It's that time of year again. The basketball practices are starting up and the games are just around the corner. Earlier this week, the CAA held its annual media day and last night Drexel hosted Midnight Madness at the DAC.As expected, the women's team was the preseason favorite to win the league title after taking home their first CAA title with a program best 24-9 season. Also, it was no surprise that last year's Player of the Year Gabriela Marginean was tabbed as the Preseason Player of the Year.
The team came into last year as a upper level CAA program, but no one could have predicted the run that would ensue. It consisted of a 16 game winning streak before bowing out in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Dragons also handed ODU their only CAA tournament defeat in the history of their program.
As has been the case since she stepped on the campus four years ago, everything begins with Gabriela Marginean. She's shattering school record after school record and is just 47 points shy of being Drexel's all time leading scorer. She was one of the nation's leading scorers last year (23.3 points per game) and has built up some national recognition along the way too. Gabi has been added to the Wooden watch list as one of the top players in the entire country. With another year remaining in her career, she is already the greatest player to every don a Drexel uniform.
Anchoring the backcourt is the Dragons' second leading scorer from a year ago, Jasmina Rosseel. The sharpshooting Junior is already the single season record holder for three pointers in a season. She was a third team CAA selection and year ago and was voted on the 2nd team earlier this week. All of her success came last year while she was playing on a bum. She should be back to 100% now after offseason surgery.
Jennifer Stjarnstrom is the third returing starter from last season and all three hail from overseas (Stjarnstrom from Sweden, Marginean from Romania and Rosseel from Belgium). With Brooke Cornish lost to graduation, Stjarnstrom is now the tallest player on the team. She's a sound defender and smart player that anchors the middle. She didn't provide much offensive firepower last year, but she also didn't need to with the Dragons one two punch of Marginean and Rosseel. Jen did show flashes and she capable of playing on the perimeter as well as on the inside. If she can provide additional scoring, that would be a nice bonus for the Drexel.
It's not often that a championship squad receives significant contributions from their freshmen class, but the young Dragons stepped it up last year when they had to. With wile veterans Nicole Hester and Andrea Peterson lost to graduation, the group of talented youngsters will be asked to do more and could be the biggest key to Drexel's success this season.
Speedy point guard Marisa Crane takes over for Peterson. While Andrea was one of the most steady lead guards in the country, Crane provides more flash and flair. She can get to the rim quickly off the bounce, but also hit the jump shot if left open. She doesn't seem to be fazed by much, as she made big plays throughout her freshman campaign, including the game winning shot against William & Mary.
Taking over for Hester at the small forward spot will be Sophomore Kamile Nacickaite. Kamile got off to a quick start a season ago. She had a red hot November and December where it seemed she couldn't miss from the perimeter. She did cool off, but still led the Dragons in three point shooting percentage at over 40 percentage. Hester was a solid all around player and Kamile showed some of that potential last year as well. She was the 4th leading scorer a year ago and look for her numbers to improve now that she'll be in a starting role.
On most teams, you could pencil in talented Sophomore Tyler Hale in a starter. Here though, she's stuck behind all everything Gabrieal Marginean. Certainly not a bad player to learn from. Hale does provide a strong rebounder and a physical presence inside. She'll still see a lot of minutes as the undersized forward often spells Stjarnstrom in the middle. Tyler had a huge game in the big tournament victory over Old Dominion as she pulled down rebound after rebound and held the bigger Monarch frontcourt in check.
Senior guard Alison Lupariello only saw action in 14 contests last year, but with the loss of Andrea Peterson, look for her role to increase. She's a very capable three point shooter, although she didn't have many opportunities a season ago. Look for her to provide some Senior leadership to a Dragons team that still has a lot of young players.
Ayana Lee had a typical freshman campaign for Drexel. She averaged just 1.1 points per game and played in only 20 contests. With a lot of talented players ahead of her though, that can be expected. Head Coach Denise Dillon recently commented that "“She will be ready. She has a great attitude.” That attitude could help make her and everyone around her better.
With two starters and three players lost from last year's squad, there is plenty of opportunities for the Dragons' freshman class, particularly in the backcourt. Ashley Davis is a sharpshooting lefty from Maryland who should be able to spell Rosseel. With 6-4 Brooke Cornish gone to graduation, Taylor Wootten provides another body down low. Local products Hollie Mershon and Fiona Flangan should fit well into coach Dillon's motion offense. Mershon helped Philadelphia Catholic League power Archbishop Carroll capture the state crown a season ago. Yet another foreign product, Renee Johnson-Allen from London, could provide depth at the point guard spot.
Head Coach Denise Dillon now enters her 7th season at the helm for the Dragons. She has taken the program to new heights, including the school's first ever CAA Title. She took home her second CAA Coach of the Year award a season ago. Her motion offense has created fits for opposing coaches around the league.
Much credit has to be given to the rest of the staff as well though. All of the assistants have been together for three years now, with Grad Assistant Stacy McCollough returning for her second season. Associate Head Coach Amy Mallon had some opportunities to move on, but elected to stay around for another season. She's been instrumental adding foreign flavor to the Drexel roster.
Melissa Dunne is back for her third straight year and fifth overall on the Dragons' bench. She's been a key to Drexel's strong recruiting in recent years. Assistant Coach James Clark bring a shooting background to the court as well as any intensity on the sidelines. Former walk on point guard Stacy McCollough's knowledge of the program is an invaluable asset for the Dragons.
While Drexel returns a lot of firepower, so do the other top CAA contenders. James Madison, Old Dominion and VCU were all picked ahead of the Dragons before the beginning of last season and they all finished among the top four teams in the league. All three should be contenders again this year, with VCU being the hardest hit by graduation.
JMU will once again host the CAA tournament and looks to be a team that could potentially knock Drexel from their top perch. Guard Dawn Evans had a higher scoring average last season that Marginean. The Delaware Blue Hens are another team that could be in the mix. 2008 High School Player of the Year Elena Delle Donne joins the squad after transfering in from Connecticut and sitting out last season. She could instantly propel the young Delaware squad towards the top of the league.
In addition to having a talent laden roster, one other thing that the Dragons gained a season ago was a wealth of experience. They reach the postseason by knocking off 17 time defending CAA champions ODU. They then followed that up the next day in the finals by beating JMU on its home court. Drexel was resilient a year ago, as they had some big comebacks and late wins, such as battles against William & Mary and Northeastern. Can they continue to find that magic again this year and make all the big plays down the stretch? That remains to be seen.
The Dragons schedule this year is as strong as it has been in recent memory. They open up with Big Ten power Penn State at home on November 13th. They then travel to Maryland to play the Terps in another huge test. A third potential elite opponent awaits in Villanova, if they both advance in the Wildcat Classic. That could pit Coach Dillon against her mentor Harry Perretta. In conference games, JMU, VCU and Delaware will all make trips to the DAC.
It should be another exciting season in University City. This time the expectations are higher and there is now a target on the backs of the Dragons. If last season is any indication though, they should have no problem handling the pressure as they look to repeat.
