Expectations high for ECC women
From finishing just above .500 last season to being ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA Division II national poll to start this season, the Elgin Community College women’s basketball team is ready to make a statement for the 2011-2012 season.
Last year’s young team finished with a 16-14 record overall, but now the returning players know what they’re up against as they are older and more experienced.
“It’s a lot easier from a coaching and teaching standpoint,” said ECC head coach Jerry McLaughlin. “The returning players know what we’re talking about.”
The key returning players this year are co-captains Cassie Dumoulin (5-foot-8) and Bridget Dumoulin (5-8), both Hampshire products. The sophomores demonstrate the leadership qualities that McLaughlin looks for each season on and off the court, especially when it comes to academics.
“Bridget and Cassie lead by example by being on top of their studies and getting their homework done,” said McLaughlin. “Teachers will tell you that if student-athletes do well in the classroom, they’ll do well in their sport. They know how to manage their time and they know what it’s like to be part of a team.”
Cassie Dumoulin was the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference player of the year last season, averaging 22.9 points per game. The guard was fourth in the nation in scoring.
Sophomore center Dijon Smith (6-0) of South Elgin was in the Top 10 in the nation in rebounds, averaging 15 per game. The impressive numbers that the team put up last year will continue to improve, and that along with the team staying healthy will be the key as well.
“Like any other team, you have to stay healthy,” said McLaughlin. “We’re 8 to 9 deep on the team right now.”
Included in that depth is freshman Alex Dumoulin, Cassie’s sister, who at 5-8 plays bigger and commands the middle. Cassie and Alex Dumoulin scored 21 points each Tuesday in the Spartans’ season-opening win over Triton.
McLaughlin will also look for good things from sophomores Rosie Garza (Burlington Central) and Kaleigh Irwin (South Elgin) as well as freshmen Gianina Estocado (Hampshire), Megan Fasanella (Dundee-Crown), Carly Saraceno (Downers Grove South), Katie Moeller (Westminster Christian), Carol Garcia (Larkin) and Kayla Pflueger (Larkin).
The first major challenge for the ECC women’s team will be when the Spartans head to Florida on Nov. 11 for the Florida State women’s college tournament. The team raised their own money for the trip and they will face some tough Division I opponents, and McLaughlin knows that it will be a valuable learning experience.
“If we can win one or two of those games, our conference games will go smoother,” said McLaughlin. “We’re going down there to prepare ourselves. If we don’t win either game but we still play well, it’s a learning experience.”
McLaughlin highly encourages the fans to come out and support the Spartans in their first time opening a season ranked in school history.
“It should be a fun season, and we hope we can get a lot of people to come out,” he said. “We play basketball the way it’s supposed to be played, and we don’t charge admission for our games. It’s great family entertainment.”