The No. 8 nationally ranked Roadrunner Women's basketball team will return to regular-season action on Saturday, November 5, vs.No. 7 Community College of Rhode Island in a game at Onondaga Community College in the Onondaga Season Kickoff Tournament.
The game will be part of an opening portion of this 2022-23 campaign that will provide tough competition for Coach Rich Cooper's squad. It will be anything but easy as the Runners play their first three games on the road before returning for a home game on Saturday, November 12 vs. Sussex County Community College.
"We have never backed away from tough competitiion, and we've found it helps our program in the long run," said Cooper, who begins his 9th season with-B 134 career wins. Cooper's Roadrunners are also coming a solid 24-4 campaign in which they won their second Region 19 title under the veteran coach while also qualifying for Cooper's second D III National Tournament appearance. While his team lost a pair of high-powered stars in Qeiaje Canty and Trina Deveney-Bethea, Cooper will nonetheless welcome back several key returnees and top local recruits who should help the team to another winning campaign.
"We're younger this year than we have been in recent years, but we will be just fine," said Cooper. "We will take some knocks early in the season due to our schedule. But we have some amazing players on the roster, and we expect them to step up."
Season Preview: Women's Basketball
Coach: Rich Cooper, 8th Season, 134 career wins.
Assistant Coaches: Matthew Smick, Tara Hartwyk
Last Season: The Runners rolled to a 24-4 overall record, winning the Region 19 championship and earning a qualifying berth in the D III National Championship Tournament.
Season opener: The Runners open their season Saturday, Nov. 5 vs. Community College of Rhode Island in a game at Onondaga Community College in the Onondaga Season Kickoff Tournament. The first home game will be Saturday, Nov. 12th vs. Sussex CCC in a 12 noon start.
Returning players: Danielle Jeffreys, Williamstown, forward; Julianna Montero, ACIT, forward; Riley Starke, Riverside, center; Jinelys Alvarez, Vineland, forward; Nyasia Clark, Woodbury, guard; Rianna Talley, Millville, guard/forward.
Newcomers: Prospects include Destiny Hines, Newark Central, guard; Milani Harvey, Woodbury, forward; Jonaysia Clark, Oakcrest, guard; Naysha Suarez-Rivera, Atlantic City, guard; Erica McDonnell, West Deptford, guard/forward; Alliyah Bateman, Paulsboro, forward; Maxine Ampofo, Williamstown, guard; Nijah Tanksley, Bridgeton, guard/forward; Tireya Wyatt, Winslow, guard; Brianna Parkhill, Camden County Tech, guard/forward; JaNazha Clinton, Woodbury, forward.
Outlook for season: The Runners are loaded with experience and talent and look to repeat their previous success as they look ahead to the Winter 2022 campaign.
Coach Rich Cooper on his Roadrunners: "This is an outstanding recruiting class, and we look forward to developing our new players," said Cooper. "We will also count on our sophomores for their leadership and experience. We can't wait to start the new season!"