With hoops season just around the corner, the men’s and women’s basketball programs are looking to build on the foundations they began establishing last season.
The women’s team struggled in the win-loss column last winter, but it returns three of the top four scorers from 2023-24 in Destini Ward (11.4 ppg), Yanessa Boyd (7.1) and Julianna Gibson (5.0).
Gibson led last year’s squad in rebounding (4.9 rpg).
“For us, a big focus is not focusing too much on last year while obviously remembering what that felt like,” said Ward, a junior from Baltimore.
“With a more experienced team this year, we want to channel that energy into making an NEC Championship appearance this year.”
Saint Francis returns 10 players from last year’s squad and this continuity should lead to improved team chemistry.
Ward earned NEC Prime Performer honors three times last season. She started the first 22 games of 2023-24 before missing the final eight due to an injury.
The women’s team opens the 2024-25 season on Monday, Nov. 4, hosting NJIT at 7 p.m. at the Stokes Center.
On the men’s side, head coach Rob Krimmel’s team also looks to take advantage of the experience that it gained last winter.
Sophomores Bobby Rosenberger (9.0 ppg), Ace Talbert (8.3 ppg) and Aidan Harris (4.0 ppg) all started last season. Rosenberger knocked down 39 three-pointers in 2023-24 and shot 31.5 percent from three-point range.
Talbert hit 37 treys during his freshman season while shooting 38.1 percent from three-point range. He scored in double figures 12 times a season ago and led the team in assists with 64 (2.2 apg).
Harris finished first on last year’s team in steals (30), second in blocks (12) and third in rebounds (4.6 rpg).
The men return 11 members of last year’s squad and welcome nine newcomers to the program in 2024-25.
The team opens the season with five straight games on the road, beginning at Dayton on Monday, Nov. 4.
The non-conference schedule for Krimmel’s team includes games at Clemson (Nov. 8), Penn State (Nov. 12), Georgetown (Nov. 23) and Maryland (Dec. 17).
The home-opener is against Penn State-Schuylkill on Nov. 20.
