WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREPARED FOR 2007-08 SEASON
NOVEMBER 16, 2007
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y.- To say that the SUNY College at Old Westbury Women's Basketball team will have a new look in 2007-08 would be an understatement.
The program has undergone almost a complete makeover under sixth-year head coach Michael Krasnoff. Old Westbury lost 92.7 percent of its scoring as graduation and attrition have left the team with only one player who saw action last season.
Despite the fact that Old Westbury will play four of its seven non-conference games at the Clark Athletic Center, including matchups against the likes of Keystone College, Brooklyn College, York College and St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn, it is possible that the Panthers will experience more growing pains this season.
Still, the long-term prospects for Krasnoff's program are bright, as his fifth year of recruiting has yielded an exciting group of four freshmen. They will be joined by a pair of talented players that transferred into Old Westbury. In a short amount of time, Krasnoff has been able to put together a roster more suited to the high-tempo, attacking approach that he favors.
Krasnoff instituted his strong defensive system the moment he arrived on campus. He used it to phenomenal success at Valley Stream North High School, where his teams had great success, and it has gained widespread use with the Long Island Silver Bullets.
Although the Panthers finished with an 13-13 record last year and ended up tied for seventh in the Skyline Conference with a 5-11 mark, the system's positives included a season average of 13.1 steals per game (24th in nation) and a defense that allowed only 56.7 points per game (83rd in nation).
Krasnoff's system relies on a constant rotation of players, and he will use the preseason to find the right combinations. Now, he has a group of players who are whole-heartedly willing to embrace his style of play.
Old Westbury's most experienced player, senior guard Ashley Freeman (Bronx, N.Y.). is the lone returning Panther from the 2006-07 squad. Freeman logged in 22.4 minutes per contest, appearing in 25 games. Unfortunately, Freeman played in a crowded back court last season and will be granted the opportunity to direct the Panthers. Freeman averaged 4.2 points as a junior, a figure that Krasnoff hopes will grow this season. If not, Krasnoff has faith in his veteran guard Freeman knowing she will provide defense and the ability to help her team.
Transfers will get their chance to make an impact for the Green and White this season. Sophomore transfer Pamela Robinson (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.) will accompany Freeman in the backcourt. The combination of Robinson and Freeman could cause the opposing backcourt problems with the Old Westbury high pressure defense. Junior Shameeka Bryan (Jamaica, N.Y.) will provide added depth in the backcourt with her speed and agility. Junior transfer's Krystal Garner (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Sharifa Graham (Uniondale, N.Y.) will play important roles for the Panthers. Even Garner and Grahamn have only practiced with the team for a few weeks, they are gaining the experience with Krasnoff's system that should pay dividends. They will provide athleticism and toughness to this young group of Panthers.
Of the four freshmen, none comes with a higher profile than 5-foot-10 forward Shannon Gilly (Staten Island, N.Y.). Gilly is a graduate from Curtis High School and has the ability to knock down midrange jumpers all game long to go along with low post scoring when needed. Kidra Dandridge (Brentwood, N.Y.) is a graduate of Brentwood High School that will provide instant energy off the bench. Dandridge will be able to provide depth both in the front court and backcourt. Shalyn Molnar (Madrid, N.Y.) a graduate from Madrid Waddington High School rounds out the front court. Molnar has shown much improvement throughout training camp and should improve based on the minutes allocated. In the backcourt, Renee Grant (Laurelton, N.Y.) is a graduate from Bayside High School. Grant is an excellent backup as a freshman that will excel in the open court as well as on the defensive end.
"I am very pleased with the progress of our team so far, Krasnoff said. While we lack some of the size we've had in the past I think our overall quickness and backcourt play will keep us competitive and give us an opportunity to contend with other teams in the conference".
The Panthers tip-off their regular season against Medgar Evers College on November 20 in Brooklyn, New York. The 25-game schedule is headlined by non-conference home games with Keystone College (November 28), Brooklyn College (December 29), St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn (January 5) and York College (January 7). On the road Old Westbury will face non-conference opponents such as College of New Rochelle (December 15) and conclude with CCNY on January 14th.
Old Westbury jumps right into their conference schedule on December 1st on the road against Mount Saint Mary College. From there, the Panthers host the College of Mount Saint Vincent (December 4), Farmingdale State College (December 8), and St. Joseph's College-Long Island (December 12) before facing off with Yeshiva University on December 27th to finish out the 2007 calendar year.
The Panthers re-open their Skyline Conference schedule in 2008 on the road with Skyline newcomer Polytechnic University (January 12) and Purchase (January 16) before returning home. On January 19th, Old Westbury welcomes Bard College to the Clark Athletic Center followed by Russell Sage College (January 24) and Mount Saint Mary College (January 26). The Panthers play six of their final eight games on the road to close out the season. On January 29th the Panthers travel to the College of Mount Saint Vincent before heading up the road to rival Farmingdale State College (February 2). Old Westbury takes on St. Joseph's College-Long Island (February 6) and then heads up to Baruch College to face Yeshiva University (February 12). The Panthers square off at Bard College (February 16) before concluding their regular season at Russell Sage College on February 23rd.