Thanksgiving Weekend - Family Time and a W!

(L to R) Tara Lonergan, Jessie Kaufman, Kayla Grossett
Kelly Guerriero, Ashley Christie, Sandra Andresson

To start off I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and say how honored I was to be chosen to talk about Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving means something different to everyone. Thanksgiving is of course my favorite holiday due to the fact I get to spend time with my family and eat as much food as I want. This holiday however means much more then sweet potatoes, turkey and pumpkin pie to me. It is a time to reflect on all the things in my life I am blessed with and thankful for.



I have so much to be thankful for. First off, I am most thankful for my family. They are my strongest support system and are here for me no matter what. They have always supported me throughout my life with ever decision I have made. I love them, and I am truly blessed to have them in my life. I am also thankful for my team here at the Mount. My teammates started out as strangers, became my friends, and will be my family forever. I love each and every one of them and I am very honored to call them my teammates. I am also blessed for my coaches, who have taught me so much here on and off the court. Without them I would not be here today. They gave me a huge opportunity here at the Mount by being able to play for them. I am thankful to be playing for them and I am very happy I chose the Mount. I am extremely blessed and I thank God for giving me everything I have in my life.



This Thanksgiving ended up being a little different then the ones my family has had in the past. Usually my Thanksgiving just consists of my parents and siblings eating a lot of food, fighting over the wishbone, and watching football. However, this year we added a few more guests. My teammates Ashley Christie, Kelly Guerriero, Kayla Grossett, Tara Lonergan, and Sandra Andresson all came to family Thanksgiving this year. For those who do not know, I am one of 6 kids. Therefore there were 13 people here in one household. Needless to say, there was A LOT of food. We continued the day by talking about all the things we were thankful for in our lives. We ate a whole bunch of turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. We watched the Cowboys win (which my parents were not too happy about), and we all just enjoyed the rest of the day with each other. I am really happy and thankful that I have such close teammates who made this Thanksgiving feel like all the others. Everyone felt right at home. It was a great day and one I will truly remember for a while when it comes to family holidays.

Goofy Pic!

Tip Off Countdown - Selina Mann

I'm excited about the game tomorrow. It will definitely feel good to be out on the court again and see what will come out of our pre-season preparations. I expect a WIN in NY and a good start to the new season.

Practices have been going pretty well and would like to see progress as the upcoming game approaches. It will be interesting to see how we all come together in a game situation. We get along and have been working hard together in practice so hopefully it will show on tomorrow.

Selina at the MSM WBB Banquet last year

Tip Off Countdown - Coach Whitten

I can't believe we tip off our season this Friday at Binghamton.  It feels like school just started, how can we be playing a game already??  Practice has gone by so fast.  This team is full of energy.  I think we have the potential to do some really good things this season.  Our 1st full recruiting class are now juniors and have some great experience.  We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead of us. 

    Senior Sandra Andresson has been a 2 year starter and is looking at a strong senior year.  Sandra will be playing both guard and forward positions this season.

    Our 2 juniors, Selina Mann and Tara Lonergan, were both recently voted captain by their teammates.  Selina was 6th in the country in steals per game last season and is playing at a very high level.  Tara had a very solid sophomore year and with the graduation of Mary Dunn last year, Tara will be looking to make a greater impact.  Sydney Henderson, a junior with sophomore eligibilty, is coming back after missing last season with an ACL injury.  With continued hard work, Syd has a chance to really impact our team this year. 

    Our sophomore class had the opportunity to get alot of minutes last year as we struggled through injnuries.  Guard Ashley Christie had super breakout season as she averaged 9.6 pts/game and was the 2nd leading freshman scorer in ther NEC.  Forward Jessie Kaufman led the NEC in 3 pt FG% and will be seeing a bigger role this season.  Ceneter Rachel Mathews missed most of last year with compartment syndrome and has shown signs of being an important contributor in the post this season.  Guards Kayla Grossett and Kelly a Guerriero each received solid minutes last year and will be counted on for bigger contributions this season.

    Our incoming freshmen, guard Jenn Carney, forwards Mariah Powell and Mel Mocniak, and post Lindsay Williams, have been working hard and as the season progresses and their comfort level rises, will provide additional depth. 

    I want to give a shout out my coaching staff, who I am blessed to have.  I talk to our team about "being invested" in our program alot, and our assistants are "deeply invested" in our program and players.  Denise King and Lisa Steele are each beginning their 3rd year, while Bri Gauthier is beginning her 2nd year on staff, but 6th overall at the Mount, as she was a 4 year member of the team.  They do an amazing job and have really allowed me to grow as a coach.  I hope they feel they have grown and matured during their time here as well.        

  I hope you will find the time to come out to a game, home or away. Our players have been working hard and are great young women and could really benefit from your support. Alums, students, faculty, and staff are always welcome!!!!  

MOUNT PRIDE!!!!

Coach Whit

Halloween Wrap Up

While everyone is still digesting all of their Halloween Candy (.and still munching on what is left over from Trick-or-Treating), we are going to wrap up all of the shenanigans that went on with our team Halloween Weekend. The weekend was full of candy, cupcakes, birthdays, and of course, basketball.


To start the weekend, the coaches brought in cupcakes for the girls. They were appropriately decorated and made with Funfetti cake batter.

Delicious!

Next, the girls had Halloween parties to attend on campus throughout the weekend. Here’s a look at what some of the girls wore.

Our practices this weekend went well. The girls did not have any “tricks” up their sleeve and it was a “treat” to get some good competition in. The Mount practiced well. We showed some things that everyone liked, and we identified some things we want to work on before our first official game. The big surprised of the day happened off the court. We had our first snow of the school year. It was the first October snowfall in 32 years!

View of Campus From The ARCC in Saturday's Snow

On Sunday, the girls went back to the lab. Practice went well, and the girls had a special guest appear.

Everyone’s favorite Teletubby – Tinky Winky!!!.............

Oh wait, it was just Coach Whitten. He surprised the girls by dressing up and previewing his costume. We also had a pumpkin Decorating contest. The girls were divided into four teams and told to decorate little pumpkins. Below is what we got back....

4th Place

3rd Place

2nd Place

1st Place

Halloween day the girls had off from practice. It was a day to unwind, rest, and catch up on schoolwork. Coach Whitten was able to spend Halloween with his family and got to wear his costume for real this time, and he went trick-or-treating with his two sons, Jamie and Brayden. 

Jamie, Coach Whitten, Coach Whitten's Wife Angie, and Brayden

The assistants did not have any special costumes to wear this weekend, but on Monday they did catch a brief break from being Whit’s Angels : )

Coach Gauthier, Coach Steele, and Coach King in their everyday costumes as Whit's Angels