Garnet Take Stock in Youth For 08-09

The 2008-09 Swarthmore women's basketball team will look to young, but resilient players in hopes of contending in the Centennial Conference playoffs.

Sophomore forward Kathryn Stockbower ‘11 (Ft. Washington, Pa. / Upper Dublin), the 2008 E.C.A.C. Division III South Region Co-Rookie of the Year, heads the list of returning Garnet players. Stockbower led the Centennial in all three rebounding categories (14.0 caroms per game) and was second in points per game (17.6) and third in blocks (1.46 per game).  Following the season, Stockbower became just the second Centennial player to garner First-Team All-Conference honors as a freshman.

Senior captain Melissa Grigsby (West Chester, Pa. / West Chester East) returns for her fourth and final season, and is expected to continue the steady play at the guard position.  Her versatility allows head coach Renee DeVarney to play Grigsby at several positions on the court, giving the coaching staff many options in crafting a game strategy.  Fellow captain Pamela Costello ’10 (Havertown, Pa. / Haverford), one of the most well-rounded players on the court, will focus on playing in the low post this season.  A solid free-throw shooter (76.7% in first two seasons), Costello will fight among the bodies in the post and then calmly step to the charity stripe, converting the free opportunities.

Sophomore Ceylan Bodur (Istanbul, Turkey / Robert College), a talented slashing guard, looks to fill the secondary scoring role vacated by three-time All-Centennial forward Karen Berk (1,454 career points).  Bodur dazzled the crowd with athletic moves on the wing, hitting double figures in scoring in the first six games of her career.  Bodur enters the season after a vigorous summer of physical conditioning and looks to hold her spot in the starting lineup.  Center Summer Miller-Walfish ’11 (San Jose, N.M. / West Las Vegas) finished the season as one of the top shot blockers in all of Division III, setting a program record with 45 rejections in 2007-08.  With increased playing time this season, Miller-Walfish looks for more production in all areas of her game. Classmate Sarah Brajtbord (Dallas, Texas / Greenhill), another guard/ forward, hopes to see extended playing time, using the same type of hustle and basketball intelligence typified by the Garnet players.

Returning after a year away from campus, junior Amber Wantman (Stoneham, Mass. / Stoneham) will fight for the reigns at the point guard position.  In eight games as a freshman, Wantman averaged 8.0 points per game, including a 17-point effort off the bench versus Eastern.

DeVarney, entering her fourth season at the helm of the Garnet, hopes that the newcomers Christina Duron (Claremont, Calif. / Vivian Webb), Genny Pezzola (Oakland, Calif. / St. Mary’s College HS), Nicole Rizzo (North Caldwell, N.J. / Gill St. Bernard’s) and Brittany Schmelz (Monmouth, N.J. / Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) will make a smooth transition into the Swarthmore team chemistry.

The Garnet open the 2008-09 season at 6:00 p.m. on November 22, hosting Wesleyan in the first round of the annual Swarthmore Tip-Off Tournament.  Centennial Conference action kicks off with a road trip to McDaniel on December 2, followed by four consecutive home games before winter break.  The Garnet head to southern California before New Year’s Day, taking part in the Purple and Gold Classic at Whittier College.  The Swarthmore women will look to make noise in the Conference following break, highlighted by home contests with Gettysburg (the Alumnae game at 10:00 am) on February 14 and the annual Senior Day celebration prior to the Washington game on Feb. 18.

2008-09 Centennial Coaches/SID Pre-season poll TBA

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