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News Release

MEDIA DAY QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH RANDY MONROE AND PHIL STERN

11/1/2005

Head Women’s Basketball Coach Phil Stern

Opening Comment:

“For the first time since we’ve been in the America East, we return a lot of experience, we return upperclassmen. And I think we’re real prepared for the America East, where in the last two years we were kind of feeling our way through it. So we’re excited about this season. We return five starters, but actually eight returning players have started games for us, and there’s no substitute for that experience. We really like our incoming class. They’ll contribute right away, but as opposed to the last two years, they will not have to be thrown right into the fire as starters in their first collegiate game. We’re going to play a little different style this year, stick within our half-court offense, but maybe let our kids push the ball a little bit.”

On the parity in the America East:

“Hopefully we can help the parity in the league. Last year we lost nine conference games by less than 10 points, so we’ve been in the games. Last year the ball didn’t bounce the right way for us a couple of times, but our kids gained great experience and were put in some difficult positions and they got through the situations. I think we’ll help the parity a little bit. Hartford certainly separated themselves from everybody else. And then I think you flip a coin after that.”

On senior guard Matea Pender:

“As a fifth-year senior, she’s even better now, putting the ball on the floor a little more, getting to the basket, not only relying on shooting the three. She’s a 6-1 two-guard and creates a lot of match-up problems, and with her and Brittnie (Hughes) in the back court, along with Sharri Rhode now playing the three instead of the four, and we’ll finally have a couple of 6-2 kids up front, I think we’ve finally caught up with the league as far as height and speed is concerned.”

On the team’s depth on the bench:

“I think that we’re finally comfortable with our bench. We’ve got three young ladies that started games at one point or another last year, and a couple of freshmen and a junior college transfer that can contribute right away. Mackenzie Butler is a 6-2 forward for us out of Reno, Nev., who is an excellent rebounder who can start but luckily for us finally won’t have to. Stacy Hunt is a 5-7 guard from right here in Maryland who might be even quicker than Brittnie Hughes and gives us depth at the point guard position. And then we have a junior college transfer, Nicole Dixon, who can play the four or the five for us. So we are excited about our depth and not having to play kids for 40 minutes for the first time in two years.”

Head Men’s Basketball Coach Randy Monroe

Opening Comment:

“You can only look up (in the 2004-05 final standings) and continue to motivate your guys and let them know that we have a lot of work to do, but at the same time we have a tremendous opportunity to do something that most people don’t think we can do, and that’s to compete in this league and do very well in it. I think this year in the America East Conference, it’s a big change now. Other than Albany, which has a great deal of talent with their four returning starters, I think the league is pretty much open. It’s going to be exciting, and we’re looking forward to it.”

On sophomore guard Brian Hodges:

“First of all, he’s one of the most humble young men that I’ve ever been around. You would never think that he had a freshman year the way he did, especially in the second half. Sometimes I have to remind him that he’s a pretty good player and that he can shoot the basketball. He’s one of the few guys on the team that has the green light to shoot the ball because he’s a very good shooter. I tell him, ‘Every time you release the ball, I think it’s going in, so I want you shooting the basketball.’ He’s coming along. I think the thing he has to improve on is his defense, and we talked about that. I’ve been on him quite a bit about it. When you talk about playing defense, you don’t have to have a lot of talent to do that. You just have to have the will, the desire to do it. He’s responded very well. We’re definitely expecting big things from Brian this year. I think that he can have a very good career here at UMBC. As I said, he’s very humble, and sometimes I have to remind him that he’s a good player. He likes to sit in the background. The spotlight is not something that he’s too crazy about.”

On the loss of Rob Gogerty and Andrew Feeley:

“Losing Rob Gogerty and Andrew Feeley, they’re two big losses, there’s not doubt about that. However, I think we do have some young talent, and I’m impressed with their progress thus far. I think Jay Greene is doing a phenomenal job (at guard), along with Thomas Young and Matt Spadafora. I think Chris Pugh will step into (Gogerty’s guard) role and do a commendable job. I think (big men) Michael Housman, Uwem Eshietedoho and Chris Timba are different types of players that will bring a new look to our team.”