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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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Navy’s Jennifer Coleman. (photo courtesy of Navy Athletics)
Navy’s Jennifer Coleman. (photo courtesy of Navy Athletics) /

Navy Mids
Last season: 10-19 (5-13, 9th)
Predicted finish this season: 8th

Key returners (last season’s stats)

G- Jennifer Coleman, 5’9, SO: 13.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG, team-leading 85 assists, 29.6 MPG, 29 starts, Third Team All-Patriot League, Patriot League All-Rookie Team

G-Sophie Gatzounas, 5’9, JR: 7.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 45.5% FG, 24.6 MPG, 26 starts

F-Laurel Jaunich, 6’0, SR: 4.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 42.9 FG%, 24.3 MPG, 26 starts

G-Kolbi Green, 5’4, SO: 8.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 23.0 MPG, 14 starts

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)
G- Bianca Roach, 5’7, SR: 6.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 29.5 MPG, 29 starts, Patriot League All-Defensive Team (graduated)

Newcomers
G- Mimi Schrader, 5’9, (Plymouth, MN), FR: A pass-first point guard from Wayzata High School, Class 4A All-State Honorable Mention.
G- Imani Edmonds, 5’8, (Hopewell, VA), FR: Led Hopewell High School to first state tournament appearance, named Second-Team All-State and First-Team All-Region in 2018. Played for Naval Academy Preparatory last year.

G- Nyah Garrison, 5’8, (Brookhaven, PA), FR:  Wing player with shooting range, played for Bonner-Prendergast, led team to District 12 4A title as a senior. Second-Team All-Catholic League in 2018, played for Naval Academy Preparatory last year.
F- Maggie Moore, 6’2, (Ruffsdale, PA), FR: Forward who can score inside and distribute out of the post, good interior defender. Led Southmoreland High School to first WPIAL appearance since 2008, 13.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG as a senior.

Head Coach: Stefanie Pemper, 12th season

Record at Navy: 207-141

Career NCAA record: 442-189 (235-48 at D3 Bowdoin College)

Pemper has made the Mids one of the most consistently successful programs in the league during her 11-year tenure, becoming the all-time winningest coach, winning three Patriot League championships, and collecting two coach-of-the-year accolades. She has guided Navy to at least the conference semi-finals in nine of her 11 seasons.  Last year, they stumbled to Pemper’s first losing season in Annapolis. Her successful track record as a coach suggests last year will be an aberration, but it may take another season of building to right the ship.

Key non-conference games:
Nov. 9- at Clemson
Nov. 11– at North Carolina
Nov. 22- at Vermont
Dec.19- v. George Mason
Dec. 30- at St. Joseph’s

Outlook: Navy’s place in the top half of the league is usually pretty secure–it has been since Coach Pemper took over the program 11 seasons ago.  But a pre-season fourth-place pick a year ago in the league’s poll never came to fruition, and the Mids landed with a thud in 9th place. A recruiting class of four has arrived in Annapolis.  But how much can it change Navy’s chances in a conference that appears much improved from top to bottom?

Navy will have to find a consistent scorers and the offense must improve to be competitive in conference play. They were last in league play with just 50.3 points per game and were the worst shooting team in the Patriot at 33.1% from the floor. They certainly have a dynamic player in sophomore guard Jennifer Coleman. She was named third team All-Patriot league after leading the Mids in scoring, rebounding, and assists. But she’ll need teammates to step up and hit some shots or it’s going to be another long season in Annapolis.

Navy will be tested early in conference play: their first three games are against the three most talented teams in the league—Lehigh, Holy Cross, and Bucknell. Coach Pemper and staff will have to get the squad’s new faces contributing early or Navy will be fighting to stay out of the lower half of the league.

Best Case Scenario: The recruiting class produces a couple of players who can score the ball and take the pressure off Coleman. Returning upperclassmen Sophie Gatzounas and Laurel Jaunich each have improved seasons and help solidify the line-up. Navy struggles against the top of the league but claims enough wins against the rest of the conference to place in the middle of the pack.

Worst Case Scenario: It’s another challenging year in Annapolis. The offense fails to improve and Pemper can’t find a consistent line-up for either end of the floor. The new recruits aren’t quite ready to make an impact and Navy finds itself in fight to avoid the basement.

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