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2019-2020 Patriot League preview: Can Bucknell hold onto the top spot?

By Todd Goclowski

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Sue Troyan of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks looks on during a women's college basketball game against the American University Eagles at Bender Arena on February 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Sue Troyan of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks looks on during a women's college basketball game against the American University Eagles at Bender Arena on February 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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COLGATE Player is RACHEL THOMPSON. Photo credit to Yvonne Landis.
COLGATE Player is RACHEL THOMPSON. Photo credit to Yvonne Landis. /

Colgate Raiders
Last season: 12-17 (8-10, 6th)
Predicted finish this season: 6th

Key returners (last season’s stats)
G- Rachel Thompson, 5’10, SR: 12.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 49.7% FG, 26.6 MPG, 29 starts, team-high 94 assists, Second Team All-Patriot League, Patriot League All-Defensive Team
G- Tega Graham, 5’11, SR: 7.7 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 33 starts, team-best 37.2% 3PT, 21.9 MPG, 17 starts

F-Haley Greer, 5’10, SR: 7.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, team-best 42 3PT FGs made, 65 assists, 24.3 MPG, 21 starts

G-Nia Ahart, 5’7, JR: 5.6PPG, 2.3 RPG, 35.7% 3PT, 30-84 from 3pt, 27.1 MPG, 23 starts

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)
F- Mylah Chandler, 5’10: 7.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 51.3% FG, 48 assists, 43 steals, 26.0 MPG, 29 starts (graduated)
F- Summer King, 6’1: 8.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 43.2 FG%, 16.4 MPG, 13 starts (graduated)
G- Chelsey Koren, 5’10: 1.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG,13.6 MPG (graduated)

G- Mackenzie Carroll, 5’9: 3.1 PPG, 0.5 RPG, 34.5 3PT FG%, 20-58 from 3PT, 8.5 MPG (graduated)

Newcomers
G- Alexa Brodie, 5’6, (Chalfont, PA), FR: Point guard averaged 16.7 PPG her senior season. Finished career as all-time leading scorer for Central Bucks South with 1,302 points. Twice named All-State Second Team.
G- Jenna Paul, 5’10, (Toms River, NJ), FR: Senior wing averaged 21.7 PPG and 9.3 RPG. Finished her career at Toms River North as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,958 points. Two-time A-South Player of the Year.
F- Holly Lueken, 6’1, (Downers Grove, IL), FR: The wing-forward is a three-point shooting threat, skilled shot-blocker. Class 4A Honorable mention All-State as a junior and senior, 4-year All-Conference honors for Downers Grover South, 1,000-point scorer.

F- Geddy Rerko, 6’0, (Batavia, IL), FR: Three-time All-Conference Honorable Mention for Batavia, athletic forward with three-point range, missed 12 games in middle of her senior campaign with a sprained MCL.

Head Coach: Bill Cleary, 4th season

Record at Colgate: 29-60

Career NCAA record: 249-214 (164-69 at D2 Bloomsburg, 56-85 at D2 Wilmington DE)

Cleary enters his fourth season right in the middle of familiar territory: successfully rebuilding a program. Colgate is coming off a 12-win season, posting the most wins since 2004-2005. The signs of improvement are not new to Cleary.

He turned around a struggling Wilmington team before moving on to D2 Bloomsburg to lead the program to its most successful run in school history, culminating in a conference championship and NCAA berth. There is already renewed enthusiasm building for this season after nearly pulling off an upset at Lehigh in the Patriot League playoffs a year ago.

The Raiders have seen their share of ups and downs in the turnaround, but as Cleary adds another recruiting class, the rebuild is trending upward at Colgate. Under Cleary, they are now a team to watch in a crowded field of teams fighting for a spot in the top half of a competitive conference.

Key non-conference games:

Nov. 5- at NJIT

Nov. 16- v. Yale
Nov. 27– at Northwestern
Dec. 8- at Alabama

Outlook: The team returns a trio of key seniors led by do-it-all guard Rachel Thompson.  The second-team All-Patriot league selection will look to classmates Tega Graham and Haley Greer to continue the growth they showed down the stretch of last season. They will need to elevate their games to help the team to move into the top five.

Cleary and his staff brought in a very good recruiting class that will once again have them grabbing some surprising wins this season.  Look for incoming freshman Alexa Brodie to make an impact right away at the point guard spot. She could be a starter sooner rather than later.

Keep an eye on the Raiders’ league opener on the road against American. Last season opener, they pulled an early upset with a win over Holy Cross on the road, 70-67. Another upset win to start league play, combined with a friendly early-season schedule in conference, and more than a few teams may be looking up at Colgate in the standings.

Best Case Scenario: The Raiders get an early jump in league play and build some confidence heading into games against this season’s favorites.  After grabbing an upset win or two, Colgate finds itself sitting in fourth-place in a very competitive race.

Last season, they fell to Lehigh on the road in the quarterfinals, 78-68. In that game, Colgate held a lead with under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter before the Mountain Hawks turned it around. A healthy team and a recruiting class that develops well through the season may give Colgate a chance at redemption in the quarterfinals this year. Semi-finals, here they come.

Worst Case Scenario: Rebounding remains an issue they can’t overcome.  Colgate surrendered the most offensive rebounds in the league last year and they can’t find a fix this year either. The freshman class is good but not yet consistent enough to make a difference in the win-loss column. A much-improved team is growing but this year isn’t the breakout season. Another close loss in the conference tournament.

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