C.W. Post women look primed for championship season

Last season Molloy was the last team standing among Long Island East Coast Conference members Dowling and C.W. Post, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II women's tournament.

Those same teams could emerge as contenders, except this season C.W. Post - the preseason pick to finish first - is the favorite.

C.W. POSTPIONEERS

Led by Janea Aiken, Felicia Joyner and Alyssa Lombardi, C.W. Post (20-9) has the depth and experience to have a special season.

"Having five out of seven coaches pick us to finish first . . . that was pretty nice," C.W. Post coach Deirdre Moore said.

Post can rely on Aiken, who led the Pioneers in scoring last season (16 points per game), and is the conference preseason player of the year.

"She had a lot of success last year," Moore said. "She's a legit go-to player. And she doesn't force the action."

Moore also will count on Joyner (13.4 ppg) and Lombardi (7.5 rpg). "Felicia's been a team leader since she's been here," the coach said.

MOLLOY LIONS

As for defending ECC regular season and tournament champion Molloy (22-8), which received two first-place votes in the preseason poll, senior center Caitlin Wheeler is the only returning starter.

But shed no tears for Molloy, which figures to get a big boost from Mercy College transfer Delmara Reece (12.6 ppg, 11.6 rebs.). Coach Tim O'Hagan also has Manhattan College transfer Laura Rivera as well as sophomore sharpshooters Christina Marra and Ashley Addison in the backcourt.

"It'll take us a while to get going," said O'Hagan, who lost four starters from last season. "But Delmara's definitely going to help."

The Lions also have 6-4 freshman center Jessica DeNicola in the mix, and O'Hagan expects her presence to give Molloy a big edge in the paint.

DOWLING GOLDEN LIONS

Dowling lost some significant firepower from a squad that finished 20-9 a year ago, but still has some experience in backcourt mates Connie Simmons and Seja Gamble. Simmons and Gamble are sophomores, so coach Joe Pellicane expects some growing pains. "We have eight players who are either first or second-year players," Pellicane said.

The hope for Pellicane and Dowling is that newcomers Shayla Felder and Emily Bongiorno will provide an immediate impact.

"I'm an old-school guy," Pellicane said. "I believe in team balance and sharing the ball. We'll need a lot of that this year."

NYITBEARS

NYIT (4-23), which finished seventh in the ECC last season with second-year coach Anthony Crocitto, could make great strides with Division I transfers Cierra Baker (Longwood University), Rebecca Lynch (St. Peter's) and Tiffany Seymour (Fairleigh Dickinson) and three-year letter winner Lauren Caggiano.

ADELPHI PANTHERS

Adelphi experienced some change in the offseason as Heather Jacobs took over as coach. The Panthers (4-23) struggled to a last-place finish in the Northeast-10 Conference, but the cupboard isn't completely bare as leading scorer Ashley Caiafa returns.

Jacobs said she is excited about the season and has a "dynamic group" of newcomers and experienced players with which to work.