Sports News: Fall 2002

Thursday, October 31, 2002

MORAVIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SELECTED THIRD IN COMMONWEALTH PRESEASON POLL

ANNVILLE, PA --- The Moravian College women’s basketball team has been picked third in the Commonwealth Conference Preseason Poll based upon a poll of the leagues coaches.

Moravian received 51 points and one first place vote to trail preseason favorite Lebanon Valley College and two-time defending Commonwealth Champion Messiah College. Rounding out the poll was Widener University in fourth, Elizabethtown College in fifth, Juniata College in sixth, Susquehanna University in seventh and Albright College in eighth.

The Greyhounds will be lead by head coach Mary Beth Spirk, who is entering her 16th season at the school with a career mark 269-135, is excited about the season to see the culmination of the careers of her four seniors, who have improved from 4-20 as freshman to last year’s 16-10 mark.

Leading the senior class for coach Spirk are guard Tara Wozniak (Roseland, NJ/West Essex Regional HS) and forward Kelly McLean (Allentown, PA/Salisbury HS). Wozniak, a Commonwealth First Team All-Star last season, has led the Greyhounds in scoring the last two years including a mark of 14.5 points per contest last winter. Wozniak also contributed 151 rebounds and 20 blocked shots while leading the Greyhounds with 55 assists, 51 steals and 47 three-pointers. Last winter, McLean netted 11.8 points per game while topping Moravian on the glass with 8.0 rebounds per outing. McLean also led the team with a 50.6 shooting percentage and 27 blocked shots while contributing 30 steals and 27 assists.

Other members of the senior class are guard/forward Kristen Sarnocinski (Harleysville, PA/Germantown Academy HS) and forward Lorrie Khalil (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua HS). Sarnocinski averaged 6.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last winter and was third on the team with 24 three-pointers a year ago. She added 43 assists and 27 steals. Khalil contributed 25 points and 19 boards in a reserve roll.

Coach Spirk also has a talented junior class and leading the group is guard Kim Hughes (Manasquan, NJ/St. Rose HS), who has averaged double figures in scoring her first two seasons. Hughes netted 11.0 points per game last season and was in three-pointers with 31. Hughes also had 87 rebounds, 43 steals and 38 assists. Forward Tracie Shipman (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan HS) was Moravian’s first inside player off the bench last season and she was tied for second on the squad with 5.8 rebounds per game to go along with 7.5 points per contest.

Playing along side Hughes in the backcourt are guards Meghan Silverman (Wyomissing, PA/Wilson West Lawn HS), Sarah Onkotz (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua HS), Kim Smith (Gilbert, PA/Pleasant Valley HS) and Jackie Buschta (Whitehall, PA/Allentown Central Catholic HS). Silverman was Moravian’s backup at point guard last season and contributed 45 points, 34 rebounds, 23 assists and 17 steals while playing in 25 games. Onkotz added 60 points, 27 rebounds and 14 steals off the bench while Smith had 65 points, 28 rebounds, 11 assists and 11 steals as a reserve. Buschta, who missed last season with a knee injury, is considered by coach Spirk as one of the top defenders in the Commonwealth Conference and will be back in the lineup this season.

The Greyhounds have just one sophomore on the roster, guard Jen Behagg (Hamburg, NJ/Pope John XXIII HS), who started 23 games last season. Behagg netted 3.8 points per game last winter while contributing 64 rebounds, 48 assists and 30 steals. She will likely be Moravian’s floor general again this year.

Coach Spirk has a group of talented players set to join the returners this season as the team sets its sights on the Commonwealth Conference title and a return to the NCAA Division III Tournament, where it hasn’t been in ten seasons. The Greyhounds will open their 2002-03 season on November 23rd and 24th in Boston as the squad will compete in the Emmanuel College Tip-Off Tournament.

2002-03 Commonwealth Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

Rank School (first place votes)
Points
1. Lebanon Valley College (5)
60
2. Messiah College (2)
57
3. Moravian College (1)
51
4. Widener University
33
5. Elizabethtown College
29
6. Juniata College
28
7. Susquehanna University
20
8. Albright College
10