BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University women's basketball team has built its program into a perennial powerhouse in recent years.  Coming off an appearance in the NCAA tournament and returning four starters, the Huskies approach the upcoming 2012-13 season with expectations of continuing and building on that high level of success.
 
For the second straight year, Bloomsburg will have a target on its back as it was picked to win the Eastern Division in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Poll.  It was the heavy favorite, receiving seven of the eight first-place votes.
 
Bloomsburg put together an impressive 26-6 record last season including a 12-game winning streak taken all the way to the PSAC Championship game.  The 26 wins were tied for the second-most in program history, and Bloomsburg's 18-4 record in conference-play marked the most single-season PSAC victories in school history.
 
The Huskies earned their first trip to the NCAA championships in 11 years last season when they earned an at-large berth in the Atlantic Region.  It was the programs' seventh NCAA postseason appearance in school history. 
 
Head coach Bill Cleary returns for his fifth season at the helm of the women's basketball program.  At Bloomsburg, Cleary has an impressive 75-39 record in four seasons and is confident in the recognition his team has received early on.
 
“It's great recognition for our seniors and what they have accomplished here,” Cleary commented on BU's top pick in the preseason poll.  “It speaks volumes to their hard work and dedication to the program, and also to the chemistry we have on this team.  We've been fortunate to be able to build and go a step further each year, and that has a lot to do with the make-up and chemistry of the program.”
 
Cleary has no reason not to feel assured on the upcoming season with his group coming back this season.  Bloomsburg returns 11 players, welcomes six newcomers, but loses one player who played a significant role in helping build the program into what it is today.
 
Kelsey  Gallagher graduated last year as the third-leading scorer in school history.  The two-time All-American and PSAC East Athlete of the Year helped guide Bloomsburg to two straight PSAC East championships after a 10-year draught.
 
However, the Huskies bring back four starting seniors who will be sure the team doesn't skip a beat without Gallagher in the mix.  Dana Wieller (Bethlehem/Liberty), Kayla Oxenrider (Ashland/Tri-Valley), Alyssa Flanagan (Freeland/Hazleton Area), and Lauren Ellis (Bangor/Bangor) all enter their fourth season in the maroon and gold and bring a tremendous amount of leadership to this year's team.
 
“It's like having multiple coaches on the floor,” Cleary praised of his senior leadership.  “It's great because they can speak to what we are trying to accomplish as a team and are able to communicate it to the newer players as well.”
 
Wieller is an All-PSAC East first team returnee and a 2012-13 preseason All-American after ranking third in the conference in scoring last season at 17.5 points per game.  She enters the season fifth on the all-time scoring list at Bloomsburg with 1,458 points.  Wieller's 264 three-pointers are a Bloomsburg record and fourth-most in PSAC history.
 
The Bethlehem native was a very efficient shooter for the Huskies last season. Along with shooting 38.8 percent from three-point range, good for second on the team, Wieller was second in the conference in free throw percentage at 85.7.  She scored at least 20 points 10 times and scored in double figures in 29 of her 32 games played including a season-high 32 against West Chester.
 
Oxenrider was a second team selection in the PSAC and was third on the team in scoring at 12.2 per clip.  She is the 20th player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark as she enters the season with 1,003 career points.
 
A 5-10 guard from Ashland, Oxenrider shot 41.3 percent from the field and made 37 three-pointers for a team that shot a conference-best 37.4 percent from beyond the arc.  She was second on the team with 86 assists and ranks 15th in school history with 192 in her career.
 
Flanagan is the captain of this year's team. The point guard finished third in the PSAC in assists (134) and was sixth in assists per game (4.2) in her junior campaign.  For her career, Flanagan rates third in school history with 389 career assists.  She dished out a season-high eight against California (PA) last season, averaged 4.9 points per contest, and was third on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game.
 
Ellis was Bloomsburg's leading rebounder at 6.9 per game last season.  The 6-0 forward notched seven double-doubles and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds against Seton Hill.  Ellis averaged seven points per clip and shot 49.7 percent from the field.  She scored a season-best 19 at Millersville and was one of BU's top defensive options, blocking 27 shots.
 
Bloomsburg returns a trio of juniors who all expect to see significant playing time both off the bench and possibly in the starting lineup.  Catherine Noack (Bethlehem/Liberty)'s accurate long distance shooting lifted the Huskies to be one of the top scoring teams in the PSAC, scoring 73.9 points per game for third in the conference. Noack's 56 three-pointers placed second on the team last year and her 44.8 shooting percentage from downtown was the top mark in the PSAC.
 
Danielle Derr (Dresner/Upper Dublin) played in 30 of BU's 32 games last season.  In just 11 minutes per game, Derr averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.  Her tough play inside should result in a great deal of playing time.
 
Brianna Dudeck (Sugarloaf/Hazleton) played in 24 games a season ago and managed to grab 10 steals while averaging just three minutes per game.  She scored a career-high 15 points and had three assists and five steals against Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
 
“The thing I like about our juniors right now is that they have the mindset and work ethic of our seniors, that nothing will be given to them and they have to earn everything,” Cleary said.  “Catherine gives us our staple 'four-guard' look, and she has shown a great work ethic in her time here.  Danielle has worked hard and had a very uplifting and promising scrimmage against Drexel.  Brianna can be one of our best defensive players and never takes a play off.”
 
Sophomore Marla Simmons (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) played in all 32 games last season and averaged 3.4 points per game.  She scored a season-high 15 points against Edinboro and nearly notched a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds against Cheyney.
 
Freshman Adreana Sadowski (Fleetwood/Brandywine Heights) redshirted last season and gives the Huskies depth in what should be another highly competitive season.
 
“You've got to bring your best every night,” Cleary said on the competitive nature of the PSAC.  “There are no easy games in this league and there is a lot of parity in our conference this season.”
 
Sophomore's Denali Althouse (Lansdale/Christopher Dock) and Maggie Borski (Philadelphia/Nazareth Academy) each saw time in their freshman seasons.  Althouse grabbed 15 rebounds in 14 games for the Huskies, as Borski played in 30 games and dished out 55 assists, good for fifth on the team.
 
Six newcomers join the team this season.  Sophomore transfers Jocelyn Ford (Lansing, NY/Lansing) (LeMoyne College) and Nicole Tamanosky (Boston University) each played college ball last year.  Ford brings a guard mentality to the Huskies and is a very skilled player with a high basketball IQ.  Tamanosky can give BU some aggressiveness underneath and get some crucial rebounds that will be needed along the way.
 
Freshmen Nicole Southcott (Downingtown/Coatesville), Taylor Kaminski (Philadelphia/Archbishop Wood), Lauren Nealon (Ambler/Archbishop Wood), and Erica Maciejewski (Red Lion/Red Lion) will all look to make an impact in their first season in the maroon and gold. Kaminsky and Nealon can each present matchup problems for opponents with their smooth styles of play, as Southcott and Maciejewski have each worked hard through preseason camp as well.
 
“With everyone coming in, there's always a learning curve coming into our program,” Cleary said of his incoming class.  “We've seen progression with all the girls through preseason camp as they could earn some significant playing time this season.”
 
Bloomsburg opens play on Friday, Nov. 9 at Nelson Field House against Chestnut Hill.  Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.