Lady Rams ready to defend division crown

Heading into the 2009-2010 basketball season, the West Chester University Lady Rams have confidence, swagger and a winning attitude. Last season, they were 'hongry,' this season they are ready for that climb to the top of the mountain. In a vote by coaches from the PSAC, West Chester was selected to win the PSAC Eastern Division. But the task will not come easy as they have competition in the division. The Millersville University Lady Marauders were picked to finish in second place behind the Lady Rams. Following the two favorites in the division were Kutztown, Shippensburg, Cheyney, Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg and Mansfield. This season West Chester will have to play at their very best every game if they want to make a run at a conference championship.

"I think Kutztown," head coach Deirdre Kane said about the team's top challenger for the division title. "I picked Kutztown. [They] beat us twice last year and wound up finishing third."

"I have high expectations for the team," senior forward Janelle Garber said. "We are looking to win the East first and then the PSAC and go to the Promised Land. We have high expectations and we want to go far this year."

"We got picked number one and there is definitely a bull's-eye on our back," senior guard Natalie Winters said. "I think it's a privilege. We've been working hard. I think every game is going to be a challenge. It will definitely be a battle like last year."

"We are looking for first the PSAC East, then the PSAC and then the tournament," junior point guard Megan Stewart said. "We really think we have a chance of making it this year considering last year we came up with 20 wins. We need to focus on each individual game."

The Lady Rams have all the pieces together to repeat as PSAC East champions, but will have to replace one of their best players over the last two years: Dana Weems. A Harcum Junior College transfer in 2007 who became a star filling in for Katie Kline due to injury, Weems led the team in scoring (12 points per game) and was second in rebounding (7.3 rebounds per game) on her way to the PSAC East Player of the Year. In 2008, she continued her dominance as she became the go-to player for West Chester late in games.

"You don't replace Dana," Kane said. "Dana was that go to player that had that swagger; somebody that wanted the ball in her hands at the end of the game. So we will have to make that up by committee."

"Dana had a lot of heart for basketball," Winters said. "She put a lot of work into it. She was really a leader on the floor and off the floor vocally for us. We definitely have big shoes to fill, but I think with our newcomers and with the experience our underclassmen gained from last year we will be able to do the job."

"Dana rebounded a lot and that's a big thing that all of us need to step up and do," Garber said. "Not only the bigs but the whole team. That's just one aspect. Dana was a really aggressive player and we need to be more aggressive."

Replacing Weems in the starting lineup will be senior forward Renata Neal. Neal finished second in the conference with a 59 percent field goal percentage and has waited patiently to finally get her shot in the starting lineup. She will bring physicality and determination in the post throughout the season for the Lady Rams.

"I will be a bigger asset to the team," Neal said. "Coming off the bench last year was pretty good playing behind Dana and Janelle, but this year I am trying to step up more. I'm doing more outside shooting and working on stuff I have been working on throughout the years. I expect to be the best player I can be."

"Renata is going to be starting for the first time in her career," Kane said. "She waited until she was a senior and I think she is just going to have a great year. It's going to be different for her in a good way. Renata deserves this. She is going to help us in a lot of ways: defense, blocking shots, running the floor."

The Lady Rams are once again led by co-captains Winters and Garber. After missing all of last year with a knee injury, Winters is back on the court with her teammates and with a new perspective on the game.

"Physically, I feel good right now," Winters said. "Preseason kicked my butt a little trying to get myself back into basketball shape.

"It was definitely a different perspective than being on the floor," Winters added about missing last year with the injury. "But I think it helped a lot because I got more of a coaching perspective on things. As a player there are things you don't see while you are on the court that you may get yelled at for. Last year I was able to see those two different perspectives and put them together."

"I think she learned a lot last year seeing the court from the bench," Garber said of Winters. "She will be able to see the floor from a different angle and different perspective and I think she will be able to help us out a lot."

Entering her senior season, Garber was picked to the preseason All-PSAC East team. Last season, she was second on the team in scoring (11.8 points per game) and in rebounding (6.5 rebounds per game). Garber played physical and had the ability to beat other teams' centers down the court with her speed and athleticism.

"Step up my game," Garber said of her expectations for herself. "I still have a lot of things to work on to get better. I am never satisfied with anything I do."

Another player coming into her own after two stellar years is Stewart. After getting the starting nod in her freshman campaign, Stewart has been the primary ball handler for the Lady Rams throughout the last two years. Entering her junior year, Stewart has all the intangibles to expand her already impressive resume. She led the team in steals (86), assists (107) and made three-point field goals (49). And with the memory of losing to IUP in the PSAC tournament still in her mind, she feels more motivated this year to get past that hurdle.