Rider Women Recruits Provide Optimism

Here's another in the series looking at players joining conference programs this season.

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RIDER WOMEN

- Emily Fazzini, 5-10 guard, Archbishop Carroll H.S., Philadelphia.

N0 senior season stats are available.

"Emily is a tough hard working Catholic League Philly kid," Rider coach Kim Milligan said. "She has a great desire and passion for the game. Emily will be able to contribute right away to our program because she can play defense, shoot the ball and attack the basket."

- Marritta Gillcrease, 6-3 center, Perry Traditional Academy, Pittsburgh.

As a junior she averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks per game. No senior season stats are available.

"Marritta will add size and depth to our post game," Milligan said. "She is very agile, can rebound and score in the paint. Marritta will be able to play either post position for us and will cause matchup problems when she is able to play with Sarah (Homan) and Caitlin (Bopp)."

- Manon Pellet, 5-6 point guard, Montpellier Academy, Marseille, France.

No statistics available, but she was selected among the 16 best players in France, of her age, and was invited to the second FIBA international camp in July 2008 in Slovenia, where she was MVP, and consequently, invited to attend the Euroleague Women's Final Four 2009 as an official guest of FIBA Europe.

"Manon is an exciting talented player who can change games," Milligan said. "She is a scoring point guard who can also defend and run a team. We are very excited she has chosen to bring her talents to the United States and Rider University."

- Kornelija Valiuskyte, 5-8 point guard, The Rock School of Gainesville, Fla.

She averaged 9.2 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 steals per game as a senior. She is a native of Lithuania.

"Kornelija is a solid steady point guard who can run a team," Milligan said. "She has a very high basketball IQ and a maturity about her game. She can score from the perimeter and can set up her teammates and put them in successful situations."

Sironda Chambers, 5-7 guard, Harcum Junior College.

She averaged 20.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game this past season at Harcum. She enters Rider as a junior with two seasons of eligibility.

"Sironda is a scoring guard who knows no other way but 100 percent," said Milligan. "She has played in the junior college ranks for two years and competed for a national title. She is a threat on both ends of the floor and can make things happen with her speed, quickness, and scoring ability. She will be a veteran presence to our guard group next season."

ANALYSIS: This looks like the group that has the best chance, joining an already developing cast of young players, of turning around Rider's struggling program. Chambers, an effective scorer, is likely to get significant minutes at shooting guard right away with Fazzini also capable of playing the position. The Broncs' greatest need a year ago was quality point guard play, and the team brings in two promising young players at the position in Pellet and Kaliuskyte. And, Gillcrease joins a front court that was already among the tallest in the conference.