YSU WOMEN Hill has more depth, balance

The Lady Penguins have five seniors returning for the 2004-05 campaign.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Experience and balance. Those are the two key assets for the Youngstown State women's basketball program as it enters the 2004-05 basketball campaign.
The Penguins open the season Friday at St. Louis University and return home for their Beeghly Center opener Nov. 23 as part of a doubleheader with the men's team beginning at 5:15 p.m.
College coaches often point to their seniors for leadership, but the experience factor may be an even more important component to a team's success.
YSU has five seniors -- Barb Fabianova, Tara Fleming, Cathy Hanek, Jen Perugini and Melissa Tarrant -- who have played a combined 330 games -- and 10 letter winners overall return.
"I have high expectations for our seniors," said second-year coach Tisha Hill. "They've been working extremely hard in the off-season preparing for this year.
"And it is not just our seniors," Hill added. "All of our players know what we expect from them and they are putting in the extra time in the weight room and in the gym. They all want a successful season."
Backcourt
With two freshmen and a redshirt junior that missed an entire season, the Penguins' backcourt was an area of uncertainty last season. Now with an extra year of playing experience and some added athleticism, Hill feels more confident in her guard play the upcoming season.
Point guards Kristy Gaudiose and Ashlee Russo, both sophomores, gained valuable experience in running the offense.
Gaudiose, who appeared in 24 games with 12 starts, averaged 6.0 points per game and led the squad with 71 assists. Her 2.96 assist per game average ranked seventh in the Horizon League.
Russo, who also had 12 starts in 23 games, averaged 4.6 points and 1.7 assists per game and shot 44.8 percent from the floor while battling a chronic foot injury.
"Ashlee and Kristy both showed a lot of poise last season," Hill said. "We threw them right into the fire and they did a nice job for us."
Freshman Lauren Branson set the Cincinnati McNicholas High career assists record.
Hanek missed the 2002-03 season due to an inflammatory arthritis condition but returned last season to lead the Penguins in scoring. This season, the fifth-year senior gives the Penguins an outside scoring threat at shooting guard.
Hanek led the Penguins with 37 3-pointers last season and ranks seventh all-time with 102 for her career.
Newcomer My'Kea Cohill from Warrensville Heights averaged 15 points and six rebounds her senior season in high school. She was Division I special mention All-Ohio.
Frontcourt
Jen Perugini, Barb Fabianova, Tara Fleming, and Melissa Tarrant are all three-year letterwinners.
Perugini, a 6-2 forward, played through a foot injury to average 6.7 points per game. She needs 187 points to become the 16th player in school history to reach 1,000 for her career.
"Jen really showed a lot of dedication last off-season," Hill said. "She stay in town for most of the summer and hit the weight room really hard. She is going to be a stronger and, I think, a much better player."
Tarrant, who has been plagued by injuries her entire career, gave the Penguins valuable minutes before a dislocated elbow ended her season.
Freshman Jessica Schloemp, a 6-3 forward from Findlay High, was one of the top 64 players in the state by Ohio Girls' Basketball Magazine and will battle for time at power forward.
After missing most of her sophomore season and much of her junior campaign to a knee injury, Fabianova has worked herself into the best playing shape of her career, according to Hill.
At 6-foot, Fabianova, who has long-range capabilities, will garner a lot of the minutes at small forward. Last season, the native of the Slovak Republic averaged 3.7 points per game.
"Barb is emerging as one of our team leaders," Hill said. "She has been a tireless worker since the end of last season. She is stronger, quicker and can really shoot the ball well."
Junior Aliyah Sabree, who made eight starts last season, is also expected to see action at small forward.
In the middle, Fleming provides a defense presence. The 6-3 center led the Penguins with 43 blocks last year and ranks third all-time with 81. She averaged 5.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting a team-best 47.1 percent from the field.
Junior Michelle Holmes and Nicole Neila are expected to provide depth in the paint.
Holmes appeared in just 12 games due to a foot injury while Neila averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.