With 11 returning players and the addition of two talented freshmen, the 2011-12 edition of the women's basketball team looks to take the next step into the NCAA tournament after advancing to the championship game of the SUNYAC tournament.  The Red Dragons finished 21-7 overall and 13-5 in the conference and were ranked in each of the NCAA East Region polls during the season reaching as high as #5 prior to the SUNYAC tournament.  Fifth-year coach, Daphne Thompson, feels that size, depth and experience will carry her squad to another winning season.

The senior trio of Samantha Szkotak (New York Mills/New York Mills), Madison Slagle (Rome/Rome Catholic) and Ashley Welytok (Amsterdam/Amsterdam) return to lead the way for Oneonta.  Szkotak and Slagle were 1-2 respectively in scoring last year and both players were selected to the All-SUNYAC Team.  Szkotak can hurt you inside or outside while Slagle is the team's top threat from long range.  Welytok provides tremendous leadership both on-and-off the court for the Red Dragons.

Oneonta will have a lot of depth and experience at the guard position.  Juniors Kate Wilverding (Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) and Lisa Rufer (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) will be joined by four sophomores in Kristin Pappalardo (Mahopac/Lakeland), Grace Schilling (Northport/Northport), Alyshia Crawford (Oxford/Oxford) and Kelly Mulligan (Pearl River/Pearl River).

Wilverding can dial it up from long range and adds depth to the shooting guard position.  Pappalardo and Schilling split time at the point guard position last year and gained valuable experience entering their second year.  They both started 14 games and combined for 242 points, 94 assists and 51 steals.

Rufer, Crawford and Mulligan all are capable of stepping in and contributing.  Rufer is another long range shooter and both Crawford and Mulligan add depth to the point guard position.

In the front court, junior Gabi Regan (Troy/Columbia) returns and will add depth and experience to a group that will include sophomore Vania Simpri (Brewster/Brewster) and newcomers Sarah Longto (Kingston/Kingston) and Kaitlyn Ponesse (Wallkill/Wallkill).  Regan played in all 28 games last year and contributed five points and just over two rebounds per game.

Both Longto and Ponesse come from quality High School programs and both were Section 9 All-Stars at AA and A respectively with Ponesse being selected as the Player of the Year in Section 9.

This year's schedule includes several teams that participated in the NCAA tournament a year ago.  The Red Dragons open its season at home on Tuesday, Nov. 15 versus the first of those NCAA tournament teams, Western Connecticut State University.  Oneonta will open its conference schedule on Friday, Dec. 2 against Buffalo State at home.

Link to 2011-12 schedule