Jackets Place Three on HCAC Players-to-Watch List

GREENWOOD, Ind. – Senior Katie McNamara, junior Mandie White and sophomore Holly Stein were each named to the HCAC Player-to-Watch list, following the release of the 2008-09 HCAC Preseason Poll on Tuesday, October 28. Defiance was picked to finish seventh, tallying 27 points in the poll. Anderson was selected to repeat as conference champions with six first-place votes, while Manchester and Hanover rounded out the top three.

DC went 10-14 overall and 5-11 in the HCAC in 2007-08 and is now seven wins shy of the program's 600th victory. The Jackets finished 9-6 at the Karl H. Weaner Center, defeating its opponents by nearly 17 points per contest in those victories. Defiance used that home-court advantage to cap off its season with home wins over HCAC Tournament qualifiers Franklin and Rose-Hulman.

DC will look to carry that late-season success over to the 2008-09 campaign, while making a push for its first HCAC Tournament appearance under head coach Dic Doumanian. The tools to do so are in place, as the Jackets return four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's squad.

White, a two-time All-HCAC selection, returns for her third season with the Purple and Gold. She has been one of most prolific post players in the conference over her first two seasons, scoring 557 points and pulling down 299 boards in that span. Last season she averaged 12.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while reaching double-figures in scoring 15 times.

Stein is coming of an impressive freshman campaign that saw her average 10.1 points and six rebounds per game. The five-foot seven-inch guard was at her best in DC's victories, averaging over 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in those contests.

McNamara, who missed last season due to injury, gives Doumanian a threat on both sides of the ball. The senior guard led the team in 2006-07 with 35 trifectas and 54 steals, earning All-HCAC honorable mention honors.

2007-08 starters, Amber Bailey and Tasha Stucke also return for Doumanian. Bailey, who established herself as one of the HCAC's top defenders last season, led the conference and broke a DC single-season record with 73 blocks, while averaging 9.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and recording eight double-doubles on the year. Tasha Stucke, who started all 24 games for the Jackets last season at point guard, returns with her 6.8 points per game and team-high 91 assists.

Defiance will be helped by a talented group of reserves that will keep DC's high-scoring offense running throughout the game. Guards Molly Bateman and Courtney Schmersal give Doumanian sharpshooters off the bench, while Katie Carunchia adds depth in the frontcourt positions. Jenna Deskins, Makayla Graves and Shavonda Price headline talented group of newcomers that should make an immediate impact for DC.  

The Jackets open up their 2008-09 campaign on November 15, when they travel to Olivet, Mich. for a matchup with the Comets of Olivet College.