Women’s Basketball Looks to Continue Prior Success in 2007-08

HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 15, 2007) – Two years ago, under then first-year head coach Jon Hochberg (Woodstock, N.Y.), the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s basketball team tied a school record for wins in a single-season with an overall mark of 20-9. The ensuing season, Stevens improved on that mark with a 21-7 ledger, which broke the entry mark of a squad that went 20-7 in the 2001-02 campaign. In 2007-08, Hochberg brings back five returning starters and hopes to continue on recent success and obtain a conference championship in the Ducks’ first-year in the Empire 8.

“We want to keep improving week in and week out,” stated Hochberg. “Coming into the Empire 8, we look to be a team that is productive right off the bat. There will be adjustments and growing pains heading into a new conference, but the attitude will not change.”

At the point-guard position, Stevens is led by junior Dani Dudek (Rockaway, N.J.). Last season, Dudek averaged 9.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting a percentage of .421 from the field. She also amassed 148 assists, which was a new single-season record. On that note, Dudek was able to break the mark for assists in a single-game on February 20 against SUNY Old Westbury in the semifinals of the Skyline Conference Tournament. According to Hochberg, “Dudek is a tough, hard-nosed competitor that can coach on the floor and run the show.”

Senior Jean Matusiak (Queens, N.Y.) and sophomore Sarah Gehring (Spokane, Wash.) are Hochberg’s prime choices at the No. 2 spot. Matusiak, who is a four-year starter and three-time team captain, is a player who owns a variety of skills. She can also give you many scoring options. In 2006-07, Matusiak was positioned second on the team in assists (110) and steals (56). She also ranked third on the team in points per game (9.3), free-throw percentage (.688) and rebounds (168). Moreover, Matusiak was tabbed as a member of the All-Skyline Conference honorable mention squad.

“Jean is a tireless worker who moves year-round to stay in shape,” Hochberg said. “She does whatever she can to help her game and also takes on whatever is asked of her.”

As for Gehring, she is coming off a freshman campaign where she led the Ducks in three-point field-goal percentage (.347). She was also ranked fourth on the team with 166 rebounds. Hochberg believes that she has really improved since last season and will look for her to be a great shooter from the perimeter once again.

“Sarah is a very good three-point shooter, who has really improved her perimeter skills. She is also a tough defender and competitor who plays hard and is versatile,” Hochberg said.

At small forward, sophomore forward Brittany Fuller (East Rockaway, N.Y.) will be moving back to her natural position after spending most of last season at power forward. Known to many as a tough match-up to go head-to-head with at the perimeter, Fuller was second on the team in 2006-07 with an average of 11.8 points per game off a .351 percentage from the floor. She also knocked down a team-high and school-record 54 three-pointers.
 
Additionally, Fuller will share time with freshman Victoria Webber (Houston, Texas), who is a great ball handler at 5’10”.

“Victoria is a versatile player that can score off the dribble and play at the post.” stated Hochberg.

Senior Dora Enright (Longmont, Colo.) returns for her final year as the go-to power forward and co-captain for Stevens. Last year, Enright received an assortment of honors. She garnered All-Skyline and All-Met first-team accolades as well as D3hoops.com All-Atlantic Region and ECAC Metro second-team honors. Statistically, Enright was the front-runner for the Ducks with a .423 field-goal percentage, .629 free-throw percentage and an average of 10.3 rebounds per game. She is also well over 1,200 points for her career and is close to breaking the 1,000 plateau for rebounds.

“By far, Dora is the most consistent player that I have ever coached,” Hochberg said. “She shows up to every game and practice and gives everything she has. She truly leads by example and is a focused student-athlete on and off the court.”

Lastly, at the center spot, freshmen Victoria O’Connor (Westwood, N.J.) and Paige Armstrong (Fair Haven, N.J.) will be thrown into the fire right away to provide a strong presence underneath the basket. Hochberg says that toughness was a point that needed to be addressed during the off-season, and that O’Connor and Armstrong are hard, physical players who will fill that component, which was missing all of last year.

Coming off the bench, Stevens will turn to senior Rebecca Baldyga (Voorhees, N.J.) to provide depth at the forward and center positions. In 2006-07, she served the part of the “unsung hero” because of her tough play and ability to be a great presence at the post. She will be joined by freshman Karah McGuiness (Woodcliff Lake, N.J.), who provides size and depth, which the team was lacking last season.

The Ducks will open up the season at home against North Carolina Wesleyan College on Saturday at 3 p.m. That contest will be part of the Stevens Tip-Off Tournament. St. Lawrence University and New Jersey City University will also take part in the competition. Stevens will officially open up its Empire 8 schedule on November 30 with a match at Canavan Arena against Alfred University at 5 p.m.