SEASON PREVIEW
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NY – St. Francis Brooklyn women's basketball kicks off the regular season Monday following an exhibition contest Friday evening and is looking to build off a strong 2021-22 campaign which saw the program reach new heights. Fresh off a program-best second-place finish and No. 2 seed in the Northeast Conference (NEC) tournament, head coach Linda Cimino believes this unit is capable of even more.
"I'm excited and confident in this group we have and believe big things are ahead of us," Cimino said. "We understand that we need to replace four starters from last season's roster, but it's an exciting challenge and our staff knows our returners will step up and our newcomers will step in this year."
The Terriers won the most conference games in program history last season and despite losing their top four scorers from the squad, they were picked to finish third in the NEC preseason poll. In total, the team has eight newcomers made up of three transfers and five true freshmen to go along with six returners. Given the share of new and returning personnel, competition for minutes will be high.
Guard
Senior guard Alyssa Fisher headlines a deep and more experienced unit of guards for St. Francis Brooklyn. The only returning starter from a season ago, Fisher will be a leader on the floor. Regarded as an elite defender, she will often take on defensive assignments against the best guards in the conference.
"Alyssa is as solid and consistent as you can get out there," Cimino said. "She is a great leader, plays the game the right way and defends every possession hard. She has also been a consistent shooter for us over her career."
Mikayla Marcum comes to Brooklyn Heights from nearby Columbia, where she was a part of the Lions' first 20-win season a year ago. A "pass-first" pure point guard, she is on track to take the reins of the offense and make an immediate impact.
"Mikayla has an incredible motor on the floor," Cimino said. "It's fun to watch. She makes everyone on the floor better. I expect her to be one of the top point guards in the league right away."
Ella Ogier, a transfer from San Jose State, adds size to the guard position for the Terriers. Her experience and ability to play under control are some attributes that will help carry her this season.
"I love what Ella brings to this team," Cimino said. "She adds so much maturity and moves well without the ball but can also stretch defenses with her shooting ability as well. She can be a top player in our league."
Eszter Varga has shown improvement in the offseason and will see a larger role in 2022-23. Named a captain ahead of the season, she has developed into a strong shooter and is versatile. The Somogy, Hungary native will see minutes at both guard positions.
Fellow captain Jaila Lee is an incredibly athletic player and another elite defender. She made great strides in her rookie campaign on both sides of the ball and brings great skill to the guard position. She is coming off an injury and is seen as someone who will provide an instant spark once cleared to play.
Three freshmen have made a splash in the preseason and added skill and depth to the guard position. Tyra Myers is a combo guard and is regarded for her toughness and offensive rebounding ability. She can also score and make winning plays as she was a 2,000-point scorer at the Hammond School in South Carolina.
Katie Januszewska comes in with a great amount of basketball experience, as she was a captain on the Great Britain U18 National Team. With the ability to post up and shoot from the outside, she brings versatility to the guard position. She also adds strong rebounding to her arsenal.
Angena Belloso is another guard that will add size to the backcourt. A strong combination of three-point shooting and an ability to get in the lane is what she is known for. Her length allows her to get into passing lanes defensively.
"Angie is a great athlete with a terrific skill level, and with that combination she has the potential to have an excellent college career," Cimino said.
Forward/Center
The development of Sarah Bandoma has been a positive talking point heading into the season. She is on track to slide into the starting center role right away.
"Sarah has improved so much, and we are so excited to see her in action," Cimino said. "Her footwork and finishing ability have come a long way since last year, and that's a testament to all of the hard work she has put in."
Bandoma served as a reserve last year behind leading scorer Ally Lassen and is now poised for a breakthrough sophomore season. Her 6-foot-3 frame will create mismatches in the frontcourt throughout her career.
Zharia Hutchinson adds grit and will play in the post once again. The junior is crafty on the glass, showing an offensive rebounding prowess. She corralled 55 rebounds for the Terriers in 2022-23.
Bella Green is another post player that impressed in the early going. Known for being a blue-collar player, she is another athlete with rebounding ability and has a soft touch around the rim.
Sheriden Kavanagh is a second-year player who is shifting to primarily be a small forward this season. She has the ability to play multiple positions and can knock down shots from inside and three-point range.
The Terriers brought two freshmen forwards into the mix in Anna Altmann and Paige Martin. Altmann can stretch the defense with a developed shooting touch and Martin runs the floor with ease and is a solid post presence.
Schedule
The Terriers will embark on a rigorous non-conference schedule before heading into NEC play. Following a season opener with Old Westbury Monday, they will head to Queens for a matchup with BIG EAST opponent St. John's.
After the season opener, three more non-conference opponents will be coming to Brooklyn in Rider (Nov. 13), UMBC (Nov. 20) and Stony Brook (Dec. 10).
Other non-conference road matchups will be against NJIT (Nov. 16), Boston University (Nov. 23), Youngstown State (Nov. 26), Monmouth (Dec. 1), Quinnipiac (Dec. 4), UPENN (Dec. 8) and Lafayette (Dec. 21).
"Our non-conference schedule is meant to test us right out of the gate," Cimino said. "There is purpose in facing perennial conference powers and we want to head into the New Year prepared for the Northeast Conference."
The 16-game Northeast Conference slate consists of a home and road matchup against the eight other members, including first-year member Stonehill. The conference slate begins in January and runs through the beginning of March.
"You cannot sleep on anyone in our league," Cimino said. "It's a cliché, but anyone can beat anybody on any given night. We need to focus on ourselves and execute our game plan and I believe we will be successful if we do that."
Wagner was picked first in the NEC preseason poll, just ahead of Fairleigh Dickinson. The Terriers were picked third (with one first place vote) and were followed by Saint Francis (PA), Merrimack, Sacred Heart, LIU, Central Connecticut State and Stonehill.
No matter where St. Francis Brooklyn was picked, Cimino believes her team has what it takes to make a statement come March.
"We have everything it takes to be successful this season," Cimino said. "From our newcomers to our returners, we have a great mix of talent. Now it's time to get down to business and get it done."
