Basketball

2008 - 2009 Season Outlook

Head Coach Rob Long's team looks to improve on its inaugural season in the conference after finishing the 2007-08 season with a 6-19 overall record and 3-13 in conference play.

Returning to the team is on-the-floor leader senior Kendra Baldwin. In 16 games last season Baldwin averaged 14.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game from the power forward position.

Also returning to the team are sophomores Briana Grap, Kierra Scott and junior Angela Turner.  Grap sunk a team-high 50 three-point baskets last season while Scott averaged 5.0 points per game as the teams's "sixth man."  Turner used her six-foot frame very well in the center position during her first season at Notre Dame, averaging 4.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Grap and Scott will be relied upon heavily for their consistent ball-handling skills and scoring potential, while Turner is sure to be a strong force to be reckoned with inside the paint.  Juniors Adorrah Smith and Heather Krolicki will also be relied upon to give quality minutes off the bench.

Senior forward Ashleigh Johnson will provide sound leadership for this young team on and off the court.  She averaged 5.2 rebounds last season, despite being limited to just 14 games due to an early-season injury.  Also providing depth at the forward position are sophomores India Scott and Ebony Rivers.  Scott averaged 3.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game.  Rivers will be competing for more playing time after averaging just over 10 minutes per game last season, contributing two points and 1.9 rebounds per contest.

The Gators' depth will be bolstered by a host of newcomers including Dana Carr and Khadija Mitchell.