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Clarkson University Athletics

StewartMolly2018abcd
Connor Koehler

Women's Basketball November 11, 2018

2018-19 CU Women's Basketball Preview

Although the Clarkson University Women's Basketball team will be without its starting backcourt from a year ago, the Golden Knights possess a fleet of guards ready to step up and seize the starting vacancy in 2018-19.

The Golden Knights lost three-time conference all-star Devin Sorell, who averaged 17.6 points per game last year, and four-year starting point guard Madison Shea, who posted 11.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as a senior, to graduation, accounting for nearly half of the points that Clarkson scored last year. However, those departures, while significant, simply open up opportunities for others, and the guard-heavy Golden Knights have plenty of options to fill the need.

Clarkson opens up its 2018-19 season on Wednesday when it hosts Oswego State at 6:00 pm in Alumni Gymnasium.

Key Returners: Having played third fiddle as an offensive option last year, junior Molly Stewart likely will headline the Golden Knights' scoring options in her third collegiate season. Stewart led the team in field goal percentage (46.4%) as a freshman and has averaged better than eight points per game in each of her two years with Clarkson. Last season, she posted 8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest, upping her scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals numbers on a per game basis from the previous year. Joining Stewart as a returning starter is sophomore forward Hannah Earl, who looks to make a leap in production from her first collegiate campaign. Earl ranked second on the team in rebounding last year with five per game and also contributed 4.6 point and 1.9 assists per contest, placing third on the team in assists and contributing more dimes (47) than she committed turnovers (40).

Although the Golden Knights will be an incredibly young squad, Raeanna Dunn is back for her final season of eligibility. Dunn did not play her freshman season and after missing her senior year on the softball diamond due to injury, she returns to play both in 2018-19. Dunn provided key minutes off the bench, contributing in all facets of the game. Senior Kati Gotch also has served as a spark off the bench in her three years with the Knights, playing 655 minutes over the past three years, more than 10 minutes per contest over 65 career games.

Clarkson's other "veterans" all have only a single year of collegiate experience entering the season, but most saw regular time in their first season. Carly Assimon averaged just 9.5 minutes per game, but averaged 0.256 points per minute in her time off the bench, a rate similar to the production of Stewart (0.283 ppm). Emma Buonanno showed a gritty ability to get rebounds and force turnovers in her 12.2 minutes per contest. Classmates Rachel Marion and Sarah Chase did not have as many chances to contribute, but have already shown that their contributions will be felt throughout the season.

Key Newcomers: The Golden Knights have three first-year collegians ready to contribute and each is poised to see time almost immediately. Guards Claire Flannery and Emily Zeyak offer scoring prowess and further ball handling abilities while forward Maddie Pratt brings some much needed size to the fray for the Golden Knights.






 
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Players Mentioned

Madison Shea

#10 Madison Shea

G
5' 6"
Senior
Devin Sorell

#3 Devin Sorell

G
5' 3"
Senior
Carly Assimon

#11 Carly Assimon

G
5' 5"
Sophomore
Emma Buonanno

#30 Emma Buonanno

G
5' 7"
Sophomore
Sarah Chase

#25 Sarah Chase

G
5' 7"
Sophomore
Raeanna Dunn

#15 Raeanna Dunn

G
5' 4"
Graduate Student
Hannah Earl

#20 Hannah Earl

G/F
5' 8"
Sophomore
Kati Gotch

#13 Kati Gotch

G
5' 8"
Senior
Rachel Marion

#24 Rachel Marion

G/F
5' 7"
Sophomore
Molly Stewart

#1 Molly Stewart

G
5' 9"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Madison Shea

#10 Madison Shea

5' 6"
Senior
G
Devin Sorell

#3 Devin Sorell

5' 3"
Senior
G
Carly Assimon

#11 Carly Assimon

5' 5"
Sophomore
G
Emma Buonanno

#30 Emma Buonanno

5' 7"
Sophomore
G
Sarah Chase

#25 Sarah Chase

5' 7"
Sophomore
G
Raeanna Dunn

#15 Raeanna Dunn

5' 4"
Graduate Student
G
Hannah Earl

#20 Hannah Earl

5' 8"
Sophomore
G/F
Kati Gotch

#13 Kati Gotch

5' 8"
Senior
G
Rachel Marion

#24 Rachel Marion

5' 7"
Sophomore
G/F
Molly Stewart

#1 Molly Stewart

5' 9"
Junior
G