2007-08 Marietta College women's basketball preview
Lady Pioneers continue to rebuild

Nov. 12, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women’s basketball team continues its rebuilding process in 2007-08. The program, which has endured its fourth coaching change in the last three years, is looking for some stability under first-year Head Coach Jill Meiring, who joins the Pioneers after six seasons as an assistant at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky.

Marietta returns five of eight letterwinners and three starters from the 2006-07 squad. Senior two-time All-OAC guard Justine Pagenhardt will be asked once again to carry the offense. Pagenhardt, Marietta’s seventh 1,000-point scorer, has averaged 13.9 points over her first three seasons.

Sophomore forward Jamie Beckett, who averaged 10.1 points and 8.0 rebounds as a freshman, and junior guard Amanda Carraher, who contributed 6.0 points per game and led the team with 32 three-point field goals in 2006-07, should provide the Pioneers with a post presence and an outside shooting threat to complement Pagenhardt.

Marietta will also need production from the younger players on its roster, which is expected to feature 14 student-athletes.

The Pioneers open the season November 16 against Grove City (Pa.) at the National City Tip-off Tournament, hosted by Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. Marietta will then host the 23rd annual Jim Meagle Turkey Shoot Tournament November 24-25 at Ban Johnson Arena before opening OAC play at home against Ohio Northern on December 1. The Pioneers take on Thiel (Pa.) in round one of the Turkey Shoot, while the other opening game pits Denison against New Jersey City. Alumni Day once again will take place during Winter Weekend on February 16 when Marietta plays host to John Carroll.

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

Guard: Junior Nikki Driscoll is the leading candidate for the point guard position in 2007-08. Driscoll came off the bench a year ago to average 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds to go along with 1.3 assists. Junior Kristen Sallee and sophomore Shawntae Cline will also see time at this valuable spot on the floor. Cline contributed 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.2 assists as the primary point guard in 2006-07. Sallee, who did not play last winter, saw time at the position two years ago. Senior standout Justine Pagenhardt, who may also play some forward, will be the primary shooting guard again this winter. Pagenhardt paced the team in scoring in 12 of the 25 games as a junior and has a career average of 13.9 points. Junior Amanda Carraher, who averaged 6.0 points a year ago, will also see extended time on the perimeter and should give the Pioneers another outside shooting threat. Look for sophomore Whitney Swain and freshman Brittany King and Erin Nicola to contribute in the back court.

Forward: Seniors Natalie Jackson and Vanessa Nicholls, both soccer players, and Stephanie Dowd lead an athletic group of forwards who can defend in the post as well as on the perimeter. Jackson and Dowd have improved each season, while Nicholls returns after not playing since her freshman year. They will be pushed by Nicola and fellow freshman Emily Horstman. 

Senior Justine Pagenhardt will look to lead Marietta in 2007-08