WBB: Stony Brook inks JUCO recruit
Stony Brook women's basketball head coach Beth O'Boyle conducts practice. (Oct. 27, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
The road back to stability for the Stony Brook women’s team has already started.
After struggling through a 4-26 season, the Seawolves recently got a commitment from JUCO star Ariel Easton. The sophomore guard from State Fair Community College signed a national letter of intent to attend Stony Brook last week.
“I had lots of offers from other schools, but I just felt more comfortable at Stony Brook,” Easton told the Sedalia News-Journal. “When I went on a visit there I loved it. I continually had contact with the coaches and built a relationship with the head coach and assistant coach. I just felt that was the place I needed to go.”
Easton averaged 15.8 points and 3.7 rebounds for the Road Runners (18-12).
Easton’s scoring prowess is what Stony Brook will need next season. The Seawolves averaged just 43.3 points per game and were outscored by 371 points. Easton could be the first big step toward reversing that trend.
“I think she will be a scorer for Stony Brook,” SFCC coach Kevin Bucher told the News-Journal. “She just plays hard. She can pass, rebound and play hard defensively. She will be a very nice complementary player for them, not only in her ability to score, but also in the other small things she does. I think she will do very well at Stony Brook.”
Easton will join fellow recruits Brittany Snow, Kim Hanlon and Alyssa Coiro next season.
Snow, a 6-foot forward, averaged 17.3 points and 10 rebounds for Seneca High School in New Jersey. Hanlon, a 5-8 guard, played in the Metro Classic, while the 6-1 Coiro helped Rutgers Prep make a run to a county and state championship in 2011.
