By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Nov. 12, 2013) The Morrisville State College women’s basketball team has been busy in the preseason preparing for the 2013-14 opener, and with a solid returning class, combined with eight newcomers to the roster this season, will meet competition head on at the St. Josephs (Conn.) tipoff tournament on Friday.
Second year head coach Steve Kaneshiki pointed out that with all the new faces on the roster this season, the team will need to be prepared for the speed and physicality of the college game. He will be looking to juniors and returning starters, Monique Jadotte (Bronx, N.Y.) and Jennel Paul (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to guide the way.
“As a coaching staff we expect the girls to compete every second they are on the floor and outwork the opposing team,” Kaneshiki said. “We want to be better than last year. As long as they continue to work hard in practice, in the weight room, and continue to come together as a team, we will reach our goals.”
Kaneshiki pointed out that the current strength of the team thus far in the preseason is their shooting ability. Freshmen Maura Conlon (Marcy, N.Y.) and Kaitlyn Griffin (Brewerton, N.Y.) each have the ability to nail shots from long range, adding to the offensive scoring scheme for the Mustangs.
Combine that with Meqala MacDonald (Scotia, N.Y.), an undersized post player that has a great mid-range shooting touch, Morrisville State might very well open opponent eyes this season when they take the court.
The Mustangs have solved one dilemma in newcomer Jordan Anderson (West Edmeston, N.Y.), that will free up Paul to return to her natural position at shooting guard. Anderson is a true point guard that so far this preseason has not just the ability to move the ball, but also can score, and has provided leadership on both ends of the court.
A surprise to Kaneshiki this season has been incoming transfer Caitlyn Adams (Sherburne, N.Y.). Adams will be one to watch according to the staff, as she is a versatile inside-outside player, easily able to move inside as a solid post option, and then step outside to the wing.
The Mustangs feat won’t be easy though, as they open the 2013-14 campaign at the St. Josephs (Connecticut) Tipoff Tournament on Fridayagainst the hosts, and follow with another tourney the next weekend in Plattsburgh. Four games, however, will help them work out the kinks before meeting last year’s North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) runner-up Keuka College on November 26th.
Keuka, along with Wells and SUNYIT, Kaneshiki point out, will be the Mustangs strongest conference opponents. Each made the conference playoffs last season and with their location, poses a natural geographic rivalry.
Morrisville State kicks off the season at 8 p.m. Live stats for the contest are available on the college’s athletic website at www.morrisvillestateathletics.com.