2008-09 Women's Basketball Season Preview

    As head coach Jay Butler enters his second season directing the Hood College women’s basketball program, he hopes that familiarity will breed success for the Blazers in 2008-09.
    With one full season of participation in the Capital Athletic Conference behind him, Butler feels his core of six returning veterans, all of whom have starting experience, will be more comfortable with his coaching philosophy and the squad as a whole will be better prepared to tackle its challenging CAC schedule.
    “These players now have a year under their belts with me,” said Butler. “They know me, they know I am a defensive-minded coach. They know I expect the simple things and I truly feel they will be more comfortable playing the game this season. I’ve already noticed that their confidence is so much higher this year and the team as a whole is better conditioned.”
    Junior forward Jen Willison has led the Blazers in scoring and rebounding the last two seasons and should continue to shoulder that load once again this season. The native of Hancock, Md., was ranked in the top eight in the CAC in scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.0 rpg) in 2007-08.
    Supporting Willison in the frontcourt are newcomers Jessica Head, Amanda Zimmerman and Nicole Van Deusen. Head, a senior who also plays field hockey at Hood, hails from Arundel High School, one of the top prep women’s basketball programs in the state. Local products Zimmerman, a freshman from Walkersville, and Van Deusen, a junior from Gov. Thomas Johnson, will complement Willison in the post. Additionally, Butler will get some added depth from junior Christi Valdez, who lettered with the Blazers the last two seasons and will join the squad second semester.
    Four veterans will patrol the perimeter this season, including four-year starter Sara Wastler. The product of Catoctin High School has paced Hood in three-point field goal percentage since her sophomore season and is currently tenth on Hood’s all-time assists chart (144). She is also fourth all-time in three-pointers with 68.
    Sophomore Allyson Lethbridge is coming off a fine freshman campaign which saw her average 10.4 points per outing. A starter in 20 of the 23 games she played, her .382 field goal percentage was second only to Willison.
    Senior Jessica Parrish is one of the quickest athletes on the roster and led Hood in steals a year ago with 38. Parrish chipped a little more than six points per game and added 74 rebounds and 39 assists.
    Junior Brianna Raithel has battled injuries throughout her career in the blue and gray but has given the Blazers some quality minutes over the past two years.
    Freshman Bridgette Ringley from Boonsboro High School looks to figure prominently in the Blazer starting five after a solid preseason. Two other backcourt additions, senior Sabrina Stronsky and freshman Taylor Luke, will suit up for the Blazers in January.
    “I am expecting us to have a very balanced scoring attack this season,” said Butler, who anticipates the bulk of his scoring production coming from the backcourt.
    Hood will play its 12 home contests at four different arenas. The Blazers open up on campus at Gambrill Gymnasium hosting the College of Notre Dame (Md.) Nov. 15. Hood will also entertain Trinity University and Goucher College at Gambrill.
    The Blazers will battle CAC foes St. Mary’s College (Md.), Marymount University, Salisbury University, the University of Mary Washington and Wesley College in addition to nonconference rival Wilson College at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School as part of doubleheaders with the men’s team.
    On Dec. 3, the Blazers kick off the CAC slate against York College (Pa.) at Frederick Community College; they will also host Gallaudet University there in February.
    Hood’s final home tilt of the season against Stevenson University will be played at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg.