Women’s Basketball Falls Short in 2017–2018
After a promising regular season that included two wins over nationally-ranked and eventual Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) champion University of the Sciences, Chestnut Hill College Women’s Basketball concluded their season Feb. 27 against Caldwell University in the First Round of the 2017–2018 conference tournament.
Although the season did not end in a championship, the Griffins set a new standard for most overall wins (19) and conference wins (15) in a season. Ten team and individual records were rewritten as well. Senior guard Vicky Tumasz finished the season with the most at four, including a conference-record in three-pointers made. The two-year player also finished with 1,000+ points for her career after 244 points at Shippensburg University and 851 at CHC. Tumasz received a nod on the All-CACC Second Team.
As for junior forward Jaeda Wildgoose, she became the program’s first All-CACC First Team selection after averaging 15.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. With a layup in a conference game vs. Bloomfield College on Jan. 20, Wildgoose also eclipsed the 1,000 point mark as Chestnut Hill’s sole junior to achieve this feat.
Freshmen guard Cassie Sebold continued a tradition started by Wildgoose and sophomore forward Shannon Glenn by winning the Rookie of the Year. Since the CACC began issuing the award in 2004–2005, Chestnut Hill College is only the second institution to capture this award in three consecutive seasons, after Caldwell University freshmen received it from 2008 to 2011.
“It’s always nice to see players get rewarded for team success,” Head Coach Mike West said. “These young players have risen to the occasion and have helped us tremendously.”
With continued success and a three-year résumé filled with decorated players, West understands that there is still work to be done. “We played with more competitiveness this season,” he said, “but we need to keep taking steps forward in the right direction.”
In order to improve, West believes that the team needs to add more depth as well as limit scoring by focusing on defense. “Each player will have more experience with another season under their belt,” he said. “We have some new players coming in that will help solve these issues.”
In his largest recruiting class as a head coach, the following eight players will don the Scarlet and Gold in the 2018–2019 season: Lauren Crim (Lansdale Catholic), Abbey Spratt (Central Bucks West), Bri Hewlett (North Penn), Caela Russell (Archbishop Ryan), Leah Miller (Punxsutawney High), Morgan Orloski (Bethlehem Catholic), Abby Gaffney (Berks Catholic), and Bri Cullen (Widener University Graduate Student).
“These players will challenge the returners because they provide a little bit of everything,” West said. “Since they all come from winning programs in the state of Pennsylvania, they have something to contribute in their first year.”
As the team heads into the summer, Coach West feels optimistic about his roster and the program’s future. “Three of five starters will be returning,” he said. “With the incoming freshmen and transfers being added to the mix, I’m really excited to get started in the fall.”
