Oct. 15, 2007

GALLERY

Erie, Pa. - The new-look Mercyhurst women's basketball team took to the floor for the first time as a team Monday afternoon, beginning the 2007-08 season and the Mercyhurst tenure of head coach Deanna Richard.

Richard, who comes to Mercyhurst following a six-year stay at Olivet College, has an opportunity to build the Laker program, as the team boasts eight promising newcomers to the roster.

Among the returnees from last year's 6-21 squad are Stephanie Prischak Lindsay Whipkey. Both players played prominent roles, averaging 9.8 and 9.1 points per game respectively. Also returning is Paris Pugliese, a former All-Ohio performer, who's freshman campaign was plagued by injury. Mara Dreiser started 10 games as a freshman last year.

Rachel Divosevic looks to build off a promising start to her Mercyhurst career. In the fourth game of the season, she suffered a season-ending knee injury that forced her to take a medical red-shirt. In those four appearances, however, Divosevic showed plenty of potential, averaging 14.3 points per game and shooting 49 percent from the field.

The freshman additions include former First Team All-WPIAL selection Samantha Loadman and career 1,500-point scorer Amy Achesinski. London, Ohio product Janeale Ronai was an all-district selection as a senior, and Alfred Almond grad Megan Taft rounds out the freshman class.

The team also added several transfers in the offseason. Guard Kelsey Gordon and Stefany Spetoskey followed Richard from Olivet, and 6-1 forward Katarina Jovanovic comes to Mercyhurst after a season at Clarendon College.

Joining Richard's staff are former Northern Michigan standout Tiffany Grubaugh and Courtney Ivan, who played for Richard at Olivet College.