Quick Facts: 2009-10 Record: 11-19 (7-9 America East)
Letterwinners Returning: 8
Starters Returning: 4
Newcomers: 6
Head Coach: Nicole Scholl (3rd season)/ 25-36 career-record
Under the watch of head coach Nicole Scholl, the Binghamton
women’s basketball program has proven to be capable of competing with any team
in the America East Conference. However, the Bearcats have not quite been able
to make the jump from the middle of the conference standings, to competing for
an America East championship. With many of the top players in the conference
lost to graduation, there is the hope that this might be the year that
Binghamton turns the corner and competes for a conference championship.
The Bearcats finished the 2009-10 season in disappointing fashion,
falling in the America East Championship quarterfinals to SUNY-rival Stony
Brook. Binghamton has found itself in the 4-5 game at the tourney for six
straight years after finishing in a tie for second in two of its first three
seasons competing in the America East. The Bearcats will be hoping that this is
the season they can get over that hump.
Now that she is entering her third year as the head coach at
Binghamton, Scholl finally has the type of players that best fit her system.
The Bearcats return arguably the top point guard in the America East in junior
Andrea Holmes, who averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists during
her sophomore season. It’s this
experience throughout the roster that has created significant expectations
heading into the season.
“I think the
biggest key for us this year is going to be experience with three of our key
starters back this year in Andrea Holmes, Viive Rebane and Jackie Ward,” said
Scholl about the upcoming season.”
While the
return of three starters will provide this Binghamton squad with experience, it
will not be easy to replace the production of Erica Carter. Carter, who was
selected to the America East All-Conference Second Team, was one of the premier
shooters in the entire country. While Scholl doesn’t believe any one individual
can replicate the shooting of Carter, she does expect that the team will work
together to replace her production.
“I don’t
think you can ever replace a great shooter like Erica Carter,” Scholl
emphasized. “But we hope to replace her with balanced scoring this year and
contributions from everyone that steps on the floor.
With the
return of eight letterwinners, including the starting trio of Holmes, Viive
Rebane and Jackie Ward, the Bearcats present one of the more experienced and
talented core group of players in the America East Conference.
Holmes
combined with Ward to form one of the most talented backcourts in the America
East. Behind Homes, Ward is the next returning scorer with 10.9 points per
game, while also averaging 2.1 assists. As the lone senior, she will be looked
at to provide leadership.
Rebane, a 6-0
junior post player, was an all-rookie selection two years ago and followed it
up with an impressive sophomore season. Rebane averaged 8.2 points, 7.1
rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. With her steady contribution,
Rebane just may be one of the more underrated players in the America East.
If Binghamton can get off to a quick start
during its challenging non-conference schedule, which includes road games at
St. Bonaventure and Massachusetts, this team could have the necessary
confidence to compete for a spot near the top of the America East standings.