Acorn

Media Credit: Ben Rosenthal Women's Head Coach Dana Tamuccio gives pointers during a time out [Click to enlarge]

When looking strictly at the record and the statistics, the 2005-06 women?s basketball season seems pretty mediocre. Going into Saturday?s game against Kings College, the women hold an overall record of 11-11 and a conference record of 5-6. As a team, they average 63.6 ppg while yielding 63.5.

However, the women have the chance to do something special in their final three games. While currently in fifth place, one game out of the conference playoffs, they control their own destiny as they take on the fourth place team, Kinchipped in with 14 points. The Rangers also dominated the boards as Mularz recorded a season high 13 rebounds. Junior Genie Valantassis, the ultimate hustle player, was a nightmare for the opposing tea, ripping down 12 rebounds and forcing 5 steals.

On Wednesday the Rangers took on the Delaware Valley Aggies who came into the game as the second-place team in the conference. The Rangers fell 71-65 in a close game that went back and forth. Closely contested ballgames are often decided by free-throw shooting and this one proved to be no different as the Aggies took advantage of a 29-12 edge from the line. Kraft dropped 21 points to lead all scorers and Mularz continued to impress, providing a season-high 17 points.

In fact, both Mularz and freshman Laura Methvin had to step up in the absence of sophomore center Pam Kakalec who did not return to the team after the fall semester. Kraft is impressed with the progress these first year players have made.

?The freshman have improved significantly in every practice and every game since Pam?s departure,? Kraft said. We need them more than ever in these last three games and hopefully everyone will peak at the right moment.?s, Saturday in Wilkes-Barre. If the women can win their final three games, they would make the conference playoffs for the first time in the history of the program.

Last Saturday in Williamsport, Pa., junior Courtney Cunningham led the Rangers to a season sweep of Lycoming College. Both teams were very cold shooting the ball early, but Cunningham busted out hitting five big 3-pointers for the game, many of which were from NBA range. The junior guard finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Her backcourt mate junior Melissa Kraft had an off-night offensively but played a solid floor game, contributing 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Freshman Ann Mularz ignited the Rangers by contributing 8 points and 6 boards off the bench.

The Rangers returned to their home court on Monday to host Manhattanville College in a non-conference contest. Everyone on the roster saw action as the Rangers buried the visiting team 77-50. The Rangers were led offensively by junior Maggie Marquis and senior Kathleen Foster who each chipped in with 14 points. The Rangers also dominated the boards as Mularz recorded a season high 13 rebounds. Junior Genie Valantassis, the ultimate hustle player, was a nightmare for the opposing tea, ripping down 12 rebounds and forcing 5 steals.

On Wednesday the Rangers took on the Delaware Valley Aggies who came into the game as the second-place team in the conference. The Rangers fell 71-65 in a close game that went back and forth. Closely contested ballgames are often decided by free-throw shooting and this one proved to be no different as the Aggies took advantage of a 29-12 edge from the line. Kraft dropped 21 points to lead all scorers and Mularz continued to impress, providing a season-high 17 points.

In fact, both Mularz and freshman Laura Methvin had to step up in the absence of sophomore center Pam Kakalec who did not return to the team after the fall semester. Kraft is impressed with the progress these first year players have made.

?The freshman have improved significantly in every practice and every game since Pam?s departure,? Kraft said. We need them more than ever in these last three games and hopefully everyone will peak at the right moment.?

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