Nov. 19, 2008

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BALTIMORE, MD - The future looks bright for the Johns Hopkins women's basketball team as head coach Nancy Funk enters her 23rd season at the helm of the program. With a 12-12 overall finish last season, Hopkins is ready for a breakout year.

The Blue Jays spent the better part of last season in search of a true point guard and are confident they have overcome the challenge.

This winter brings new excitement to a Hopkins program that struggled in the backcourt a year ago. The depth of the squad suffered a major blow early last season with injuries, but is back at full strength, awaiting the 2008-09 season. With the loss of Andrea Dodrill, who averaged a double-double (10.8 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and Jonay Foster, who led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (.364) and averaged 7.2 points per game, the Blue Jays will need support in the paint to dominate the boards and score inside while executing in transition.

BACKCOURT

Senior co-captains Jenna Berninger and Caitlin Sloane return to lead the Blue Jays in the backcourt this season. Funk will rely on these two to bring veteran leadership to the floor.

Berninger will be looked upon to fill the lane and provide a rebounding spark as well as execute from the outside. The senior will seek to expand her role on the court as she helps to lead a young cast of talent.

Sloane led the squad in 3-point field goals a year ago (26) and will look to maximize her shooting opportunities from outside this season.

Junior Katie Biggart will return to the hardwood after suffering a season-ending ACL injury a year ago. Looking strong in the preseason, Biggart will look to control the tempo for Hopkins in a half-court offense.

Juniors Leslie Markun, Britni Lonesome and Anastasia Wynn will each look to have a breakout season for the Blue Jays.

Markun is a talented shooter who can also catch and finish in transition. Funk will look to her to crash the boards and use her shooting range as a threat from outside. Lonesome, a speedy guard with quick hands will also see significant time this season. She will be relied upon for her tough defense and slashing abilities after averaging 6.2 points in 16 starts a year ago.

With her potential, Wynn could be a wildcard for Funk. As she settles into her off-guard role, she will use her quickness to create mismatches and look to build off her 6.3 points per game average from last season.

Funk will also look to utilize the shooting abilities of junior Steph Kielb. Kielb, who played point guard when needed last season, will move off the ball to a shooting guard slot this year where she will look to be a threat from beyond the arc.

With the addition of two key recruits to the backcourt in freshmen Chantel Mattiola and Stephanie Fong, the Blue Jays will no longer face a depth predicament in the guard positions. Mattiola is a talented shooter with point guard experience that should see immediate action this season.

Fong has experience running a transition offense and will push the ball for Hopkins. A versatile guard who can pass on the fly, Fong will see significant time as a rookie.

Freshman Kat Fox will use her solid fundamental background to gain experience in her first season and will fill support roles on the floor for the Blue Jays. A product of a perennial powerhouse in New Jersey, Fox will be a definite contributor on offense. Junior Leigh McAdams could also see time on the wing this season for JHU. She appeared in 12 games a year ago.

FRONTCOURT

Senior co-captain Kristin Phillips will lead a group of seasoned returnees in the post this year. The Blue Jays will count on Phillips to score in the paint and be a consistent rebounder after averaging 8.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a year ago.

Sophomore forward Lyndsay Burton should contribute major minutes with her natural scoring ability and toughness. Burton was second on the team in scoring last season behind Dodrill with 9.5 points per game. She led the team in field goal percentage (.500) and ranked second in steals (36) in her rookie campaign.

Junior Monica Mitchell is expected to be a solid contributor in the post for Hopkins this year. With her strength and talent, Mitchell will be a consistent scorer and rebounder. She averaged 4.6 rebounds per game and is solid at the free throw line (.714).

Sophomore Siobhan Callanan, who plays well with her back to the basket, will provide a presence in the paint off the bench for Hopkins this year. The Blue Jays will also count on the sophomore for a rebounding burst and for her touch around the hoop.

Freshman Gena Upshaw should provide a spark off of the bench for the Blue Jays on offense as well.

SCHEDULE

Hopkins will tip off the 2008-09 season by hosting the Mike Durgala Memorial Tournament on November 22 and 23 in Goldfarb Gymnasium. The tournament features contests between Sewanee, Albright, York and JHU. The Blue Jays are 31-5 all-time in the season-opening tournament.

The Blue Jays face Messiah, which advanced to the national championship game a year ago, two days before Thanksgiving and then head to St. Louis to participate in Washington University's McWilliams Tournament. Hopkins will take on Carthage in the first round with the host Bears and Whittier rounding out the field. Washington is ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in one preseason poll.

Hopkins returns home to kickoff its Centennial Conference schedule with Franklin & Marshall on December 2 and then hits the road to battle the Swarthmore Garnet on December 6. F&M is powered by Centennial Conference Player of the Year, Sarah Meisenberg, while Swarthmore features Kathryn Stockbower, who was named Co-Rookie of the Year by the ECAC Division III South Region. 


The Blue Jays return to action after the holidays to compete in the ECAC Tournament at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on January 3. Hopkins will take on Gwynedd-Mercy in the opening round and face off against Charm City neighbor, Goucher on January 4. The Blue Jays are 18-2 all-time against the Gophers.
Both games hold regional significance.

Back in Baltimore, Hopkins continues the rigors of its Centennial slate, hosting Ursinus on January 7.

The Blue Jays face the Owls of Bryn Mawr next on January 10. 
Hopkins will host the Bullets of Gettysburg on January 13 before making the trek to rumble against the Muhlenberg Mules on January 15. The 2008 Centennial champs made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament and had an Honorable Mention WBCA All-American selection in Lauren Boyle a year ago. 
 "Gettysburg was young and talented last season," said Funk. "They will certainly be the team to beat this year."

JHU begins round two of league action on January 17, hosting Swarthmore in a rematch before heading to nearby McDaniel to battle its biggest rival, the Green Terror, on January 22.

The Blue Jays face off against the Red Devils of Dickinson College on the road on January 24, clashing with the squad that earned an ECAC South bid last season.

Hopkins hosts the Washington Shorewomen on the 28th of January to conclude the first round of conference contests with the exception of Haverford on February 7 at home. The Centennial Conference Tournament will begin on February 28, which will feature the top five squads in the league.

SUMMARY

After rounding up a talented recruiting class to fill the weaknesses from a year ago, Funk is confident in the year ahead of her.

"We have some true point guards who are ready to handle the ball for us," said Funk. "We have to tailor our players to our system and be ready to handle whatever comes our way."

Full of veteran leadership, the freshmen should develop easily and be significant contributors from the beginning, while molding their raw talent into a traditionally successful program. The Centennial Conference will put Hopkins up against some of the top teams in the region and test the Blue Jays early in the season.

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