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 Forsman, McBride and McCourt recognized with end-of-season awards

From far left: Forsman, McBride, McCourt

Complete listing.pdf

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The Little East Conference office announced its annual women's basketball major award winners and all-conference teams this afternoon after a vote by the league's eight coaches. University of Southern Maine senior center Courtney Cochran was named as the Player of the Year, while University of Massachusetts Boston freshman Kirsten Morrison  was chosen as the Rookie of the Year. Rhode Island College senior guard Cynthia Gaudet as selected as the Defensive Player of the Year, and Marcus Reilly was tabbed as the Coach of the Year by his colleagues. Eastern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University shared the Team Sportsmanship Award to close out the major awards program.

In addition to the major awards program, the Little East women's basketball coaches honored 11 student-athletes on its all-conference teams. The All-Little East teams are comprised of six members on the top team, and five student-athletes represented on the second squad. The coaches also elected five-member All-Defensive and All-Rookie teams.

Cochran is the seventh Huskies women's basketball player to garner the conference's top award, and first since Ashley Marble was honored in three consecutive campaigns (2005-2007). The senior center from Waite, Maine is making her second straight appearance on the All-Little East first-team.

Gaudet is the first Anchorwoman to be selected as the top defensive player in the conference since the Little East began sponsoring the award in 2009. In addition to her major award, Gaudet is also making her debut on the All-Little East first team and All-Defensive team. Her intensity on the defensive end of the court enabled Rhode Island College to feature one of the most stifling defensive attacks in the country, ranking among the national leaders in field goal percentage defense (12th, 31.5), scoring margin ( 13th, +18.0 ppg), and scoring defense (23rd, 50.5). 

 Morrison is just the third Beacon to be chosen as the top rookie in the conference and first since Linda Caruso was honored in 1994. The North Reading, Mass. product is the lone first-year to earn a spot on the 11-member All-Little East teams, garnering second team accolades. A force in the low blocks, Morrison ranked among the conference leaders in scoring (2nd, 16.5 ppg), rebounding (3rd, 10.1 rpg), blocked shots (3rd, 1.6 bpg), and minutes played (7th, 32.0)

Three of Eastern's six freshmen were honored in the end-of-season awards program. Guard Taylor McBride (Willimantic) joined four others on the All-Defensive team, while guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) and froward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) were named to the five-person All-Rookie team. Forsman was a starter since the season-opener this year while McBride and McCourt took over starting assignments in the ninth game of the year.

Eastern has now had eight All-Defensive selections in six years and seven All-Rookie picks in seven years. McBride is the program's first freshman named to the former team. The Team Sportsmanship Award represents a first for the program.

.Formed in 1986, the Little East serves as New England's premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III.  Featuring 19 championship sports, the Little East sponsors quality competition in every season for our student athletes.  Our eight state colleges and universities dedicate themselves to an ongoing fulfillment of the Division III mission of passion, responsibility, sportsmanship, and citizenship.

 Warriors' late-season run comes to end as UMB takes final LEC spot

BOSTON - The Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team never led after the opening basket in a 75-53 Little East Conference loss to the University of Massachusetts Boston Saturday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center in a game which determined the final seed in the upcoming conference playoffs.

With the first season sweep of Eastern (8-17, 4-10 Little East) in nearly 20 years, UMass (8-17, 4-10 Little East) is awarded the sixth and final seed in the LEC playoffs, which get underway Tuesday with first-round games.

The Warriors  used conference wins last week over UMass Dartmouth and Keene State College to move into sixth place -- a game ahead of UMass. Looking to avenge a 68-55  home loss to UMass a month ago, Eastern got out of the gate slowly Saturday. The hosts, who qualify for the conference playoffs for the first time in the third year of the six-team post-season setup, outscored Eastern 17-4 after the Warriors opened the game with a three-point field goal to open up an early ten-point lead (17-7). UMB's lead dipped under double figures only once the rest of the way.

Eastern freshman froward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) led the Warriors with 25 points - the second-highest total of her brief career, with freshman guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) adding 12 and freshman guard Danyelle Rodriguez (Willimantic) chipping in 11. First-year senior post player Jaymie Sommers Voluntown) shared game-high rebounding totals with ten and McCourt eight.

Junior guard Teresa Pina, who had only six points on 3-for-11 shooting a month ago against Eastern, led all players with a career-high 32 points - the most by a UMB player this season to go along with ten rebounds. She was 13-for-19 from the floor. Freshman Kirsten Morrison - a 6-foot-2 inch freshman center - had 23 points and nine rebounds.

Former standout players discover a passion in the coaching ranks

By Jonathan Mizger '13

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- We view the game of basketball as a game played with a ball and a hoop. We view it with five people competing against five other people on a hardwood court. We view it as techniques displayed by the players such as passing, dribbling, jumping, dunking, shooting, and blocking. We view the game in just how it is played. There is more to the game of basketball than just X's and O's, performance, and skills. There is more to the game than just the players; there is the behind-the-scenes action of what goes on for building a basketball program.

At left: Allison Coleman has brought the same enthusiasm she had as a four-time All-America (inset) to her role as an assistant coach. (Cristina Danielson photo)

As student-athletes at Eastern, the role of current assistant coaches Kris Johnson and Allison Coleman was to produce for 40 minutes on game day. Like most players, they gave only a passing thought to the limitless hours and detailed tasks provided by their coaching staff. When not playing, practicing or studying, most players are relaxing. In contract, when away from the game and practice court, the coaching staff immerses itself  for six months in recruiting, preparing  scouting reports and practice plans, analyzing and breaking down tape, entertaining recruits and attending to the myriad details of  countless other tasks.

At Eastern Connecticut State University, there are the men's and women's basketball team. Bill Geitner leads the men's team as the head coach and Denise Bierly leads the women's team. The head coaches play a vital role in leading their  respective teams, but rely heavily upon their assistant coaches.

Geitner looks for insight from among his three dedicated assistant coaches, one of whom is Johnson. A native of Sturbridge, MA, Johnson is a former four-year player under Geitner through the 2008/09 season. Johnson brings his experience of his collegiate career to help out his alma mater for a third season.

At right: Kris Johnson has transitioned his drive as a player (inset) into his current coaching position..

"When I played here, I was a shooter," said Johnson,  who, in three-point field goals, ranks fourth all-time in a career, third in a season and first in a game. "I try to help out the guards a lot by working on shooting form and different ways to come off screens."

Johnson has a great deal of passion for the game of basketball that makes him want to transfer that emotion into the players he has on the team."It was something I really had a passion for", said Kris. "I like coaching these guys; I try to bring a lot of energy so they feed off of it and they're motivated to work and get better."

Coleman, a native of Jewett City is the only four-time All-America in the history of Division III. She brings her competitive nature and her impressive statistical records to the team for her second season.

"I think the biggest thing is the experience, and the kids listen to the things that I tell them. They know I've been in the trenches and I've been through the war," noted Coleman, who holds program career records for points, rebounds, assists and steals and is second in three-point field goals.

After leading the team to the national championship game as a junior, Coleman was named National Player-of-the-Year in her senior season in 2003/04. With her stats and leadership, Coleman is proud to have returned to her alma mater  to complete her degree requirements and coach basketball.

"I like being back in a program that gave me so much when I was a student-athlete here", said Coleman. "I'm able to give back in a different way than actually playing on the court."

Both Johnson and Coleman spend plenty of time recruiting high school players, scouting opposing teams, and developing practice plans and scouting reports. They contribute a lot of their time to build upon the program's status for the future of their team.

"I really like the recruiting aspect," said Johnson. "I enjoy going out to see potentially new players and sell the university."

"I enjoy scouting our opponents," said Coleman. "I know how to read a team's defenses and offenses, and put that into a scouting report. I also love recruiting; having to talk to the prospective student-athletes and telling them about the program is probably one of my favorite aspects about being an assistant coach."

Johnson and Coleman may have had great experiences of playing basketball, but they are learning new things every day.

"I'm learning a lot from (assistant coach Stan Harris) about our post play," said Coleman. "I'm learning a lot from him in that aspect, about utilizing different defenses, and switching defenses. We played a little bit of zone when I played here, but we're starting to play a little more here at Eastern and coach Harris has also taught me about that."

"(As a coach), I've become more defensive-minded," points out Johnson. "Sometimes I get more focused on the offensive end, but, really, defense wins games."

Johnson and Coleman have resumes that stand out in a crowd. Their performances on and off the court have prepared them for relating their experiences and teaching the game of basketball to future student-athletes. As their coaching careers are starting to grow, Johnson and Coleman hope to one day become head coaches.

"Given the opportunity, I would like to be a head coach somewhere", said Coleman. "Coach Bierly has taught a lot about not only on-the-court stuff , but off-the-court, behind the scenes things that, as a player, you never realized."

"I have a good teaching job right now, and I'm coaching college basketball," observed Johnson. "As of right now, I'm basically set up."

The pair is enjoying every minute of coaching, having developed a passion to teach young people the game. They are happy to maintain relationships with the programs that they were once part of as players. and are looking forward to futures as head college basketball coaches.
 

They avenge 20-point loss three weeks ago with 61-56 road verdict

KEENE, N.H.--  Freshman guard Taylor McBride (Willimantic) scored the first seven points of her team's 11-0 run late in the game as the Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team stunned Keene State College, 61-56, Tuesday night at Spaulding Gymnasium.

At right: Taylor McBride

Eastern (8-16, 4-9 Little East)  knocked Keene (15-7, 9-4 Little East) out of a share of second place in the conference (the top two teams earn first-round byes) by avenging a 58-38 loss to Keene Jan. 24 at Geissler Gymasium.

A win at Massachusetts Boston Saturday gives Eastern sole possession of sixth place in the final standings and a berth in the LEC tournament, which gets underway with first-round games a week from tonight. Eastern would finish sharing sixth place with UMass Boston with a loss and the Beacons would earn the final playoff berth based upon its two wins over Eastern.UMass won by 12 points a month ago in Willimantic.

Eastern trailed by nine points seven minutes into the game but cut the gap to four at halftime, then shot 53.8 percent from the floor and 10-for-13 from the foul line in the second half  to post two consecutive wins for the first time since early December. Keene had won seven of its last eight and was 9-1 at home prior to the game.

Trailing by one point with 5:21 left, the Warriors ripped off 11 straight points over 4+ minutes. While the hosts were missing six straight shots in that stretch, McBride scored the first seven points on a layup, jumper and three-point play, and freshman guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) capped the burst by converting four consecutive free throws in less than 30 seconds as the Warriors sealed the win with a ten-point lead with 66 seconds left.

Forsman led four double-figure Eastern scorers with 16 points (her eighth straight double-digit game) and also grabbed a career-tying eight rebounds. She was 8-for-10 from the stripe. McBride finished with a career-high 15 points, handed out five assists and came up with five steal, freshman forward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) had her 12th double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman guard Danyelle Rodriguez (Willimantic) tossed in 13 points for Eastern, whose starters played all but five minutes. All six players to see action are in their first season with the team, five of them freshmen.

McBride and McCourt were both 7-for-11 from the floor and combined to go 10-for-13 from the field in the second half.

Keene, which started four seniors and a junior, got a game-high 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists from senior Courtney Cirillo.

It marked the second straight game where Eastern avenged an earlier drubbing. On Saturday, the Warriors recorded a 12-point win at home over Massachusetts Dartmouth after the Corsairs had administered an 18-point beating Jan. 10.

Little East Conference men's and women's basketball rivals Eastern Connecticut State University and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth teamed to raise money as part of the Play4Kay initiative (formerly known as the "Pink Zone") during the doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 11 at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium. Money was raised on Feb. 11 through donations and selling T-Shirts and baked goods. College basketball teams across the country unit from Feb. 10-20 to raise money in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the V Foundation and Women's Basketball Coaches' Association. The fund is a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer to the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause. Kay Yow was the former head women's basketball coach at N.C. State who was diagnosed with cancer in 1987 and passed away on Jan. 24, 2009.

They hang on to share of final Little East playoff spot by upending UMD

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - Freshmen Danyelle Rodrigez (Willimantic), Kristina Forsman (Newington)  and Taylor McBride (Willimantic) each converted a three-point play on three consecutive Eastern Connecticut State University possessions early in the second half that sparked a decisive 16-2 run and carried the Warriors to a key 66-54 Little East conference women's basketball decision over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday afternoon at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.

Above: Despite giving away four inches, the 5-foot-9 inch Jaymie Sommers outrebounded UMass Dartmouth's Colleen Moriarty (33), 16-14.

The Eastern (7-16, 3-9 LEC) victory ends a nine-game slide and is its first conference victory after eight losses - a streak which began when the Warriors allowed 79 points in an 18-point loss at UMass Dartmouth (14-9, 5-7 LEC) a month ago.

More importantly, Eastern retains a share of the sixth and final LEC tournament playoff slot with Massachusetts Boston, which slipped by Plymouth State University, 75-69, Saturday afternoon at Plymouth, NH.  UMass Dartmouth, which has followed five straight wins with two straight (LEC ) losses,  is in fifth place, two games ahead of Eastern and UMass Boston with two regular-season conference games remaining.

Eastern visits Keene State College (9-3) and UMass Boston in its final two conference regular-season games. UMass Boston hosts UMass Dartmouth Tuesday before closing out against visiting Eastern Saturday.

After converting seven of 18 three-point field goals in its earlier 18-point win over Eastern, UMass missed 15 of 17 tries from long range Saturday, and shot only 35.5 percent from the floor after a mark of 46.6 the first time around.

In a game which featured eight ties and 11 lead changes, Eastern  went on its 16-2 run to give it an 11-point, 48-37  advantage with 11 minutes left. McBride converted a conventional three-point play with a layup and free throw off a UMD steal to spark the 16-2 run, and after the Corsairs failed on two straight shots, Rodriguez drained a three-pointer off a pass from senior center Jaymie Sommers (Voluntown) and 40 seconds later, Forsman swished her only three-point field goal of the game off another UMass miss.

In all, Eastern outscored UMass 27-6 over ten minutes that pushed the Warriors lead to a game-high 18 with six minutes left.

Forsman took 24 of Eastern's 71 shots - the majority of them driving, underhand layups - and topped all players with a career-high 24 points. Sophomore forward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) notched her second double-double this year against UMass and 11th this season with 20 points and 16 rebounds (one rebound shy of her season best) and Sommers grabbed 16 rebounds and made three steals.

 Junior forward Colleen Moriarty  led UMass with 23 points and 14 rebounds, with senior guard Stephanie Houtman added 17 points and six rebounds. The pair combined on 17-for-34 shooting from the floor.

Eastern trailed in the opening minutes of the game before scoring 11 straight points - eight by Forsman - over a six-minute stretch to move out to a six-point, 20-14 lead with eight minutes left.  On nine possessions in that span, UMass missed six shots and turned the ball over three times, with Sommers coming up with two of her steals.

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With 12 minutes left, Western embarks upon 21-8 run on way to LEC win

DANBURY, Conn. --  Freshman guard Caroline Brasa scored 13 of her game-high 19 points in the second half, when the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team shot 57.1 percent from the floor and connected on ten of 11 free throws to complete the season sweep of Eastern Connecticut State University, 66-53, in a Little East Conference game Tuesday evening at Feldman Arena.

At right: Shannon McCourt

Western (14-8, 6-5 Little East)  snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory, which sent Eastern  (6-16, 2-9 Little East) to its ninth straight loss.

Eastern trailed by only four points after one half, where there were five ties and six changes, but Western pulled away late in the game when Eastern went nine minutes between baskets (scoring six points on free throws) and the Colonials went on to outscore Eastern 21-8 over nine minutes to open  up a 14-point lead with three minutes left.

Eastern scored 17 of its points in the game off of 19 Western turnovers, but the Warriors shot just 30.8 percent from the floor in the game and hosts netted 57.1 percent of their second-half field goals and converted ten of 11 second-half free throws.

Brasa, who came off the bench to score 13 points in Western's four-point victory at Eastern Jan. 17, led all players in this game in a starting role, with sophomore forward Sciarra Brandt posting a double-double with 16 points and a game-high ren rebounds.

Eastern freshman forward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) scored 11 first-half points when the Warriors maintained a slim lead throughout much of the stanza )despite shooting 27.3 percent from the floor) by taking care of the ball (only three turnovers). McCourt led Eastern in scoring for the ninth time in the last 14 games with 17 points (along with five rebounds), freshman point guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) adding 12 points and six rebounds and first-year senior center Jaymie Sommers (Voluntown) totaling ten points and a team-high nine rebounds.  Eastern's five starters - all first-year players and four of them true freshmen - played all but four minutes of the game.

The top four teams in the LEC won Tuesday. With three conference regular-season games remaining, Western is in fourth place, one game ahead of UMass Dartmouth, while Estern remains in a tie for sixth place, one game ahead of Plymouth State. The top six teams in the final standings qualify for the LEC playoffs,w hich get underway with first-round games in two weeks.

Eastern hosts Massachusetts Dartmouth Saturday at 1 p.m.

Anyone wishing a printable version of the men's or women's alumni basketball game team photos above should contact Bob Molta at molta@easternct.edu. The alumni games are available for viewing at littleeast.com. The games are listed under "Recent Archives."

Eastern holds its own for 16 minutes before Bowdoin pulls away

BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Bowdoin College needed a 12-2 run over the final four minutes of the first half to shake free and move on to a 65-45 women's basketball victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday night. Bowdoin (15-5) has won four straight and Eastern (6-14) has lost its last seven.

At left: Kristina Forsman

Eastern freshman point guard Kristina Forsman (Newington) scored more than half of Eastern's points with a career-high 23, with senior center Jaymie Sommers (Voluntown) pulling down a game-high nine rebounds. Bowdon senior Jill Henrikson led all players with 25 points, 15 of which came on three-point field goals. In addition, Henrikson pulled down nine rebounds and stole the ball nine times.

More than half of Bowdoin's shots came from behind the arc, with the hosts sinking nine of 35 attempts.

The Warriors bounced back from an early deficit, scoring nine straight to tie the game at 15-all midway through the half, with four different players contributing points. Freshman forward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield) set up one with a defensive rebound , then stole the ball on Bowdoin's next possession and scored inside.  Sommers put back an offensive layup to cap the run and tie the game at 15-all.

Eastern trailed by only one before the Polar Bears ripped off  their 12-2 spurt over the final four minutes of the first half to take an 11-point lead into the locker room.

Eastern hosts Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference game Saturday at 1 p.m.