on Feb. 17. The Leopards close the regular season with a pair of road games at Army (2/20) and American (2/24) before the Patriot League Tournament begins on March 3 at Navy s Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md Leopard Basketball

4 Rosters Bottom, left to right: Emily Garner, Brittany Purr, Laura Cullen. Middle left to right: Meaghan Malone, Damaris Walton, Amanda Smith, Bassey Nyambi, Maureen Johnson, Amanda Leone, Danielle Jenkins, Brooke Niquette, Val Gomez. Top left to right: Vanessa Van De Venter, Kara Stetler, Jessica Spicer, Cristin Zavocki. Alphabetical Roster No. Name Pos. Class Ht. Hometown/High School 11 Laura Cullen G So. 5-9 Janesville, Wisc./Clinton 12 Emily Garner F So Fairfax Station, Va./Robinson 24 Val Gomez G Jr Allentown, Pa./Emmaus 5 Danielle Jenkins G Fr. 5-8 Shirley, N.Y./Longwood 1 Maureen Johnson G Jr. 5-9 Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair 13 Amanda Leone G Fr. 5-7 Easton, Pa./Easton 23 Meaghan Malone G So. 5-9 North Plainfield, N.J./Roselle Catholic (Iona) 25 Brooke Niquette F Fr. 6-2 Winooski, Vt./Winooski 33 Brittany Purr F Jr. 6-0 Philadelphia, Pa./Friends Select 22 Amanda Smith C Fr. 6-3 Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado 15 Jessica Spicer G So. 5-6 Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic 21 Kara Stetler G Sr. 5-7 Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity 30 Vanessa Van De Venter F Jr. 6-0 Tannersville, Pa./Pocono Mountain East 14 Cristin Zavocki G So. 5-7 Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton Numerical Roster No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown/High School 1 Maureen Johnson G Jr. 5-9 Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair 5 Danielle Jenkins G Fr. 5-8 Shirley, N.Y./Longwood 11 Laura Cullen G So. 5-9 Janesville, Wisc./Clinton 12 Emily Garner F So Fairfax Station, Va./Robinson 13 Amanda Leone G Fr. 5-7 Easton, Pa./Easton 14 Cristin Zavocki G So. 5-7 Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton 15 Jessica Spicer G So. 5-6 Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic 21 Kara Stetler G Sr. 5-7 Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity 22 Amanda Smith C Fr. 6-3 Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado 23 Meaghan Malone G So. 5-9 North Plainfield, N.J./Roselle Catholic (Iona) 24 Val Gomez G Jr Allentown, Pa./Emmaus 25 Brooke Niquette F Fr. 6-2 Winooski, Vt./Winooski 30 Vanessa Van De Venter F Jr. 6-0 Tannersville, Pa./Pocono Mountain East 33 Brittany Purr F Jr. 6-0 Philadelphia, Pa./Friends Select By Position: Guards (9): Laura Cullen Val Gomez Danielle Jenkins Maureen Johnson Amanda Leone Meaghan Malone Jessica Spicer Kara Stetler Cristin Zavocki By State/Country Illinois (1): Jessica Spicer Nevada (1): Amanda Smith New Jersey (2): Meaghan Malone Cristin Zavocki New York (1): Danielle Jenkins Forwards (4): Emily Garner Brooke Niquette Brittany Purr Vanessa Van De Venter Centers (1): Amanda Smith Pennsylvania (6): Val Gomez Maureen Johnson Amanda Leone Brittany Purr Kara Stetler Vanessa Van De Venter Vermont (1): Brooke Niquette Virginia (1): Emily Garner Wisconsin (1): Laura Cullen Leopard Basketball

5 The Players

6 21 Senior Guard 5-7 Kara Stetler Mechanicsburg, Pa./Trinity Led the Leopards with 10.2 points per game started all 28 games set Lafayette single-season records with 62 three-pointers and a.411 three-point percentage led Patriot League in three-point percentage placed fourth in the league with 2.21 three-pointers per game scored in double figures in 14 contests, including a careerhigh 26 points at American by going 9-of- 10 including six three-pointers (1/28)... surpassed the 20-point mark on two other occasions, at UMBC (12/10) and versus Akron (12/30) shot 6-of-9 at Colgate (2/7) for 17 points, highlighted by three buckets from behind the arc set careerhigh with eight rebounds in victory over Fairleigh Dickinson (12/21) Played in all 28 games, starting 24 hit at least one triple in 23 of 28 games second among her teammates in assists (51) and steals (39) named to Eastern Michigan Classic All-Tournament Team after scoring a total of 28 points, including hitting 7-of-13 three-pointers, against UMES and Wayne State to open the season her 16 points in the opener against UMES (11/19) were a season-high collected 10 points, five rebounds and five assists vs. Radford (12/2) tallied 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds against Navy (2/23) scored 12 points and handed out a careerhigh six assists at Holy Cross (2/28) Made an immediate impact during her freshman season averaged 4.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game made 17 starts and appeared in 24 games, the most of any freshman scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds at St. Peter s (11/29) dished out four assists, scored 13 points, and made four three s at Wagner (12/3) grabbed a career high six rebounds to go along with nine points at Denver (12/20) dropped 15 points, knocked down three three-pointers, dished out five assists, and tied her career high with six rebounds at Princeton (1/3) scored 11 points against Colgate (1/10) had a career-high four steals against Army (1/13). High School Four-year starter for Trinity High School the team won the PIAA AA State Championship in 2001 and the PIAA District III Championship in scored 801 career points...named to the Associated Press All- State Team in named to the District III All-Tournament Team three times ( )...named to the Harrisburg Patriot News Big 15 All-Star Team twice ( )... earned Mid-Penn Commonwealth All-Star Team honors three times ( )...holds the Trinity High School record for assists with 515. Stetler's career stats TOTAL 3-PTS rebounds GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

7 THE STETLER FILE Full name: Kara Anne Stetler Birthdate, birthplace: 2/4/85, Harrisburg, Pa. Zodiac sign: Aquarius Parents names: Mike and Barb Stetler Siblings: Erik (23) Major: Economics & Business A friend I have on another college basketball team is: Jill Glessner (Loyola), Carla Thomas (Vanderbilt), Lauren Pears (Penn), Lauren Nelson (Navy) I first realized I had a future in Division I basketball when: I always believed that I had the skill and passion to play Division I athletics, but I didn t realize that I had such great opportunities until I was able to experience what it s all about If I could put one team on the schedule it would be: Loyola Favorite sports figure: Michael Jordan Favorite board game: Guess Who? Favorite movie line: I have TBD and I m late for Yoga. Hurry, hurry! Ellen DeGeneres Standup Playing on my ipod: Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Radiohead, Snow Patrol, Gorillaz, Staind, Breaking Benjamin My hero growing up was: Mia Hamm Over the summer I: Lived here at school working out and dominating the weight room with the one and only Matt Brand If I were Coach Smith, this is how I would run practice: Scrimmage and Leopard drill Favorite food: Special K with Red Berries Favorite class: Political Sociology Why I came to Lafayette: It offered a great combination of academics and the opportunity to play Division I basketball at a competitive level My nickname as a kid was: Squirt, Half Pint, Speedy, Spark Plug My nickname now is: Stet If I could have dinner with any celebrity/public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Jake Gyllenhaal and Lance Armstrong My pregame routine is: Listening to music, chewing two pieces of gum and dancing In ten years I hope to be: Married with kiddies and holding a successful job If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day it would be: Rachel McAdams My biggest pet peeve is: Chewing with your mouth open My strength on the court is: Three-point shooting Highlight of the season: When I shot 6-of- 7 from the three-point line against American Leopard Basketball

8 24 Junior Guard 5-10 Val Gomez Allentown, Pa./Emmaus Played in 27 games, starting 16 as a sophomore, averaging 4.2 points per game and 2.4 rebounds per game scored a season-high 14 points in the seasonopener against Wagner (11/19), leading the Leopards to a win produced seven assists in a victory over Holy Cross, marking a career high (2/4) made three-pointer from the corner with 6.8 seconds left to push the game against Navy into overtime (1/14), a contest in which she totaled 13 points for her second double-digit game of the season Played in 23 games after recovering from preseason knee surgery made first career start against Penn (1/10) scored a career-high 17 points, including 13 in the second half, in the Patriot League Tournament at Holy Cross (3/3) was 7-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from three, and also collected four rebounds and three steals against the Crusaders tallied 10 points and five rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench against Colgate (1/23) scored five points and grabbed a career-high six rebounds against Texas-Pan American. High School Two-year selection to the Lehigh Valley Conference All-Star Team member of the Morning Call All-Area team and the Via All-Star Team averaged 13 points per game as a senior captain of the 2004 Emmaus team that won the District 11 4A title named an Eddie Mast All-Star as well as the Eddie Mast scholarship recipient. Gomez's career stats TOTAL 3-PTS rebounds GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

9 THE GOMEZ FILE Full name: Valerie Helene Gomez Birthdate, brithplace: 10/28/86, Allentown, Pa. Zodiac sign: Scorpio Parents names: Karen Gomez Siblings: Mark (27), Steph (22) Major: Government & Law A friend I have on another college basketball team is: Laura Harper (Maryland) The website I visit the most: If I could one team on the schedule it would be: Maryland or Denver Favorite sports figure: Michael Jordan Favorite board game: Guess Who? and 13 Dead End Drive My favorite place on campus: Gates 403 and 401 with my roomies Favorite movie line: You can t handle the truth. A Few Good Men My hero growing up was: Was and still is my mother Favorite movie: Finding Nemo, Dodgeball, The Fridays If I were Coach Smith, this is how I would run practice: Shell drill and scrimmage Favorite food: Chicken and fruit Favorite class: International Politics Why I came to Lafayette: It offered a combination of excellent academics and Division I Patriot League basketball The best part about traveling with the team: The crazy things we do during our free time My nickname growing up was: Monkey My nickname now is: Valo, Viva My SportsCenter highlight would be: Hitting a buzzer-beater to beat Lehigh If I had to survive on one food for the rest of my life, it would be: Chicken If I could have dinner with any celebrity/public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Michael Jordan My pregame routine is: Listening to loud music and focusing In ten years I hope to be: Happily married and successful If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day it would be: Oprah My biggest pet peeve: Liars and people who take things for granted My strength on the court is: Penetrating and seeing the floor Leopard Basketball

10 1 Junior Guard 5-9 Maureen Johnson Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair Played in 12 games for the Leopards as a sophomore scored a triple in the Leopards championship game at the Long Island University Turkey Classic on Nov. 26 in Brooklyn, N.Y. also pulled down three boards on the road at Radford (12/4) Played in all 28 games, starting seven midway through the campaign scored a career-high eight points at Navy (1/8) pulled down five rebounds in three different contests ranked third on the team with 10 three-pointers. High School Two-year letterwinner and team captain as a senior also a standout goalkeeper who was named to the All-Section and All-WPIAL soccer teams honor roll student who was a National Honor Society member. Johnson's career stats TOTAL 3-PTS rebounds GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

11 THE JOHNSON FILE Full name: Maureen Johnson Birthdate, birthplace: 12/29/85, Pittsburgh, Pa. Zodiac sign: Capricorn Parents names: Terry and Patricia Siblings: Brendan Major: Math and Economics & Business A friend I have on another college basketball team is: Kyra Kaylor (William & Mary) If I could put one team on the schedule it would be: William & Mary Favorite sports figure: Troy Polamalu Favorite board game: Cranium Favorite movie line: Mary I d say more like one out of a million. Lloyd So, you re telling me there s a chance. Dumb and Dumber The best player I have ever played against: Meg Bulger My hero growing up was: My pap pap Over the summer I: Worked at a soccer camp and movie theater and visited Wisconsin Favorite food: Pretzel salad Favorite class: Buddhism Why I came to Lafayette: To get a great education, while playing the sport that I love The best part about traveling with the team: Team bonding My nickname now is: Mo My SportsCenter highlight would be: Dunking over Lehigh If I had to survive on one food for the rest of my life, it would be: Pizza If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: A deck of cards If I could have dinner with any celebrity/public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Julia Roberts My dream job: Owner of a fitness gym My pregame routine is: Mo jumps and a prayer My biggest pet peeve: Being unnecessarily woken up My strength on the court is: My ability to see the court Leopard Basketball

12 33 Junior Forward 6-0 Brittany Purr Philadelphia, Pa./Friends Select Had a breakout season for the Leopards, playing in 21 games for the Maroon and White and starting 14 hampered by mononucleosis midway through the year averaged 8.8 points and 9.0 rebounds through the first six games and shot 59.4 percent from the field...posted 10 points along with as many rebounds in a victory over Long Island (11/25) earned All-Tournament team status at the Long Island University Turkey Classic scored 11 points and produced 10 rebounds against Buffalo (11/30) missed the first half of the Patriot League schedule with mono...came back strong and scored 15 points against Army and grabbed 11 rebounds (3/2) had seven or more caroms in 10 of her 21 games represented the team s leading rebounder in eight contests, while topping the team in points on five occasions Played in nine contests scored six points and grabbed two rebounds against Wayne State (11/20). High School Four-time All-Friends League First-Team honoree amassed 1,300 career points and 1,100 career rebounds two-year captain and team MVP averaged 20.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per game in her career led Friends Select to four straight Friends League titles member of the Philadelphia Belles that won the 2003 U-16 AAU national championship hit.446 to earn All-Friends League honors as third baseman on the softball diamond. Purr's career stats TOTAL 3-PTS rebounds GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

13 THE PURR FILE Full name: Brittany Anne Purr Birthdate, birthplace: 5/30/86, Philadelphia, Pa. Zodiac sign: Gemini Parents names: Sue and John Purr Siblings: Alexis, John, Vincent, Vanessa Major: English A friend I have on another college basketball team is: Laura Kurz (Villanova) The website I visit most: I first realized I had a future in Division I basketball when: I received my first letter from a Division I program If I could put one team on the schedule, it would be: Rider Playing on my ipod: Justin Timberlake Favorite board game: Yahtzee Favorite place on campus: A8 Favorite movie line: Rule #76: Play like a champion. Wedding Crashers The best player I have ever played against: Candace Parker (Tennessee) My heroes growing up were: My parents Over the summer I: Took a summer class and helped my dad at his construction company. Favorite movie: Big Fish, Dodgeball If I were Coach Smith, this is how I would run practice: Princeton series and then a giant game of Clumps. Favorite food: Famous bowls from KFC Favorite class: Buddhism with Goose, Mo and Vandy The best part about traveling with the team: Everything! We re the coolest people ever My nickname as a kid was: Beezzer My nickname now is: Purr My SportsCenter highlight would be: Making the winning basket during the Patriot League Championship If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: A good book If I could have dinner with any celebrity/public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Katie Couric She better watch out, because I m coming for her job! Or I wouldn t mind Steve O from Jackass My dream job: Good Morning America anchor In ten years I hope to be: A published author and filthy rich. Kids and a husband would be nice too My biggest pet peeve: When Mo tries to match a baby blue fitted t-shirt with maroon sweat pants, and the t-shirt says, hugs not drugs Leopard Basketball

14 30 Junior Forward 6-0 Vanessa Van De Venter Tannersville, Pa./Pocono Mountain East Started 26 out of the 28 games she played in as a sophomore averaged 10.0 points per game and 5.6 rebounds a game led the Leopards in scoring eight times and rebounding nine times...topped the doublefigure plateau 14 times throughout the season, including three double-doubles (points, rebounds) averaged 13.2 points per game over the first six contests of the season led the Leopards against Long Island with 16 points and 12 rebounds (11/25) on her way to All-Tournament Team accolades in the LIU Turkey Classic poured in 14 points along with 11 rebounds at Howard (12/2) headed the Leopards at Bucknell (2/1) with 19 points and 10 rebounds established a new career high with 26 points at home against Colgate (1/10) she went 10-for-13 (.769) against Colgate, accounting for 46 percent of the Leopards scoring output against the Raiders Appeared in all 28 games, starting 17 in a row midway through the season member of the Patriot League All-Rookie Team earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors four times during the season tied for team lead in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and second on team in scoring (9.4 ppg) ranked second among all freshmen in the Patriot League in both categories scored in double figures 14 times was the team s leading scorer in eight contests and leading rebounder 11 times collected 14 points and 10 rebounds in collegiate debut against UMES (11/19) garnered Rookie of the Week honors after posting nine points and four rebounds against Wayne State the next night her double-double of 12 points and 10 boards against Radford (12/2) earned her second Rookie of the Week nod named Rookie of the Week for third time after scoring a career-high 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds against Texas- Pan American (12/29) was 8-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe in that contest fourth rookie honor came following 22-point performance against Army (1/30) closed season with 22- point, six-rebound effort at Holy Cross in Patriot League Tournament scored 19 of those 22 after halftime was one rebound short of a double-double three times had 13 points and nine rebounds against Howard (1/3), 14 points and nine rebounds against Lehigh (1/12) and 11 points and nine rebounds at Army (1/30). High School Four-year letterwinner in basketball, volleyball, and soccer scored 1,288 points and grabbed 1,102 rebounds in her career averaged 18.1 points and 14.5 rebounds per game in high school Pocono Record and TV-13 Player of the Year Mountain Valley Conference MVP as a senior Girl s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior Mountain Valley Conference Most Outstanding Player in volleyball and All- Mountain Valley Conference first-team in soccer as well. Van De Venter's career stats TOTAL 3-PTS rebounds GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

15 THE VAN DE VENTER FILE Full name: Vanessa Van De Venter Birthdate, birthplace: 12/17/85, Palatka, Fla. Zodiac sign: Sagittarius Parents names: Julie and Jonathan Van De Venter Siblings: Valerie (27), Chris (25), Nate (22) Major: Economics & Business A friend I have on another college basketball team is: Steph Merlo (VCU), Christie Marrone (Maryland) The website I visit most: If I could put one team on the schedule, it would be: Maryland Favorite sports figure: Michael Jordan Favorite board game: Catch Phrase, even though it s not really a board game Favorite place on campus: Gates 403. It s the place to be! Favorite movie line: Rule #76: Play like a champion! Wedding Crashers Over the summer I: Worked an internship in Baltimore, Md. and traveled to the beaches Favorite movie: Wedding Crashers, Love & Basketball If I were Coach Smith, this is how I would run practice: We would have social hour Favorite food: Ice cream. I eat it after almost every meal Favorite class: Buddhism with Purr, Mo and Goose Why I came to Lafayette: It has a great academic reputation and I wanted to play Division I basketball here The best part about traveling with the team: I like bonding and learning more about everyone not just as players, but as people My nickname as a kid was: Cookie Monster My nickname now is: Vandy My SportsCenter highlight would be: Dunking! If I had to survive on one food for the rest of my life, it would be: Special K with Red Berries because it s healthy and tastes good too If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: My cell phone If I could have dinner with any celebrity/public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Jesus My dream job: Something I love, but pays awesome as well In ten years I hope to be: Married and successful with a family If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day, it would be: Jenna Dewan so that I could be with Channing Tatum My biggest pet peeve: Leaving shower curtains open My strength on the court is: Penetrating, rebounding, communicating Highlight of the season: Beating Lehigh and Holy Cross Leopard Basketball

16 11 Sophomore Guard 5-9 LAURA CULLEN Janesville, Wisc./Clinton Played in 16 games for the Leopards as a freshman, averaging just over four minutes a game chipped in with three points and a pair of rebounds at Holy Cross (1/7) also contributed buckets against Long Island (11/25), Radford (12/4), Navy (2/11) and Army (2/21). High School Earned 11 letters in five different sports... on the basketball court, she was a four-year letterwinner and first team all-conference selection for her Rock Valley Conference championship squad...played goalkeeper in soccer, No. 2 doubles in tennis, ran sprints in track and field, and was the No. 2 runner in cross country...received high honor roll status as an upperclassman and academic excellence honors as an underclassmen... member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Student Council. THE CULLEN FILE Full name: Laura Jane Cullen Birthdate, birthplace: 2/11/87, Madison, Wisc. Zodiac sign: Aquarius Parents names: Mark and Carol Cullen Siblings: John, Jeannie, George Major: Psychology The website I visit the most: Playing on my ipod: Justin Timberlake s new album Favorite sports figure: Dwayne Wade Favorite board game: Yahtzee Favorite place on campus: Soles 213, where my bed is The best player I have ever played against: My sister, Jeannie My hero growing up was: Michael Jordan Over the summer I: Worked out, worked basketball camps and worked for my dad. I also relaxed with friends and family Favorite movie: Wedding Crashers It never fails to make me laugh If I were Coach Smith, this is how I would run practice: A game of Shipwreck Favorite food: Cheeseburgers Why I came to Lafayette: To play college basketball and get a good education The best part about traveling with the team: The bus trips and getting to eat food other than Farinon My nickname as a kid was: Lobug My nickname now is: Red My SportsCenter highlight would be: Making the buzzer-beater shot to win a game against Lehigh If I had to survive on one food for the rest of my life, it would be: Pizza, because there are so many different toppings and types If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: My computer for music, pictures and the Internet If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: God, because life is a mystery and he holds the answers My pregame routine is: To relax and listen to music In ten years I hope to be: Married with kids and living in the country in Wisconsin If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day it would be: A celebrity to see how they really live their life instead of having to read about it Highlight of the season: Beating Holy Cross the second time we played them CULLEN's career stats Total 3-PTS rebounds Year GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO Ast TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

17 12 Sophomore Forward 5-11 EMILY GARNER Fairfax Station, Va./Robinson Played in 20 games as a freshman selected as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week after collecting her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 boards in a win over Fairleigh Dickinson (12/21) suffered a concussion and fractured orbital bone against Army (1/25) totaled 12 points and a half-dozen rebounds in the Leopards overtime battle against Navy (1/14) produced at least five rebounds in 13 of her first 17 career games earned Patriot League Academic Honor Roll status with a 3.66 in Economics and Business. High School Led her region in scoring and rebounding as a senior...first team all-district and all-region after recording 20.3 ppg and 11.2 rpg as a senior...second team all-region with 16.3 ppg and 10.1 rpg as a junior...collected honorable mention recognition from the Washington Post both seasons...totaled 1,128 points in her career...team captain and a four-year scholar athlete...member of the Honor Roll and National Honor Society. THE GARNER FILE Full name: Emily Aldridge Garner Birthdate, birthplace: 6/20/87, Fairfax, Va. Zodiac sign: Gemini Parents names: Mary and Ken Garner Major: English A friend I have on another college basketball team is: Katie Rechnitzer (RMWC), Kaitie Clarkin (UMW) The website I visit the most: webmail.lafayette.edu If I could put one team on the schedule, it would be: George Mason Playing on my ipod: Tune Out The Format Favorite sports figure: Michael Jordan Favorite board game: Candyland Favorite place on campus: Gates 403 and, of course, the gym Favorite movie line: Rule #76: Play like a champion. Wedding Crashers The best player I have ever played against: Marissa Coleman (Maryland) My hero growing up was: My dad Over the summer I: Worked out, rehabbed my knee and hung out with family and friends Favorite movie: Love & Basketball, Ice Age If I were Coach Smith, this is how I would run practice: Scrimmage and triangle rebounding Favorite food: Anything homemade by my grandma Favorite class: Renaissance Lit Why I came to Lafayette: The combination of great athletics and academics, along with the chance to play Division I basketball The best part about traveling with the team: The bus rides and the meal money My nickname as a kid was: Em, Claw, Sport My nickname now is: Garner, Em Geezy, G-baby My SportsCenter highlight would be: Hitting a buzzer-beater to win the Patriot League title If I had to survive on one food for the rest of my life, it would be: Special K with Red Berries If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: A boat so that when I get bored on the island I can get back off If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Michael Jordan My dream job: Coaching basketball at a DI program My pregame routine is: Listening to music, and putting my socks and shoes on my left foot before my right If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day it would be: Spicer so I could be jacked My biggest pet peeve: When you re driving and the person in front of you makes a wide right turn and swerves into your lane to make it My strength on the court is: Rebounding Highlight of the season: Beating Lehigh at home GARNER's career stats Total 3-PTS rebounds Year GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO Ast TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

18 15 Sophomore Guard 5-6 JESSICA SPICER Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic Played in 27 of the 28 games as the back-up point guard for the Leopards made first five career three-pointers without any other missed attempts against Wagner (11/19) and Long Island (11/25) netted a careerhigh 11 points in the opening round of the LIU Turkey Classic against the Blackbirds had seven games with at least two steals handed out four assists against both service academies second among all freshmen with earning just over 11 minutes per game was the team s assist leader in four contests managed a 3.25 in the spring semester and was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. High School Earned third team All-State recognition in Illinois...also earned placement on the allarea and all-conference teams...set school records with 233 assists and 122 steals... averaged 8.0 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game...a four-year letterwinner in tennis and one year in track and field... a four-year Scholar-Athlete Award recipient...also honored as an AP Scholar, Rotary Scholar and an Illinois State Scholar... received the Principal's 4.0 Award and was in National Honor Society. THE SPICER FILE Full name: Jessica Elizabeth Spicer Birthdate, birthplace: 4/15/87, Alexandria, Va. Zodiac sign: Aries Parents names: Joseph and Teresa Spicer Siblings: Melissa (17), Joellen (15), Andrew (14), Luke (10) Major: Economics & Business A friend I have on another college basketball team is: Rachel Galligan (Eastern Illinois) The website I visit the most: webmail.lafayette.edu If I could put one team on the schedule it would be: At Hawaii Playing on my ipod: Ready to Run Dixie Chicks Favorite sports figure: Michael Jordan Favorite board game: Monopoly Favorite place on campus: Lower Farinon Favorite movie line: The ubilis muscle is connected to me upper dorsimus. It s boring, but it s a part of my life. Anchorman The best player I have ever played against: Candace Parker Over the summer I: Worked at State Farm and worked out for the season Favorite class: Beethoven Music My nickname as a kid was: Spicemice My nickname now is: Spice, Midge My SportsCenter highlight would be: Dunking If I had to survive on one food for the rest of my life, it would be: Ice cream If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: A library of good books If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Frank Sinatra My pregame routine is: Music, prayer, yelling My biggest pet peeve: Messy rooms My strength on the court is: Defense Highlight of the season: Beating Lehigh and Holy Cross at home SPICER's career stats Total 3-PTS rebounds Year GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO Ast TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

19 14Sophomore Guard 5-7 Cristin Zavocki Springfield, N.J./Jonathan Dayton Played in all 28 games for the Leopards scored at least five points on six occasions, including career-highs of six points backto-back against Navy (2/11) and Bucknell (2/14) led the team in assists in consecutive games toward the end of the season, including a career-high five assists at home against American (2/25) in the team s regular season finale averaged 9.5 minutes per game. High School Named to the 2004 All-Junior team by the Newark Star Ledger...Group 1 All-State as a senior...two-year captain...mountain Valley Conference Sky Division Player of the Year and mentioned on the first team for two seasons...finished her career with over 1,600 points...a four-year letter winner and three-time All-MVC player in soccer... also lettered three times in softball...member of the National Honor Society and the National Honor Roll. THE ZAVOCKI FILE Full name: Cristin Zavocki Birthdate, birthplace: 12/29/86, Orange, N.J. Zodiac sign: Capricorn Parents names: Alice and Paul Zavocki Siblings: Mary-Alice, Kathy Major: Psychology Website I visit the most: If I could put any team on the schedule it would be: At Hawaii Favorite sports figure: David Wright Favorite board game: Life Favorite place on campus: A8 The best player I have ever played against: Matee Ajevon (Rutgers) My heroes growing up were: My sisters Over the summer I: Drove a roller for my dad s company Favorite movie: Wedding Crashers Favorite food: Famous bowls from KFC Favorite class: Buddhism with Purr, Vandy and Mo Why I came to Lafayette: To play DI basketball and get a good education My nickname now is: Goose My SportsCenter highlight would be: Hitting the winning basket in the Patriot League Championship If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: My cell phone If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Flavor Flav My dream job: Changing the light bulb on top of the Empire State Building My pregame routine is: Chewing gum and spitting it out before the game starts In ten years I hope to be: Married, filthy rich with kids If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day, it would be: Angelina Jolie My biggest pet peeve: When people use the word notch Highlight of the season: Beating Lehigh Zavocki's career stats Total 3-PTS rebounds Year GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO Ast TO Blk Stl Pts Avg TOTAL Leopard Basketball

20 THE JENKINS FILE Full name: Danielle Patrice Jenkins Birthdate, birthplace: 1/16/87, Ann Arbor, Mich. Zodiac sign: Capricorn Parents names: Michele and Tyrone Jenkins Siblings: Tyrone A friend I have on another college basketball team is: La Tasia Lee (Canisius) Playing on my ipod: Counting Crows 5 Danielle Jenkins Shirley, N.Y./Longwood Freshman Guard 5-8 High School Versatile, athletic guard competing for a spot in Lafayette s three-guard motion offense two-time all-league player at Longwood and an All-Suffolk County selection as a senior, while averaging 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game the four-year starter was captain as a senior and played in the New York Metro Classic as a junior three-time scholar-athlete and member of the Suffolk County All-Academic team, earning both high honors and Academic Excellence honors in physics and English recognized by the Black History Commission of Brookhaven for Academic Achievement. Favorite sports figure: Dwayne Wade Favorite movie line: I ll play you for your heart, Love & Basketball My hero growing up was: Jesus Christ Over the summer I: Worked in a library and played pick-up Favorite food: Tuna casserole My nickname now is: Boog If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Maya Angelou In ten years I hope to be: An entrepreneur My biggest pet peeve: Peanut butter in the jelly jar My strength on the court is: Ball handling and creating a shot THE LEONE FILE Full name: Amanda Marie Leone Birthdate, birthplace: 7/3/87, Easton, Pa. Zodiac sign: Cancer Parents names: John and Julie Siblings: John, Anna Major: Government & Law Favorite board game: Pictionary Favorite place on campus: Lower Farinon 13 Amanda Leone Easton, Pa./Easton Freshman Guard 5-7 High School Played four years of varsity for Easton, starting at guard her final two years for the Red Rovers averaged 10.0 points per game as a senior 2006 Via All-Star honoree earned all-area status from the Express Times in 2006 after making honorable mention the previous season named to both the Easton Rotary Tournament (2005) and Eddie Mast Memorial ( ) all-tournament teams participated in the Key Club and Peer Assistance programs National Honor Society member. My hero growing up: Laurie Infantino she still is Over the summer I: Worked out for basketball and went to Hilton Head, S.C. with my family Favorite food: My dad s pasta Favorite class: Political Humor My nickname now is: Leoney My SportsCenter highlight would be: An awesome assist to a game-winning shot If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: My dog, Lucy If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Princess Diana My biggest pet peeve: Getting stuck in traffic My strength on the court is: Knowledge of the game Leopard Basketball

21 THE MALONE FILE Full name: Meaghan Malone Birthdate, birthplace: 10/19/86, Edison, N.J. Zodiac sign: Libra Parents names: Grace and Harry Malone Siblings: Melissa, Jennifer Major: Psychology If I could put any team on the schedule it would be: UConn 13 Meaghan Malone North Plainfield, N.J./Roselle Catholic Sophomore Guard Freshman Center 6-3 THE SMITH FILE Full name: Amanda Jane Smith Birthdate, birthplace: 12/1/87, Las Vegas, Nevada Zodiac sign: Sagittarius Parents names: Fred and Nancy Smith Major: Economics & Business I first realized I had a future in Division I basketball when: I scored 28 points in a tournament game and had three coaches call me the next day Playing on my ipod: Rascal Flatts, Hinder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake Favorite sports figure: Lebron James Favorite board game: Clue Favorite class: Ad/Promotional Design My nickname growing up was: Amanda Panda, Bink General Transfer from Iona...will be available in January as a senior captain at Roselle Catholic, averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals per game after seeing three previous years of varsity action named to First-Team All-Mountain Valley and First Team All-Union County in made the list of Union County s Top 15 players in 2003, 2004 and 2005 garnered Second Team All-State Parochial student council member four-year scholar-athlete award recipient and honor roll member also ran track. Playing on my ipod: Beyonce, Evanescence, Snow Patrol, Justin Timberlake The best player I have ever played against: Essence Causon (Rutgers) Favorite movie: The Notebook If I were Coach Smith, this is how I would run practice: Have it be all shooting and dribbling contests My SportsCenter highlight: Hitting the winning shot in the NCAA Final Amanda Smith Las Vegas, Nev./Coronado My nickname now is: Vegas If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Vince Vaughn My dream job: Coaching basketball If I could have dinner with any celebrity/ public figure, dead or alive, it would be: Justin Timberlake My dream job: A famous singer If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day, it would be: Jennifer Aniston My biggest pet peeve: When my sisters wear my clothes and don t put them back High School Adds size and depth to the Leopards under the basket as the tallest Leopards player...garnered Southern Nevada Athlete of the Year honors by Las Vegas sports writers...first team All-Conference and Coronado s Offensive Player of the Year, averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds as a senior captain...set school record in points (1,084), rebounds (784), and blocked shots (171) in her career as a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter...finished first in minutes played and second in free-throw percentage...as a junior, led her team to first-ever state tournament appearance and named second team All-Conference...first female athlete in school history to earn first team All-Conference honors in both basketball and volleyball...wendy s High School Heisman state finalist and selected by the Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association as one of the top five female athletes in Southern Nevada...three-year starter in volleyball and first team All-Conference senior year...led her team to state tournament semi-finals sophomore and senior years...named team MVP over her final two seasons after being named the Rising Star as a sophomore...valedictorian of her class and a member of the National Honor Society...named to the Nevada All-State Academic Team and Honor Roll all four years...earned volleyball and basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior...first female basketball player from her school to play Division 1-A basketball. My pregame routine is: Listening to music, thinking about the game and getting fired up! If I could trade places with anyone on earth for one day it would be: Spiderman Leopard Basketball

22 25 Brooke Niquette Winooski, Vt./Winooski Freshman Forward 6-2 High School Will add size to the Leopards line-up and has the ability to contribute immediately one of the top high school athletes in Vermont, capping her career with first team All-State accolades from the Burlington Free Press as a senior was a four-year captain and ranked third in the state by Varsity Magazine named to the Dream Dozen as a sophomore and a junior nominated for the McDonald's All-America team and was a state finalist for the Wendy s High School Heisman competed in both the North-South All-Star game and Twin State team recorded 909 points, 843 rebounds and 289 blocks in her career, all while missing 16 games due to injury over her final two seasons also started three years at center midfield on the soccer team and was an accomplished track athlete, placing in the top five in the Division 3 state track meet in four events (discus, shot put, 400m, 4x400m) National Honor Society member and the salutatorian of her graduating class recognized by a number of leadership organizations, including the National Young Leaders Conference, the Hugh O Brian Youth Leadership Conference and Vermont's athletic leadership conference founder of the statewide Students Teaching Teachers conference and earned awards for foreign language (French exchange program, Vermont Foreign Language Association certificate of merit) and music (John Philip Sousa award, National Music Honor Society) also earned the Principals Leadership Award and the American Citizenship Award nominated for the Presidential Classroom student council class president. THE NIQUETTE FILE Full name: Brooke Elizabeth Niquette Birthdate, birthplace: 8/7/88, Burlington, Vt. Zodiac sign: Leo Parents names: Patty and John Siblings: Eric, Angie I first realized I had a future in Division I basketball when: My junior year in high school when my AAU coach started telling me about different schools that had interest in me Favorite board game: Parcheesi Favorite movie line: Louie, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship, Casablanca Over the summer I: Painted houses and worked out Favorite movie: The Sound of Music Why I came to Lafayette: It felt like home for me If I were stranded on an island, the one thing I would take with me would be: My sister, because she could entertain me forever My dream job: Coaching a local basketball team in the Bahamas My biggest pet peeve: People who lie My strength on the court: My athleticism Leopard Basketball

23 THE COACHES

24 Head Coach TAMMY SMITH Coach Smith s File Full Name: Tammy Smith Hometown: Drums, Pa. High School: Hazleton, Pa. College: East Stroudsburg Year Graduated and Degree Earned: East Stroudsburg, 1982; Bachelor s degree, health and physical education; 2004; Master's degree, Sport Management Sports Played: Basketball, Softball Coaching Career: 2001-present, head coach, Lafayette; , Muhlenberg College; , head coach, North Warren Regional High School Birthdate: June 2, 1958 Tammy Smith enters her sixth season as the head coach at Lafayette and will usher in a new era of women s basketball beginning in Armed with the program s first full-scholarship class coupled with continued improvement in her first five seasons, Smith now possesses the tools to push Lafayette forward within an increasingly competitive Patriot League. Smith is the fourth coach in the Lafayette women s basketball program s 33-year history and begins her 13th overall as a collegiate head coach. Smith begins the season with a career record of (.427). In , Smith s team showed glimmers of great strides, as the season was highlighted by a win over Patriot League powerhouse and defending champion Holy Cross at Kirby Sports Center. That Feb. 4 triumph capped a season in which the Leopards managed the most wins (8-20) since the season. Before coaching at Lafayette, Smith compiled a record of (.624) at Muhlenberg, a NCAA Division III institution located in Allentown, Pa. She led the women s basketball program to five straight Centennial Conference East Division championships from 1996 to 2000 at a school that had never won a division title. Two of those seasons, and , resulted in Centennial Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. In , Smith led the Muhlenberg program to its first victory in an NCAA Tournament game. Smith s Muhlenberg team recorded a school-record 19 wins, while the performances of her and squads earned her nominations for NCAA District 4 Coach of the Year honors. Prior to coaching at Muhlenberg, Smith spent 14 years ( ) at North Warren Regional High School in Blairstown, N.J., as a physical education teacher and coach of numerous sports. As the girls varsity basketball coach for 11 years, she accumulated a (.769) record and led her squads to the state championship game three times. Along the way she received four coach of the year honors from the local media, including being named coach of the year in by both the Easton Express-Times and Newark Star Ledger. The New Jersey Herald also selected Smith its coach of the year in and Smith is a 1982 graduate of East Stroudsburg University where she earned a bachelor of science degree in Health and Physical Education. She finished her playing career by being named MVP in her senior season. Smith began her coaching career as an assistant coach at her alma mater during the season. Smith completed a master s degree in Sport Management from East Stroudsburg in December of Smith resides in Forks Township, Pa Leopard Basketball

25 Assistant Coach LaRONDA MURPHY LaRonda Murphy begins her eighth season as an assistant on the Lafayette women s basketball staff. Her responsibilities include recruiting, post player development, coordinating team travel and budget management. As the top assistant, Murphy assists with practice planning and game strategy. She also serves on the athletics department s diversity committee in addition to serving as an academic liaison. Occasionally, she stands in for head coach Tammy Smith on the Lafayette Weekly Radio Show. Prior to coming to College Hill, Murphy spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University, serving as recruiting coordinator. Before her FDU stint, Murphy spent two seasons working with post players, as well as scouting and monitoring the academics of student-athletes as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University. Murphy received her degree in Business Administration from Saginaw Valley State in While at SVSU, she served as captain of the women s basketball team and was also a student-assistant coach. She went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel from Eastern Michigan in Murphy is a 2005 graduate of the NCAA Women s Coaches Academy and resides in Easton, Pa. Coach Murphy s File Full Name: LaRonda Murphy Hometown: Inkster, Mich. High School: H.J. Robichaud College: Henry Ford Community College, Saginaw Valley State, Eastern Michigan Year Graduated and Title of Degree Earned: Associate of Commerce 1988, Bachelor of Arts in General Business 1992, Master of Arts in College Student Personnel Sports Played: Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Track Coaching Career: 1999-present, Assistant Coach, Lafayette; , Assistant Coach, Fairleigh Dickinson; , Graduate Assistant, Eastern Michigan; , Student Assistant Coach, Saginaw Valley State Birthdate: January 6, Leopard Basketball

26 Assistant Coaches Jen Wedo & Margo Connors Coach Wedo's File Full Name: Jen Wedo Hometown: Downingtown, Pa. High School: Downingtown High School College: University of San Diego Year Graduated and Title of Degree Earned: University of San Diego, 2003, Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology; East Stroudsburg University, 2006, Master's degree in Education/ Sport Management Sports Played: Basketball Coaching Career: 2006-present, Assistant Coach Lafayette College; , Head Coach, William Woods University; , Assistant Coach, University of California-San Diego; , Graduate Assistant Coach, East Stroudsburg University Birthdate: October 28, 1980 Jen Wedo returns to her Pennsylvania roots as the second assistant Lafayette women s basketball staff following a pair of coaching stints in California and Missouri. The Downingtown, Pa. native assists in all aspects of the program, particularly developing Lafayette s guards. In addition, she will be responsible for film breakdown, scouting and recruiting. Wedo has been in the coaching ring since graduating from the University of San Diego in 2003 and offers coaching experience on all levels. Most recently, Wedo served as the head coach at William Woods University, a NAIA Division I institution in Fulton, Miss. Prior to her stint at William Woods, Wedo returned to the West Coast coaching a season at the University of California-San Diego. She was the top assistant for the season and served as the interim head coach from April through July of that year. As an undergraduate, Wedo played four scholarship years at guard for San Diego, helping the Toreros to the 2000 West Coast Conference Championship and an NCAA tournament berth her sophomore year. Wedo later earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology with a minor in Sociology. Wedo jumped into coaching following graduation in 2003, as she began work on her masters and assisted the women s basketball program at East Stroudsburg. While in the Lehigh Valley, Wedo was named the 2004 Women s Basketball Coaches Association/Women s Sports Foundation National Graduate Assistant Coach of the Year. She completed her Master of Science degree in Sport Management from ESU in Margo Connors is in her second season on the Lafayette women s basketball coaching staff. Her primary responsibilities include scouting and post player development. Connors was a four-year scholarship player at the University of Vermont, where she graduated with a degree in Engineering Management with a minor in Environmental Science in She received an MBA in Marketing Management from Pace University in New York in She has played in a number of amateur and semi-pro leagues and participated in games to promote a professional women s basketball league, which came to fruition as the WNBA. After graduating from Vermont she spent five years as an industrial engineer with United Parcel Service. Following her MBA she worked for International Business Machines as a systems engineer, marketing representative and as a principal consultant in the Media Industry. She returned to basketball following the birth of her three sons. During six years of coaching she has held various positions. Connors coached A.A.U. basketball in Clinton Township, N.J. before assuming a number of roles with the Voorhees High School program in Glen Gardner, N.J. She began as the freshman coach, and also gained experience as the junior varsity coach and an assistant coach at the varsity level. Voorhees compiled a record of with Connors on the bench. Her interests include reading, running, hiking, and gardening. She is the mother of three boys - twins Tim and Ryan (10) and Christopher (9) and resides with her husband, Chris, in Clinton Township, N.J. Coach Connors' File Full Name: Margo Connors Hometown: Bedford, N.Y. High School: John F. Kennedy High School College: Vermont Year Graduated and Title of Degree Earned: Vermont, 1985, Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management; Pace, 1993, Master s degree in Marketing Management Sports Played: Basketball, field hockey, track Coaching Career: 2005-present, Assistant Coach Lafayette College; , Assistant Coach, Voorhees High School; Hunterdon Hoosiers (AAU), Clinton Twp traveling team coach Birthdate: May 1, Leopard Basketball