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Women’s Basketball Excited for Onnie’s Classic
November 14, 2012
Senior Mariah Mouzon and the Keuka women's basketball team open the 2012-13 season Saturday against Nazareth College in the 2nd Annual Onnie's Classic (photo courtesy of Ed Webber, Keuka College Sports Information Department).
The Keuka College women’s basketball has earned a spot in the NCAA Division III tournament in four of the last six years, and with all five starters back from a team that went 19-6, expectations are high as the Storm gets ready for the 2012-13 season. The Green and Gold will kick off the season on Saturday during the Nazareth College Onnie’s Classic in Rochester.
The two-day tournament will raise money for Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, specifically the Onnie Wells Child Life Activity Room in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and features Keuka, Nazareth, The College at Brockport and Vassar College. Vassar and Brockport square off at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by the Storm and Nazareth at 3 p.m. All games take place inside the Kidera Gymnasium in the Shults Center. Tickets for each day cost $5 and may be purchased at the door.
Immediately following the Storm’s Saturday contest, Keuka’s Office of Alumni and Family Relations, along with the Stormwatchers Booster Club, will host a complimentary reception in the Forum (next to the gymnasium) for all Keuka alums, as well as fans of Keuka athletics and Keuka College.
This year’s Onnie’s Classic is in honor of Jamie White and Kelsey Fahy, who both spent time in the children’s hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The girls will act as “honorary captains” of the event, handing out Certificate of Appreciation plaques to captains of each team over the course of the first day. Saturday will be Jamie’s eighth birthday.
Featuring only one senior, the Green and Gold went 19-6 during the 2011-12 season, including a 14-3 mark in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) en route to the NEAC postseason championship and the school’s fourth NCAA Division III tournament appearance in the last six years.
Under first-year head coach Katie Marcella, the Storm returns all five starters and nine student-athletes for the 2012-13 season.
Led by All-NEAC guards Jessica Bandrowski (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) and Danielle Gravel (Sidney, NY/Sidney), Cardiac Keuka showed tremendous resiliency in rallying from double-digit deficits in all three NEAC postseason contests before claiming the NEAC crown with a 66-63 victory over rival SUNYIT in the championship.
Senior Mariah Mouzon (Elmira, NY/Elmira Free Academy) and juniors Taylor Szwec (Candor, NY/Candor) and Casey Chamberlain (Perry, NY/Perry) give the Storm a solid and experienced starting five.
The Storm’s home opener is 6 p.m., Tuesday night, Nov. 20 against the University of Pitt-Bradford.
