The Justice

Media Credit: David Sheppard-Brick Guard Lauren?Rashford '10 glides to the hoop in a win last season.

After three straight seasons in which it was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the women's basketball team finally overcame its postseason struggles and reached the Sectional Finals for the first time in school history. This season, the team faces a new challenge-how to build on such success after losing two-fifths of its starting lineup from that historic season.

Forwards Lauren Orlando '09 and Cassidy Dadaos '09 graduated after starting all 28 games for the Judges last season. Forward Amanda Wells '09 also graduated last season after serving as the team's top forward off the bench. The three frontcourt players helped guide the Judges in their deepest NCAA Tournament run before falling to Amherst College one game short of the Final Four. They were also part of the most successful four-year stretch in team history as the only seniors to reach the NCAA Tournament in all four years they were on the squad.

Without Orlando, Dadaos and Wells, the team will have a gap to fill down low.

"All three, they gave us great experience and great depth in the post, but our returning posts are up for the challenge," coach Carol Simon said.

Orlando was the team's second leading scorer last year with an average of 10 points per game and was third on the team with 132 rebounds. Dadaos averaged 7 points per game and was second with 154 rebounds. Wells appeared in all 28 games and was fourth on the team with 100 rebounds.

"I think overall we really just have to make sure that the people who are filling [Orlando's and Dadaos'] spots are confident with their own individual play," guard Diana Cincotta '11 said. "I think as a team just playing hard one-on-one when we're in practice and just making sure that we all know the plays and we all support each other if we make a mistake."

But the team still returns some key members from last year's squad, particularly in the backcourt. At the top of the depth chart is co-captain guard Jessica Chapin '10, who led the team in every major statistical category last season, averaging 14.1 points per game. Chapin was a first-team all-conference selection last season and was named to the preseason fourth-team all-America team by D3hoops.com. Cincotta should also play a key role at a guard position after starting all but one game last season, finishing the year second on the team with 62 assists.

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