Nov. 21, 2005
Fans of the Georgetown University women's basketball program are anxiously awaiting the 2005-06 season, as the Hoyas return six players with significant playing experience and welcome a McDonald's All-American to the team.
Head Coach Terri Williams Flournoy will roam the sidelines for her second season on the Hilltop, along with top assistant Niki Reid. The program also welcomes Assistant Coaches Ty Evans and Beth Dickinson to the coaching staff for the upcoming season, as well as a Director of Basketball Operations, Adrienne Harris-Moore. Combining a group of newcomers with some veteran leadership, plus the dynamic of a youthful staff, the Hoyas are looking to make an impact on the BIG EAST standings.
Coach Williams Flournoy guided the Hoyas to a 12-16 overall record and a 7-9 mark in BIG EAST play in her first season at the helm. Georgetown finished a strong sixth in the BIG EAST Conference, its highest finish since the 1999-2000 season and GU closed out the regular season on a positive note, winning six out of their last nine contests.
Although the Hoyas lost Varda Tamoulianis (11.4 points, 7.9 rebounds.) and Mary Lisicky (8.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 83% FT) to graduation, there are several Hoyas poised to step into their shoes and the 05-06 edition of the Hoyas returns more than 60 percent of last season's scoring output.
Georgetown returns several experienced players in the backcourt. Guard Bethany LeSueur returns for her senior season on the Hilltop. A tri-captain of the 2004-05 team, she will resume her role as the Hoyas' team leader. LeSueur started all 28 games for Georgetown, ranking first on the team in steals (56) while ranking third on the squad in scoring (9.8 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg) and assists (2.5 apg). LeSueur ended the 2004-05 season on a high note, scoring double-digits in the team's final 12 games.
Junior Kate Carlin really came into her own last season, appearing in all 28 games, with 16 starts. In almost 30 minutes per game, the Abler, Pa. native tallied 8.1 points per game and 2.6 rebounds. Carlin became the Hoyas' top three-point threat, connecting on 41 treys for a 37% three-point percentage.
Sophomore Kristin Heidloff played in all 28 games as a freshman last season, starting 16 times, averaging more than 25 minutes per game. Heidloff averaged 6.1 points per game, making almost 42% of her field goals and was just as good from behind the three-point arch (41%). She handled the ball nicely, dishing out 84 assists against 47 turnovers and ranking second on the team with 40 steals.
Senior Leslie Tyburski should add some depth off the bench at the guard position. The Hammond, Ind. native has gained more confidence in her shooting touch and has a knack for grabbing tough rebounds.
Freshman Nikki Bozeman comes from a winning program at Bishop McNamara High School. The District Heights, Md. native averaged 12 points, seven assists and three steals in her senior season, helping the team rank No .1 in the Washington Post and Street & Smith's poll and second in the USA Today rankings.
Red-shirt sophomore Brina Pollack is sitting out the 2005-06 season after transferring from Purdue University. In 2004-05, Pollack appeared in 28 games for the Boilermakers, starting 10 times, averaging 1.6 points and 1.7 assists.
Georgetown should be strong in the frontcourt as the Hoyas return sophomore Kieraah Marlow, who earned a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team last year. The 5-10 forward was the only freshman to start in all 28 GU games and she made the most of it. Marlow led Georgetown in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.5 points and 8.6 boards. Marlow's 8.6 rebounds per game ranked third in the league and the native of Coatesville, Pa. ranked among the league's best with a 72.9 free throw percentage.
GU also adds a McDonald's All American to the roster in 2005-06. Local product Katrina Wheeler was a USA Today Pre-season Super 25 prep player and earned Washington Post All-Metro three consecutive years. Wheeler compiled more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds at Theodore Roosevelt High School and was a member of the bronze medal-winning USA Developmental Festival East Squad in 2004.
At the center position, the Hoyas return senior Christine Whitt, who saw action in 26 games a year ago. She averaged more than 10 minutes per game and averaged 1.4 points and 1.4 rebounds.
The BIG EAST Conference expanded to a 16-team league on July 1 of this year. Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida join the conference and begin play for the 2005-06 season. The new Conference format will be a 16-game schedule with eight home and eight away contests. Every team will face each other once and each team will face one opponent in a home and home series. For the Hoyas, that home and home series will be with newcomer Cincinnati. Home games for Georgetown will be against DePaul, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John's, Seton Hall and South Florida. GU will travel to face Connecticut, Louisville, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia.
In addition to Savannah State, the Hoyas will take to the road for non-conference contests at Fordham, Kentucky, Delaware and Florida Atlantic. Home non-conference games in McDonough Arena for the GU include Mount St. Mary's, Appalachian State, American and Clemson.
