Ladys Patriots Prepare for a Challenging Season

By Lisa McQuiggan

When looking at the 1998-99 women's basketball season, second-year head coach Debbie Taneyhill knows she's got the talent to win. She knows she's got the difficult schedule. She knows she's got a talented coaching staff in place. Now she puts forth a challenge to her squad: "Are you in?"

Taneyhill explains that when she asks this question, she is communicating to her players that they must be dedicated and committed to the team day in and day out. "They must do whatever it takes to be successful. I'm willing to work and they have to be willing to work, too," she says.

"I think everybody is really going to have to earn her minutes this season," she continues. "We don't have that go-to player like we did in Krista Jay, so there will have to be other players that step up and fill that role. Anyone on this team can start--positions are going to be up for grabs. Competition is going to be significantly better, not only on our team but with our opponents as well."

The Backcourt/Perimeter

"With seven or eight guards on this team, there is going to be a real battle for playing time. All of these players are capable of earning a starting position," says Taneyhill.

Junior Courtney Kaup, along with freshmen Maggie Johnston and Shay Makal, will see action at the point guard position. Kaup brings valuable experience to the team, as she is the only Patriot to have started in every game last season. She led the team in minutes (37.0 per game) and set a school record for most assists (189) in a season. She ranked second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and twelfth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in assists (4.8 per game). The point guard was an honorable mention All-Virginia (VaSID) selection last season.

Johnston led her Lewistown High School team to back-to-back Pennsylvania state championships while averaging 20 points and 6.0 assists her senior season. The four-year starter will challenge for playing time at the one and two guard spots.

Makal, who played at Suitland High School in Forestville, Md., also guided her team to a state title. She was a third-team Washington Post All-Metropolitan selection while averaging 14.3 points per game as a senior. She will also be vying for action at the point guard and off guard positions.

Sophomore Jen Surlas and freshman Rachel Torres join Makal at the shooting guard spot. Surlas drained a team-high 32 three-pointers in her rookie season. She played in all 28 games and averaged 6.1 points per game. She returns as the fourth-leading scorer on the team.

Hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y., Torres, a four-year starter at F.D. Roosevelt High School, averaged 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Junior Jill Bartley and freshman Terrana Pyfrom will battle for time at small forward. After averaging 9.5 points per game, Bartley is the leading scorer on this year's team among the returning players. She scored in double figures in 11 games and finished the season with 23 three-pointers.

Originally from Nassau, Bahamas, Pyfrom played her senior season at Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro, Md., where she averaged 15 points per game and earned USA Today Honorable Mention All-America honors.

The Frontcourt

Jasmine Goffe, a three-year starter, is the only senior on this year's team. She played in all 28 games last year and averaged 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Goffe, along with juniors Trish Halpin and Chrissy Todd and sophomores Jill Regan and Tish Wescott, will provide solid play underneath. Halpin, a CAA All-Defensive team selection and a second-team All-Virginia (VaSID) honoree last season, set a new Patriot record for most blocked shots (67) in a season. She led George Mason in rebounding (6.3 per game) and averaged 8.1 points per game.

Todd scored in double figures in nine games last season and ranks third in scoring (6.9 points per game) among the returning players. She provided an offensive spark off the bench, leading the team in scoring in three games. Regan saw action in 17 games and scored 13 points in her freshman year.

Wescott was voted to the CAA's All-Rookie Team. She played in all 28 games last year and averaged 4.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.