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2005-2006 Season Outlook

With eight letterwinners returning, along with five freshmen and one transfer, the 2005-2006 Gwynedd-Mercy College Women's Basketball Team under eleventh-year head coach Keith Mondillo will look to come out gunning and aim for a return to the NCAA Tournament.

Last season got off to a slow start, as the Griffins held a 2-6 record going into the holiday break. But a second-half surge, including a streak that saw Gwynedd win 12 of its last 17 games, helped the team to a No.3 seed in the PAC Playoffs. After defeating Cabrini in the first round and winning a tough double-overtime road game at Wesley in the semifinals, the Griffins earned their eighth-straight trip to the PAC Championship.

This season, Coach Mondillo sees alot of promise as he welcomes back two all-league performers in junior forward Jackie Dougherty and sophomore guard Lauren Healy.
Dougherty, a first-team All-PAC selection last season, led the Griffins in scoring, assists, and steals can play the guard or the forward positions. Healy earned a spot on the honorable mention list as a freshman and was named to the inaugural PAC All-Sportsmanship Team as well.

In the low post, senior Allison Gray and junior Rebecca Frederick saw significant minutes a year ago and will battle for playing time. Junior Ashlee Vandiver transferred from PAC foe Arcadia and will see time. Vandiver led the Knights last season in both scoring and rebounding. Newcomers Jess Smyth and Jess Smith will push the upperclassmen.

Healy will anchor the backcourt but look for junior Michelle Sgrillo and sophomores Karen Tierney and Beccie Strohecker to add into the mix. Senior Jillian Chiarantona also returns as a long-ball threat, as she led the Griffins in three-point shooting last season. Kristy Cramp, Jenna Dougherty, and Bridget Morrin, all freshmen, are able to step in right away.

This season, the schedule will test the Griffins early, as the season-opening Marymount Tipoff features the likes of Trinity (Tx.), Marymount, and Wesleyan. GMC will also play at the Days Inn Classic hosted by Gettysburg over the winter break. Gwynedd will also face the likes of McDaniel, King's, and DeSales in non-league action. The conference slate doesn't get any easier as Gwynedd plays its first three PAC games against teams that qualified for the PAC Tournament last season.

“We believe our non-conference schedule including some of the top teams in our region will prepare us for league play. The bulk of our returning players ganied valuable playing experience last season and with the addition of the new players, we hope to contend for another PAC Championship,” states Mondillo.

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