Post Classifieds
Team ranked No. 23 entering season
By Aubrey Gibert
On November 14, 2012
With increased expectations due to a successful season last year, the Buffalo State women's
basketball team is prepared to sustain that success in 2012-13 without some key contributors
from last year's team.
Coming off a season in which the Bengals finished with a program-best 25-3 record and the
SUNYAC regular season title, head coach Sue Roarke knows that her team will be facing added
pressure this season.
"We definitely will be playing with a target on our backs because of last season's success,"
Roarke said. "I told the team, though, that we are still a work in progress and we are ranked
based off of last year - not this year yet at least."
The Bengals go into the season ranked No. 23 in the nation - the first time they have been
ranked in years. However, despite being ranked, this year's team has undergone some change.
Gone from last year's squad are three starters in point guard Barb Kiliszek and forwards Staci
McElroy and Divine Sebuharara. In are nine new faces that will look to make their mark on a
team that will rely on new players to fill in and contribute.
"We're still a work in progress," Roarke said. "We will struggle early with chemistry and
things like that but we're fighting to be on top at the end of the season and that the rankings and
everything don't matter now but how we finish is what we're focused on."
Roarke said that she doesn't know who will fill the three open spots in the starting lineup, but
one player who surely will be in the starting five is All-SUNYAC first-team forward Bianca
Smiley, who goes into the season as the presumed favorite to win SUNYAC player of the year.
In her first season after transferring from Medaille, Smiley was the Bengals' leading scorer last
year, averaging 14.3 points to go along with 8.8 rebounds per game.
"I will be expecting a lot more double teams coming Bianca's way this season, especially with
a number of losses we have from last season," Roarke said. "I will be looking more for her to
improve as a passer, and it will be up to our shooters to make some shots and to take the pressure
off of her."
Smiley agreed.
"I have to look to contribute to this team in other areas besides scoring this season because of the
uncertainty we have right now," she said. "But with time, I expect us to jell as a unit and that will
cause opponents to not double me as much hopefully."
One of the areas that Smiley feels she must improve on this season is her foul trouble.
"Defensively I have to be able to play smart and stay on the court for my team," she said.
Returning guard Kala Crawford, a junior, will be looked upon to provide leadership at the guard
position.
"I'm going from being the understudy to being the teacher," Crawford said.
Some shooters that will be relied on include newcomers Kylie Reinholz and Kelly Kell.
According to Roarke, Kell has the inside track on replacing Kiliszek as the team's starting point
guard.
"The biggest thing we'll lose from last year's team is Barb, especially in terms of leadership,"
Roarke said. "In Barb's case, she had one of the highest basketball IQs I've ever seen as a
coach."
Roarke and assistant coach Max Payne emphasized that they still expect rebounding to be a
strength for the team as captain Alicia Bowman will step into a bigger role this season. They
also will look to push the ball up court more and get points in transition, though there will be a
learning curve with so many new faces.
"There are heightened expectations and I hope we can deliver, but at the end of the day we want
to win our conference first and get to the NCAA tournament and the preparation starts now,"
Roarke said.
The Bengals open their season at home against Alfred at 7 p.m. Friday at the Sports Arena.
Aubrey Gibert can be reached by email at gibert.record@live.com.
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