University of Vermont, which won the America East regular season title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the WNIT in 2002, was picked to win the 2003 America East Championship in a vote of the conference’s head coaches.
The Catamounts, 23-9 overall last season and 14-2 in America East, received seven of a possible eight first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) and 63 votes overall. Boston University (55 points) and defending America East Champion University of Hartford (29 points) also received first place votes.
The Catamounts return senior Morgan Hall (12.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and junior Aaron Yantzi (14.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), who are among the preseason all-conference selections after receiving all-conference nods last season. They are joined by senior Dawn Cressman (7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and 2001-02 all-rookie selection Katie McNamara (8.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg). Sixth-year head coach Keith Cieplicki also welcomes back junior Theresa LaRocque, who sat out last season due to injury after being a starter as a sophomore.
Maine (16-12, 9-7) returns its top six scorers from a season ago, led by preseason all-conference selection Heather Ernest (12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg). She is joined by guard Melissa Heon (10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 68 assists), and 2001-02 Rookie of the Year Monica Peterson (9.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg) to form a young but experienced nucleus. Third-year head coach Sharon Versyp improved the program's win total by four from her rookie campaign.
Boston University head coach Margaret McKeon returns all five starters from last year's team that compiled a winning record for the first time since 1994-95, led by preseason all-conference selection Katie Terhune's conference best 18.6 ppg. Also back are juniors Marisa Moseley (8.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Alison Argentieri (8.0 ppg, team-high 90 assists). The Terriers (17-11, 10-6) look forward to the debut of center Amparo Lopez.
University of New Hampshire (16-13, 9-7), under the guidance of sixth-year head coach Sue Johnson, returns two all-conference selections in junior Maren Matthias (11.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and senior Aubrey Danen (11.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), and all-rookie team member Geneva Livingston (6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg).
Stony Brook University will again be led by junior Sherry Jordan (17.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg), who led the Seawolves (16-14, 7-9) to the America East Championship Game in their first season in the conference. Head Coach Trish Roberts welcomes back junior Theresa LoParrino (11.6 ppg), and has added four recruits.
Defending America East Champion University of Hartford (16-15, 9-7) graduated six seniors, but returns seniors Dorcas Miller (9.8 ppg, 47 three-pointers) and Angie Pezzetta (5.7 ppg, team-high 97 assists). Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti brings in a class of six, several of whom are expected to contribute immediately.
Head Coach Laurie Kelly led Binghamton (19-9, 10-6) to the number three seed at the conference tournament in the Bearcats first season in America East. She returns third-team all-conference choice junior Kate Townley (6.6 ppg, 5.3, rpg, team-high 122 assists), as well as junior Leala Wegwerth (7.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg).
Northeastern brings back all five starters from last season and head coach Willette White had brought in a strong class that boasts five players 6-0 or taller. The Huskies (6-22, 4-12) return their top two scorers in junior Melissa Kowalski (12.2 ppg, 69 three-pointers), a third-team all-conference selection, and sophomore Francesca Vanin (11.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg), an all-rookie choice.
First-year head coach Trina Patterson leads Albany (4-23, 0-16) into its second season of America East play. Four of five starters return for the Great Danes, led by sophomores Becky Ayers (12.2 ppg) and Danielle Hutcheson (11.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg). Senior Jess McGinlay (11.4 ppg) and junior Kathryn Hemlock (6.4 ppg, team-high 84 assists) also return for Albany.
The eight-team 2003 Friendship Cottage Cheese America East Women’s Basketball Championship will be held at Hartford at The Chase Family Arena March 13-15 and will determine the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.