With three seniors in the starting lineup and tremendously talented underclassmen as a supporting cast, it's easy to understand the excitement among the East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team.

Rookie head coach Juliene Simpson takes over a team with a ton of potential waiting to explode. Last season the team took its lumps, going just 5-21, but Simpson is hoping that those losses were also lessons toward learning how to win.

"I always look at the past as history, the future's a mystery and today's the gift," said Simpson. "What we try to do as a coaching staff every day is teach the players the skills of the game to help them develop to be competitive."

Expect Simpson to go deep into her bench this year. Don't expect her to be shy when it comes to tinkering with lineups and player combinations. She's made no secrets, especially while learning each player's talent, she'll play almost everyone on the bench if she needs to. But in crunchtime, Simpson will have her upperclassmen to count on.

Leading the charge on the floor will be three seniors, guard Meg Ross, guard Michelle Pilenza and forward Pam Helt. All three saw significant floor time last season and should be primed for big senior years. Ross is very gifted when it comes to seeing the floor. She's a classic point guard: At 5-foot-6 she has speed and fantastic vision.

Pilenza may be one of the best shooters on the floor for the Warriors. She also possesses a desire to fight for every ball.
Helt, at 5-11, will be challenged to develop an inside presence once again. She's tough in the paint. There is little doubt that trio will be the backbone to the Warriors this season, especially with eight sophomores and freshman on the roster following their every move.
Two of those sophomores expecting to fight for starting jobs are Heather Wolfe and Vanessa Kraft. While Simpson wouldn't pencil in her starting five in the preseason, she spoke highly of her younger players and their willingness to work hard. She's pushed the team hard in preparation for the season, but Simpson says the team has met or exceeded those challenges.

"As a first-year coach there's a lot of things you want to do and a lot of things you need to do, but I think every day we take one step at a time," said Simpson. "When we accomplish that, then we'll raise the bar." Tiffany Barnes is the only junior on the team. Last season Barnes raised her level and became a more complete player. This year she will once again fight for a starting job or see significant time off the bench.

The 6-footer out of Middletown High School has showed some flashes of greatness the last two seasons and has become a player who can shoot the jumper and rebound. Sophomores Shelly Garlach and Dana Thompson will also be expected to contribute this year. Garlach was the team's backup point guard last year, while Thompson is expected to see more time this year as a forward. The freshman class is very talented. Assistant Michelle Simons raved over all of the new recruits.

Niki Cox, Rachel Gordon, Jess Wapinsky and Katie Wear are the future of the team. All four have stellar athletic ability and have enjoyed numerous individual and team success at the high school level.