Gophers Prepare for New Season, Conference

Gophers Prepare for New Season, Conference 

TOWSON, Md. - Goucher's Shadae Swan (Baltimore, MD/St. Frances Academy) was the leading scorer in the Capital Athletic Conference in 2005-06 when she averaged 21.2 points per game.

Her average dropped slightly last season to 20.6 points per contest, but that was still enough to lead the CAC for a second year in a row.

Could she, in her final season at Goucher, finish as the leading scorer in the CAC for a third consecutive year in 2007-08?

No, and it's not because opponents have finally figured out how to shut her down.

The reason she won't be the leading scorer in the CAC this season is because Goucher is no longer a member of that conference. The school ended its 16-year affiliation with the CAC to join the Landmark Conference as a charter member.

"The Landmark Conference will present some challenges for us," commented Didi Cotton, who is into her third season as the head coach of Goucher's women's basketball program. "The CAC was a solid conference and I think the time we spent there will certainly help prepare us for what lies ahead in our new conference."

Of course, having Swan back is a good start. She's already one of only eight players in the history of Goucher's women's basketball program to surpass 1,000 points during her career.

Equally as important is a healthy Francheska Guilfu (Bridgeport, CT/Preston), who was averaging 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest in 2006-07 before suffering a knee injury that ended her season after eight games.

"I know we can count on the seniors to give us their best each and every game," Cotton said as she began putting her team through preseason drills in October. "Shadae is a very versatile player who can contribute in numerous ways, and Francheska has become such a savvy player and she seems especially determined to have a big final year."

The only other returning letterwinners are senior forward Latisha McCray (Richmond, CA/The Urban School), who is studying in Spain during the first semester and won't return to the Gophers until after the holidays, sophomore forward Amber Smith (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame), the leading rebounder last season at 7.8 per game, and sophomore guard Candra Scott (Bowie, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt), who supplied the Gophers with 6.7 points per game.

"Latisha brings so many intangibles to the game," said Cotton. "Amber and Candra performed admirably in their first year with us. We'll need them to emerge as strong leaders on and off the court to help the program to prosper."

The rest of the roster is made up of freshmen: Taqwisha Richardson (Roanoke Rapids, NC/Western) and Kathleen O'Grady (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) are both 6-1 post players; Leia Roberts-Brown (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll) and Carrin Brown (Waldorf, MD/Thomas Stone) are poised to make their marks in the backcourt.

"Our freshmen are eager do what is necessary to take our program to the next level and they will have plenty of chances this season to do so," Cotton said.

The Gophers launch their 2007-08 campaign against Franklin & Marshall on Nov. 17 at the Terry Greene Tip-Off in Lancaster, Pa.