LIU Women's Basketball Gears Up for 05-06 Season; Selected Ninth in NEC Preseason Coaches Poll

11/3/05 -- -- Long Island University has been selected to finish ninth in the 2005-06 Northeast Conference women’s basketball competition, according to the annual poll of league head coaches released today.

Robert Morris was picked to capture the conference title, receiving six first place votes. The coaches’ poll correctly forecast last year’s winner, Saint Francis (Pa) and has accurately picked the NEC champion eight of the last 12 seasons.

In the NEC teleconference on Thursday, Fourth-year coach Stephanie Gaitley revealed this team is “driven by competition- even in practice- and has the attitude necessary to win.” Gaitley is excited for the upcoming season with a number of changes, including the addition of three junior college transfers.

Looking to rebound from a 10-game slide to end the season, the Blackbirds (9-18 overall, 5-13 NEC) return all-rookie team member Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia). The 6-2 junior forward was ranked fourth in the conference in field goal accuracy (.468) and 17th in scoring (10.7 ppg) a season ago.

Senior Polona Oberc (Ljubljana, Slovenia) is back to pilot the offense. She paced the team in minutes (34.3 mpg), averaging 11.7 points and 3.6 assists a contest. Guard Amber Wirth (Hastings, Minn.) also returns to the fold. Wirth collected 267 points and led the team in three-pointers with 57 last winter.

Sophomore Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) played in all 27 games last season, earning 11 starting nods (4.8 ppg/13 apg). She is expected to contribute greatly in 2005-06. Joella Pounds (Clifton, N.J.) also saw time at the guard spot, averaging 11.1 minutes a game.

Three JC transfers- Brittani Kozik (Belle Plaine, Iowa), Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas) and Sonya Coleman (Toledo, Ohio) – are projected to compete right away.

The Blackbirds commence the season at the University of Minnesota Subway Classic on Nov. 19, facing Stanford in the opening game. They return home on Nov. 25 and 26 for the annual LIU Turkey Classic, welcoming James Madison, Cal Poly and Lafayette to Brooklyn.