By Dylan Butler
The Queens College women’s basketball team opened some eyes last year, leading the country in field goal defense for much of the season and garnering a surprising No. 5 seed in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
Those same opponents may be startled the first time they face the Lady Knights, a team with three freshmen in the starting lineup. Some may think it’s a gamble, but Queens College head coach Jerry Ingenito likes his odds.
“It’s hard because we had a little success and we had to replace a lot of players,” Ingenito said. “It’s going to be tough, but we have to live with it. But I think the three freshmen will do more good than bad.”
The backcourt is brand new with freshmen Natasha Lyons, a super quick point guard from Elmont, L.I. and Janine Cappadona, a shooting guard from national powerhouse Red Bank Catholic in New Jersey, highlighting what is undoubtedly the best of Ingenito’s four recruiting classes. The third new face in the starting lineup is 5-foot-11 freshman forward Shonda Holder from Uniondale, L.I.
“They’ve showed up from Day One and have been aggressive,” Ingenito said of the threesome. “I told them that they’re not really freshmen, that they’re going to asked to do a lot quickly. Until we play, people are not going to realize how good they are. Hopefully, everyone else feels it is a rebuilding year except us.”
Opponents may have good reason to think it will be a down year at Queens, as the Lady Knights miss last year’s top scorer and rebounder in All-NYCAC first-team forward Elena Rakova, who averaged 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Also gone is April Gross, who averaged 7.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
But the Lady Knights do welcome back the Dollard sisters, as Erin, a sophomore who was forced to play point guard last year and still averaged 10.9 points per game while garnering NYCAC Rookie of the Year honors, will be moved to her natural small forward position, and Theresa, a senior forward who was third on the team in scoring averaging 7.9 points per game, who will play power forward and rounds out the starting five.
The addition of former Christ the King and St. John’s standout Grace Kelly to the coaching staff should also be beneficial, especially to Erin Dollard.
“Theresa should be a first team all-league player, she is the epitome of what this program is all about. From where she was as a freshman to now is night and day,” Ingenito said. “With Erin, more than anything it’s been her leadership. She’s been the most vocal. I don’t know if she’ll score as much this year, but she’s the glue on the court.”
In addition to helping Lyons, Cappadona and Holder get acclimated to the college game, they have led by example through their work ethic.
“I’m confident in what we have, we have people who want to be here,” said Theresa Dollard. “We have [Ingenito], who is the best coach I’ve ever had regarding strategy so I think we have the smarts, talent and the willingness to work hard.”
Added Erin Dollard: “Last year was nothing compared to what we know we can do. We definitely have the potential to go a lot further, to do a lot better.”
After playing the Colorado Mines tournament this weekend, Queens opens its league season at home against Concordia, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
