basketball

A Season to Remember: Women’s basketball ends their season

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The women’s basketball season came to an end last Wednesday. The Cougars took a tough loss to Waynesburg in the second round of playoffs. Down big at the half, they came out swinging in the second, cutting down the lead down to 15. The ladies fought hard all game, but ultimately could not pull out a victory. Seniors Rachel McClain, Anna Shashura and Chelsea Kovalcsik left everything out on the court for their final game in a Chatham uniform.

This season marked a few firsts for the Women’s team. On Monday, the team won their first ever playoff game in school history.

“We were all really happy and kind of in shock that we just accomplished such an amazing thing in Chatham history,” said first year Natalie Knab. “We knew that we had been wanting to win this game since the beginning of the season and just couldn’t believe we had accomplished it. The locker room was crazy. We were all going crazy especially the seniors. Walking off the court I think we all felt like we finally had a great game as a team and individually. We all contributed to the win and we were all excited to move on to the next round of playoffs.”

In addition to this big accomplishment, the team won 11 games, the most they have won in the last five years.

“I think everyone on our team has great chemistry and we know what each other’s strengths are,” said Shashura. “We have so many talented players so we don’t have to rely on one person to pull through to get the win. We have contributors from both the starters and the bench.”

“In the past we have won maybe three games a season and that’s really hard. Just going back day after day and continuing to lose, but I think us getting through those tough years made this year even better and has set the standard for what Chatham’s women’s team will be from now on,” Shashura continued.

The team was helped all year long by the leadership of its three seniors. Through the tough loses to Thomas Moore and Grove City, the seniors held their heads high and continued to encourage their younger teammates. They had some hard fought wins as well, against some tough conference opponents. Two big road wins, against Bethany College and Geneva College, helped them for playoff seeding. Another crucial victory was a home win against PAC rival St. Vincent College.

After a tremendous season, the three seniors have passed the reigns off onto the younger players. Juniors Jesse Hinkle, Nikki Ingel, and Dana Eastman look to lead this young Cougar team next year. The Cougars will offer more experience as they return one sophomore and five first years.

After four years of play, the senior team members have some advice for returning and new players.

“I would tell them not to take the time they get to play for granted,” said McClain. “Four years seems like such a long time but goes by so quick. I would tell them the athletics program is only going up from here and use this year as a stepping stone to get better for the next few years.”

The Cougars look to build off of this incredible season. With only three seniors graduating, the team will be comprised mainly of returning players who had a big impact on this season. The Cougars look forward to taking on their rivals in the PAC conference next year.

Women’s Basketball team takes on Carlow and PSU-Beaver in scrimmage

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The Chatham Women’s basketball team has been in the gym working diligently in preparation for the home opener against Penn State New Kensington on November 17.

With the five freshman playing major minutes the first two scrimmages, the team had a lot of inexperience on the court. But this did not seem to phase the young Cougar team. Lead by three seniors, the team clicked with one another.

The seniors feel that this year’s team has a lot of promise.

“Honestly I think this year we’re going to be really strong. We have a lot of good leaders on the team that we haven’t had in the past, we have some great players who bring all different things to the team, and we have the will to win that we haven’t had in the past,” said senior Chelsea Kovalcsik. “I think this year’s team is much better than the teams in the past.”

There were challenges in the scrimmages that were noticeable.

“Based on the scrimmages, I think our team really needs to work on boxing out. We’re a small team so fundamentals to rebounding are going to be extremely important,” said Rachel McClain, another senior.

Rebounding will be crucial in the success of the team. What they lack in size, they’ll need to make up for in fundamentals.

“Another area we need to work on is passing,” said McClain. “During the scrimmages, we had some weak passes that turned into points for the other team so it’s crucial that we sure this area up.”  

Although they have some areas of improvement, there are areas of strength.

“I think our biggest strength is that we really are great teammates to each other and we play because we want to be there.” Kovalcsik said.

Besides having to be fundamentally good, they have to be able to be good teammates too.

“We especially aren’t selfish when we’re playing,” said Kovalcsik. “We’re so good at looking for our players and playing off their strengths and weaknesses.”

Men’s basketball team plays first scrimmage

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The Chatham Cougars Men’s Basketball team had their first scrimmage against Carlow University on Friday, October 31, and the players are excited for the season. The scrimmage’s purpose was to figure out the team’s strengths and weaknesses so they can become a better team. They will play their first game on November 17 in Chatham’s gymnasium against Penn State Beaver.

Women’s basketball team ready for a new season

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The Basketball season has just begun, and both the men and women’s teams have been working hard preparing for the upcoming season. The women have been in the gym everyday, running sprints, doing drills and going over plays to prepare themselves for the long and grueling season ahead of them.

The team has had to overcome some adversity after the first two weeks of practice. Multiple injuries have plagued the team, including an injury to senior Rachel McClain. She overcame this injury and has been practicing hard with the team the last week.

“It’s been challenging, but I know the end result will be rewarding,” said first-year Natalie Knab.  

With the addition of five freshmen to the team, there have been some adjustments that the team’s had to face. They’ve had to learn how their teammates play and come together as a team. First-year teammates have also had to learn the new offense and the style of their new coach.

“I feel like the five freshman on the team, including myself, are very intelligent and have played the game for many years, and continue to grow as players, adjusting won’t be hard for us,” said first-year player Ashley McClain.  

Despite adversity, both Knab and McClain are optimistic for the season.

“We should always hope for a winning season so that is what we will strive for. I am very confident in the team,” said McClain.

The team has been working day in and day out, regardless of how many injuries they have endured.

“It’s hard to get into a groove with everyone on the team because teams are so selective based on who can do a drill,” she said. “Overall we are all playing well together and it’s exciting to see our overall improvement.”

The team’s first game will be against Allegheny College on November 17 at 5:30 p.m. Their talent will be tested, and they will have to fight hard in order to come out victorious. All signs point towards a fun and interesting year for the Chatham women’s basketball team.   

Chatham celebrates winter athletes with “Midnight Madness”

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When you walked into the AFC on the night of Wednesday, October 14, you knew something was going on.

As the women’s Ice Hockey team, and the men’s and women’s Swimming and Diving, Basketball, and Indoor Track teams filed into the gym, the crowd in the stand began to grow as well. People lined up to get some Buffalo Chicken Dip and chips, and then they began to take their seats. After some mingling, the games began.

Competitions with the people in stands began, consisting of 3-on-3 and coaches vs. student 5-on-5. The crowd really got into it and really showed their school spirit.

As the hour neared midnight, the crowd began to die down. They anxiously waited to hear the announcement of the new 2015-2016 winter sports teams.

The announcer came on to introduce the women and men’s Swimming and Diving and Track teams. They then moved onto the women’s and men’s Basketball teams. The men’s team gathered around the center of the court and really got the crowd going with their enthusiastic chants.

After the conclusion of the announcements, the basketball teams had their own contests against each other. The coed shootout was greeted with lots of support from the fans.

One fan, sophomore Ava Iuliucci, had a great review of the event.

“I thought it was fun; it made it feel like it was an actual college, compared to last year where we couldn’t do that for the women’s teams,” she said.

There was then a skills contest among the women’s team and then the men’s. The competitors had to make a layup, dribble down the court, pass into a laundry basket, make a jump shot, then dribble down the court and pass to their partner.

After the event concluded, the teams all helped clean up and the fans began to leave. Many fans, both faculty and students, turned out for the event, making it a contender for a new Chatham tradition.

Chatham basketball season comes to a close

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The Chatham University Cougar 2014-2015 basketball season came to an end on February 21. The Cougars rounded out their season with six wins and 19 losses.

While at home, the Cougars had a record of 5-7 (W-L). Their scores suffered while away, as they finished with a record of only one win and 12 losses. The Cougars did not play any games on neutral territory.

The Cougars averaged 57.6 points per game, totaling 1440 points throughout the season. Chatham’s effort was significant, but not enough to avoid an overall opponent point average of 72.2, totaling 1804 points during the season.

The star player of the season was Rachel McClain, a junior Exercise Science major. McClain averaged 12.3 points per game (the highest on the team), with her points overall equaling 295. She also played an average of 31.1 minutes per game (also the highest on the team), with a total of 747 minutes on the court. McClain plays guard.

Second to McClain was Megan Sieg, a first year Exercise Science major. Sieg averaged 11.2 points per game, and scored a total of 279 points in the season. She played a total of 764 minutes during the season (more than anyone on the team), and had an average of 30.6 minutes per game.

Sophomore Psychology major Jesse Hinkle earned the title of most rebounds 14 times during the season, the most of anyone on the team. She got a total of 147 rebounds during the season, with an average of 6.4 per game.

Jessica Manfredi, a sophomore Elementary and Special Education major, led the team in assists for the season, averaging 2.1 assists per game and 52 assists throughout the season. She was also the player with the third-highest number of minutes played, with 26 on average and 650 overall.

The highlight of the Cougar’s season came earlier this month on Senior Day. They played PAC Conference rival Geneva College and won 78-66.

During that game, the Cougars had a five-point lead into the half and ended up leading for the rest of the game.

The point leader for the game was sophomore Nikki Ingel with 19 points, followed by McClain, who finished with 17 points. The Cougars nailed 21 of their 25 free throws in the second half.

The Cougars will say goodbye to three seniors this season: Kayla Saylor, Becky Rowe, and Emily Schmidt.

Rowe averaged 19.6 minutes per game in 14 games this season. She averaged 7.9 points per game. Schmidt averaged 17.3 minutes per game in 14 games. She averaged 6.4 points per game.

The Cougars may not have come out with a winning record, but they can certainly boast of another season full of hard work, sportsmanship, and team effort.

Cougars basketball team drops close game against Thiel

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Chatham Basketball took a tough loss in its home game against Thiel College on February 4. The game–which raised money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research and Play 4Kay initiative as part of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, both of which support breast cancer research–was filled with excitement from start to finish.

The Cougars shone in the first half, leaving them up eight points at the half 33-25. Senior forward Emily Schmidt led her teammates in the first half, racking up eight points for the Cougars. She went on to score points in the second half, making her one of three Cougars that finished with double digit points by the game’s end.

Other highlights for Chatham throughout the game included junior guard Rachel McClain and sophomore guard Jessica Manfredi scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Jesse Hinkle made eight rebounds, along with three assists and one steal to help out the Cougars. Schmidt also earned 10 rebounds, a team high from both her and Hinkle.

With only 53 seconds left in the game, Thiel tied Chatham 53-53. The Tomcats went on to score two more points from a Cougar foul with 14 seconds on the clock, giving Thiel the lead and the win at 55-53.

Chatham’s record drops to 5-15 for the season.

Cougars basketball team falls to Wolverines 68-48

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The Chatham Cougars basketball team fell 68 to 48 against the Grove City Wolverines on Wednesday, January 14 at the Chatham University Athletic and Fitness Center (AFC).

Photo Credit: Kaylee LaPosta

Photo Credit: Kaylee LaPosta

The Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) game was filled with excitement as the Cougars battled back and forth with the Wolverines. Senior Becky Rowe started Chatham’s first half momentum with an early three-pointer.

The Cougars junior guard Anna Shashura led the team with 11 points, one assist, and one steal. Other major contributors to Chatham’s total score included junior guard Rachel McClain with eight points, four assists, and two steals and sophomore guard Nikki Ingel with nine points, two assists, and one steal.

Leading the team for the Wolverines was junior forward Kathryn Erbelding, with 20 points on the board.

At the end of the first half, the Cougars were down seven points. The team picked up energy in the second half, shooting five three-pointers to lessen the deficit in the score.

The Cougars fought back hard, but were unable pull ahead in the end. The loss drops Chatham’s season record to 4-10.

Andrew Garcia named first men’s basketball coach in Chatham University history

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In the wake of President Barazzone and the Chatham University Board of Trustees’ decision to transition Chatham to a coed institution in fall of 2015, current students can expect to see significant changes in the current state of the university. One of the first major changes is the hiring of a men’s basketball coach, Andrew Garcia.

Having been a single-sex institution since its opening in 1869, Chatham has never had any male sports teams. Therefore, Garcia is making history by being the first men’s basketball coach at the school.

The Pittsburgh native attended and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 2002.

Garcia then received an undergraduate education in history at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2006. There he played basketball for three seasons, leading his team in assists for two of those.

He then went on to complete his master’s degree in adult and technical education at Marshall University in 2009. Garcia served as the graduate assistant coach at the Division I school.

Garcia began his professional coaching career in 2010 at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida where he was the men’s assistant coach. In 2011, Garcia joined Carnegie Mellon University’s coaching staff as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Garcia does not expect to make major changes in his coaching style for his new head coach position, but does believe that others’ expectations for him will be higher.

“You’re much more under the microscope… far as representing the school and the mission of the university,” he said.

Garcia is not deterred by the newfound responsibility.

“It’s a big change, I think, but it’s something that I’m excited about because it’s obviously the next step in my career,” he said.

One major change for Coach Garcia will be his recruiting style.

“I came from Carnegie Mellon University and the academic profile over there is way different,” he said. “It’s been a basketball program that’s been established…so your recruiting style is much more narrow as far as that goes.”

“[At Chatham] there’s not one player, you have to completely build it, so my nets are cast wide right now,” he said.

Garcia currently has two volunteer assistant coaches who are helping him reach out to players in the western Pennsylvania area.

“That’s going to be big—we’re really concentrating on the local kids, and that’ll be how we build it initially,” he said.

In addition to recruiting locals, Garcia is also recruiting players outside of Pennsylvania.

“We’ve been getting tremendous interest from people outside of the region: Texas, Florida, New Jersey, New York, California even,” he said.

Garcia says that he and his team have sent out, “1500 emails plus,” and now they are in the process of going through and replying to them.

He believes that, while outside recruiting is important, the real priority is going to be getting the prospective students on campus.

“Now we’re just trying to get them to come visit, come see it, come get on campus, you know, touch it, feel it, and see if you like it,” he said.

One of the greatest opportunities for getting students on campus, he believes, will be the upcoming recruiting clinic he will be holding on October 12. This will be an opportunity for potential students to hone their basketball skills as well as experience a small bit of Chatham culture. He hopes to hold a few more of these clinics throughout recruiting season.

As far as the students he plans to recruit, Garcia says that his first priorities are character and academics.

“If I bring in a guy who has great academics, and because of that he has great character, or because he has great character he has great academics, then he will be able to adapt much better than somebody who maybe doesn’t,” he said.

Overall, Garcia wants to keep in mind the current Chatham community, as well as the comfort of the future male students in the university’s culture.

“I just think… whoever you bring in is going to have to step into that community and be comfortable, so I’m learning…culture as I go, and it means a lot more [at Chatham],” he said.

As far as the future of the men’s basketball team, Garcia made it clear where his priorities lie.

“I’m not worried about, ‘are we going to win 20 games our first year,’ which if you concentrate on that, you’re worried about the wrong thing. Like I said, I’ve got to bring in good guys, that’s the main thing,” he said.

About the success of his future team, Garcia said, “If you define “success” as…guys [that] are going to help carry the mission of the university, and the image of the university along, then yes, I’m very optimistic for it. Are we going to win twenty games in the first season? Maybe…but I don’t really care about that. That’s the last thing on my mind.”