Women's Basketball: 2012-13 Season Preview

The Wheaton College women's basketball 2012-13 season tips off on Thursday, Nov. 15 against non-conference opponent Roger Williams University at 7 p.m. 

The Lyons return nine players from last year's squad that ranked second in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in three pointers made, third in free throw percentage (72.1 percent), third in assists (12.5 per game) and fourth in defensive rebounds (25.0 per game). 

Sophomore forward Abbie Brickley (Sandy, Utah/Skyline) led the squad in scoring last season averaging 11.9 points per game, shot 80.7 percent from the free throw line and 45.3 percent from the field. Classmate and guard Kenzie Kuhn (Glenwood Springs, Colo./Glenwood Springs) brings experience to all three guard spots for Wheaton as she dished out a team-high 95 assists last winter, pulled down 104 boards and compiled 39 steals alongside 25 makes from beyond the arch. 

Sophomore guard and captain Laura Pierce (Hampstead, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) will also provide depth at the guard position after missing last season with an injury. As a freshman, Pierce led the Lyons in assists (110), averaged 5.6 points per game, had 20 steals, eight blocks and canned 22 three pointers. 

At the post position, freshmen Kiley Shoemaker (Fayetteville, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius), Jorden Mitchell (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) and Emily Romans (Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) will look to make an impact for the Lyons while Rebecca Arnone (Litchfield, N.H./Campbell) looks to transition from being a post player to a guard. Freshman Alyssa Almario (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) will also add strength to the Lyons guard rotation.

Junior forward Lauren McClelland (Scituate, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) returns as the team's third leading rebounder from a season ago with 99 boards (21 offensive). 

Senior guards and captains Hallie Vitagliano (Newton, Mass./Newton North) and Gabby Barbera (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) will bring plenty of leadership to the club while classmate Jana Jagodzinski (Old Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) returns to the team after a season ending injury. 

Junior Melissa McLaughlin (Spindale, N.C./R-S Central) played in all 25 games for the Lyons last year making 14 starts while averaging 5.1 points per game. McLaughlin will be looked upon to contribute in all areas for Wheaton during the 2012-13 campaign. 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Lyons are 4-2 all-time against Roger Williams University in the series matchup which started during the 1996-97 season. Wheaton dropped the last contest against the Hawks, 64-45, in Emerson Gymnasium on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. 

GAB TIME: Senior guard Gabby Barbera continues to provide insightful content about the women's basketball team in her blog: Gab Time and will do so throughout the season. Make sure to keep up to date with the team and their journey this winter. 

CHERYL WARREN-POWERS '95 MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT: Wheaton will host this tournament on Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18 at Emerson Gymnasium in honor of Cheryl Warren-Powers, a 1995 Wheaton College graduate, who passed away four days after giving birth to twins earlier this year on May 22nd. Cheryl was a standout athlete in basketball and softball at Bishop Feehan High School becoming the first female athlete to score 1,000 career points for the Shamrocks. She went on to play both sports at Wheaton College. After graduating from the College, Cheryl continued to be an avid supporter of both programs and served as an assistant coach for the softball team. In addition to her coaching duties at Wheaton, Cheryl served as a long-time assistant coach for the girls' basketball program at Foxboro. The Lyons women's basketball team has dedicated their season to Warren-Powers and will wear her initials, CWP, on their sneakers all year long.