2008-09 Marietta College women's basketball preview
Pioneers will look to lay foundation for success this season

Nov. 13, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — Second-year Head Coach Jill Meiring will look for continued improvement from her young team during the 2008-09 season, as the Pioneers look to secure a foundation for success on the hard court in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Meiring welcomed six veterans and eight new additions when Marietta opened preseason practice in mid October.

The Pioneers will be without guard Justine Pagenhardt, who graduated as one of Marietta’s top four scores of all-time. Senior guards Amanda Carraher and Nikki Driscoll, both starters last year, will be asked to pick up the scoring slack this season. Carraher, who averaged 12.4 points, set the single-game (8) and single-season (70) record for three-point field goals in 2007-08. Driscoll, who added 8.0 points per game, ran the offense and led the team with 95 assists.

The senior duo will get assistance from junior forward Jamie Beckett, who will once again provide a solid low-post presence after averaging 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds last season. Junior guard Whitney Swain is expected to receive substantial minutes this year; she came off the bench to contribute 2.5 points and 0.6 assists in 2007-08.

Marietta will open the season at Thiel in Greenville, Pa., on Nov. 18 before playing in the Mount St. Joseph Tournament Nov. 21-22 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Pioneers’ home opener will be during the 24th annual Jim Meagle Turkey Shoot Tournament, which takes place Nov. 29-30 on Fenton Court. Marietta will open its OAC schedule at Ohio Northern on Dec. 6.

Hear is a closer look at the Pioneers position by position.

Point Guard: Senior Nikki Driscoll will once again handle the point guard duties for the Pioneers in 2008-09. Driscoll earned the starting role as a junior and was ranked second among OAC players in assists last year. Freshman Rachel Jones is the leading candidate to come off the bench and spell Driscoll at point guard during the season.

Wing: Senior Amanda Carraher, the school’s single-game and single-season three-point record holder, will replace Pagenhardt at shooting guard this year. Carraher was the team’s second leading scorer and paced the league in three-point field goals made per game, averaging 2.92 in 2007-08. Sophomore Brittany King, as well as Jones, will also compete for time at shooting guard. Junior Whitney Swain and freshmen Brooke Baker and Jami Thomas are competing for the starting nod at the other wing this season. Swain, who came primarily off the bench, showed the ability to knock down open shots and hold her own on the defensive end. Baker and Thomas have both demonstrated their readiness to contribute at the collegiate level during the preseason and will be counted on early in the year.

Post: Junior, two-year starter Jamie Beckett returns at one of the post positions in 2008-09. Last year, she was one of the OAC’s top rebounding leaders and Marietta’s third leading scorer. Freshmen Chelsea Drake and Lizz Wilson are also going to be looked at to provide a presence in the paint this season.

Senior Nikki Driscoll and the Pioneers open the season at Thiel on Nov. 18.