2011-2012 Women's Basketball Preview
Head coach Scott Hemer (St. Bonaventure '95) begins his fifth season after leading the Blue Knights to their sixth SUNYAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament last season, where they defeated DeSales (Pa.) in the first round before falling to Babson (Mass.) in the second round to finish 26-4 overall. Geneseo went 17-1 against SUNYAC competition during the regular season and defeated Brockport, Cortland and Oneonta on the way to the conference title. The Blue Knights held opponents to a .322 field goal percentage, which ranked sixth in all of Division III and Hemer was named SUNYAC and NCAA Division III Region 2 Coach of the Year.
Senior guard Bri Dunton (Middlesex/Marcus Whitman) directs the Blue Knights as one of two returning starters. Dunton earned first team All-SUNYAC and second team All-ECAC last season after leading the team with 36.0 minutes and 3.7 assists per game to go along with 9.2 points and 3.2 rebounds. Junior guard Melissa Graham (Orchard Park/Mt. Mercy) returns after posting 9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game and claimed SUNYAC All-Tournament recognition.
Senior guard Katelyn Charbonneau (Baldwinsville/Baker) provided a spark off the bench last season, averaging 18.3 minutes and 5.4 points per game and should compete for playing time in the backcourt with first years Cara Manfredi (South Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury), Rachael Bassett (Adams Center/South Jefferson) and Biz Reinhardt (Rochester/Hilton). Manfredi provides added range around the perimeter, Bassett can play either guard spot and should back up Dunton at the point and Reinhardt is a combo guard who can attack the basket and comes to the Blue Knights after leading Hilton to the Section V Class AA championship last season..
At the forward spots, sophomore Lea Sobieraski (Lockport) and first year Shannon McGinnis (Walworth/Gananda) begin the year as the starters. Sobieraski averaged 2.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in only eight minutes per game while shooting .474 from the floor as a rookie, while McGinnis led Gananda High School to an undefeated season and a state championship en route to being named New York State Class C Player of the Year.
Senior Meg Prue (New Hartford) and first year Katie Peterson (Ithaca) serve as talented relief for the starters on the forward line. Prue averaged 2.8 points last season, including a respectable .290 shooting from the three-point line, while Peterson can play on both the perimeter and down in the post on offense while providing length on the defensive end.
Seniors Kristina Licatese (Oswego) and Stephanie Ruback (Pittsford/Mendon) provide depth in the backcourt, with junior Nyisha Lewis (Rochester/Mercy) and first year Caileen Sennett (Webster/Acquinas) completing the roster at the forward position.
The Blue Knights open their season by hosting an exhibition against Queens College (Ont.) on November 5. Geneseo opens the regular season against Wesleyan at Old Westbury on November 19, with the regular season home opener coming on Tuesday, December 6 vs. Cortland at 6 p.m.