New look for Blue Devils
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Matt Palisin,
Sports Information Dept.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's Basketball
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- This will be a year of transition for the Fredonia State Blue Devils. Heading into the 2008-2009 campaign, the Devils could potentially have four new starters and will have to replace the program's all-time leading scorer, Cheryl Kindzia, and a three-year starter at point guard, Maria Scaffidi.
Kindzia scored 1,370 points and grabbed 852 rebounds in four seasons. She averaged 17.7 ppg last year. Scaffidi ranks third on the Devils' all-time three-point list (98) and was second on the team with 12.7 ppg a year ago.
One familiar face will be Angela Pucciarelli (Fredonia). She averaged 10.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season. Pucciarelli will partner up with newcomers Marissa Gaeta (Kirkwodd/Windsor) and Katie Landy (Jamestown/Soutwestern) to provide the scoring punch in the frontcourt.
Despite the new faces, both forwards bring with them college experience -- Gaeta played two seasons at Division II Mansfield, while Landy spent two seasons at Jamestown Community College.
Freshman Liz Wierbinski (Camillus/West Geneseee) has shown some solid potential and will improve as she learns to do things at the quicker college pace.
Transfer Tiffany Collinsworth (Romulus), who can play in the frontcourt and backcourt, has the ability to put up points, and should see plenty of opportunity this season.
"Our forwards will be our strength this year," head coach Donna Wise said. "They all have the ability to score."
The Devil frontcourt will also have a different look. Freshman Nicole Calbi (Olean) and senior transfer Jenny Brewer (Olean) will try to learn the offense and run the point. They will be spelled by sophomore Kristina D'Ercole (Palmyra/Nazareth Academy), who saw limited action last season.
There is expected to be and adjustment period with the new players as it will take some time to learn the system. "When they do, they will hit their stride," Wise said. "Learning it, understanding it, and performing it will be the key to our success."
Leisel Renaud (Brooklyn/Humanities Prep) and Alexandria Haitz (Batavia/Notre Dame) return the most experience at the 2-guard. Renaud, who will be counted on for her defense, made 18 starts and averaged 3.3 points per game a year ago. Haitz averaged 5.1 points while making seven starts.
Other returnees include Caroline Hourihan (Buffalo Nardin Academy), who made five late-season starts and averaged 3.1 p.p.g., and Courtney Kingston (Geneseo) and Kalli Harrington (Westfield), who saw brief action in 2007-08.
Of the six players the Devils return, and Wise will look for someone to step forward. "There is a lot of playing time up for grabs," she said. "We are looking for one or two returnees to step up and produce on the court."
The team opens with SUNY Cobleskill on Sat., Nov. 15 in Steele Hall.