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

10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT…..

HEAD COACH BRYAN WHITTEN

1.      He has met Keanua Reeves, Dave Matthews & Kevin Bacon.
2.     He has a pin in his shoulder from shoulder surgery.
3.       He proposed to his wife singing on stage in front of 1000 people.
4.       In 5^th grade, he finished 4^th in a state-wide speech/public speaking contest.
5.       When he was 8, he got an angel food cake pan stuck on his head and the fire department had to come cut it off.
6.       He bartended in Dewey Beach, DE for 18 years.
7.       As a freshman in high school, he ran a 5 mile road race in 32:30.
8.       In college he won 1^st place in a regional collegiate marketing competition called the Dean’s Trophy.
9.       He hates Roller Coasters.
10.   He went to 4 proms his senior year in high school.