Women's Basketball Review:
Team's Strong Season Ends on Disappointing Note

4/5/10

West Windsor, N.J. - Women's basketball coach Mike Tenaglia is satisfied with much of the Lady Vikes' season - but not the ending. "I was disappointed with our loss in the regionals," says Tenaglia, whose team was defeated 64-59 by Burlington CC in the quarterfinal round. Just two weeks earlier, the Vikings had beaten Burlington by 20 points.

Still, Tenaglia, who completes his 20th season with the Vikings, is proud of his team's 21-9 final record. Leading the effort were freshman forwards Alexis Sweet, who averaged 21.8 points per game, and Azaria Crews, with 13.5 points per game, and sophomore forward Samantha Foley, with 12.7 points per game.

"We knew going in that these three would be our main scorers and they delivered," Tenaglia said. He adds that guard Samantha Cobbs and forward Kiara Boone also played well, showing significant growth over the course of the season.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Casper was injured in the Vikings' very first game. "That was probably our biggest loss," Tenaglia said.

The team's peak came between mid-January and mid-February when the Vikings had 12 victories and only one loss. "There were many good moments," Tenaglia recalls, noting that community college players must make a rapid transition from high school to college level ball and his squad showed real improvement as the season progressed.

He was especially pleased that Samantha Foley, who was injured during her first year, remained injury-free this season. "That means she did the hard work in the weight room during the off-season," Tenaglia said.

Sweet, who was ranked in the Top 10 in scoring in National Junior College Athletic Association Division II, was named to both the Region 19 and Garden State Athletic Conference first teams. She was joined on the GSAC first team by Foley, while Crews was selected for the second team.

(Back row from left) Coach Mike Tenaglia, Alexis Sweet, Marelys Williams, Kiara Boone, Samantha Foley, Lauren Diveglio, Azaria Crews, assistant coach Leslie Maurer, and Jennifer Casper; (front row from left) Showana Paul, Ja'Neice Worley, Amanda Tereby, Samantha Cobbs, Laruie Regan and Chelsea Lawson.
Sophomore guard Samantha Cobbs
in game against Salem CC.
Sophomore forward Tiara Boone celebrates a win.

Casper and Foley are expected to transfer to four-year schools and continue their basketball careers.

Tengalia anticipates the return of four to six freshmen in 2010-11, which should give him a solid nucleus for next year's squad.
He was assisted byLeslie Maurer, Tashema Whittaker and Tameka Turner

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