Dec. 26, 2007

Stony Brook, N.Y. - I am a little behind in the newsletter department but I wanted to be sure to update you on what your Seawolves' Women's Basketball team has been up to recently. The season has been a little inconsistent, as can be expected from a young team, but we have definitely had some bright spots.

In particular, our freshman class has done a great job throughout the first part of the season. Misha Horsey `11 (Wyncote, Pa./Cheltenham) has started every game at the point guard position and gets better all the time. Jodie Plikus '11 (Waterford, Conn./Waterford) has been a consistent scoring threat off the bench with her dead-eye long range shooting. Kirsten Jeter '11 (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont) moved into the starting lineup on December 4th against Hofstra and has not looked back! (She is warrior!) Fellow Freshmen Ariel Brown '11 (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) and Sam Norwood '11 (Perth, Australia/Willetton) have also contributed off the bench. I feel confident that the future is in good hands with this freshmen group!

In addition to the strong play from our freshmen, the team has had some very good victories in the past few weeks. (I guess all victories are good ones!) On December 4th, we beat Long Island rival Hofstra University in a game that was televised on Fox Sports New York. Kirsten Jeter `11 led the way with 16 points and senior Dana Ferraro '08 (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) had an important double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Last Friday night we knocked off Ivy League foe Dartmouth College in a game that saw senior Aly Young '08 (Lodi, Calif./Tokay) record a near triple-double (20 points, 9 rebounds, 7 steals) which earned her America East Player of the Week honors. We close out 2007 with a game on December 22nd at Northeastern University and a tournament at Lehigh University on December 29th and 30th.

In January, we will begin America East Conference play. It would be great to have as many of you in attendance at those games as possible as we battle for a conference championship! It all begins at home on January 5th against Vermont. We had an overtime thriller victory against Vermont at Stony Brook last year and I am sure this year will bring the same excitement. We hope to see many of you there.

There is one game that is especially important to us this season and that is our game against UMBC on February 13th. Why is this game so special? Stony Brook Women's Basketball is joining with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in its fight against breast cancer and will be celebrating this cause and breast cancer survivors with a "Think Pink" game on February 13th. We ask that everyone come out to support not only the Seawolves but also the fight against breast cancer. Be sure to wear pink to this special game and check out our website at www.goseawolves.org in the coming weeks for more details on the events surrounding this game as well as for our entire schedule.

Until next month, happy holidays and Go Seawolves!!

Michele Cherry
Head Women's Basketball Coach