When the Keene State College Women’s Basketball team opens what they hope will be a successful season this Friday afternoon, they will be playing under some new rules.
According to an NCAA.com article from June 10, 2015, there will now be a four-quarter format of ten minutes each instead of two 20-minute halves. In addition, there will be new rules in terms of the bonus foul shots.
Previously teams had a one and one opportunity when the seventh foul was committed each half. Once ten fouls occurred in a half teams reached the double bonus.
Under the new format teams will reach the bonus after five fouls each quarter.
Photo by Kendall Pope / Managing Executive Editor
However, at the end of each quarter the fouls will reset to zero. If the game goes into overtime after the fourth quarter the fouls will carry over.
If a team calls a timeout another rule change is that with under a minute left in the fourth quarter or overtime, teams will get to inbound the ball on their offensive side of the court. Finally, for post defense the NCAA.com article states, “The panel approved a new rule that allows defenders to place a forearm or an open hand with a bend in the elbow on an offensive post player with the ball whose back is to the basket.”
Women’s Basketball Head Coach Keith Boucher said he does not like the new rules.
“I think there is much more flow to two halves then there is to a four quarter game,” Boucher said. “We are going to be playing international rules. I have been fortunate to go to Europe three times and play these rules,” Boucher said.
Junior Captain Stephanie D’Annolfo said the team had a meeting with officials in regards to the new rules.
“We had a little meeting with ref officials and they explained everything in depth,” D’Annolfo said.
The team’s expectations for the upcoming season is to win the Little East Conference Championship. However, Boucher said he is looking for some other
things as well. “My expectation is the same everyday, that we work to get better,” Boucher said.
On the court Boucher likes what players he has for the upcoming season. “I think we have a good mix of upperclassmen and underclassman,” Boucher said.
The roster this season will be comprised of half the players being first-year players. D’Annolfo said that, even though you can tell they are first-years, they are holding their own. “Their IQs are great, they’re supportive, they have a lot of energy and a lot of skill. They have the potential to do very well in the LEC,” D’Annolfo said.
So far the workouts have gone well for the team on the off-season and the team has gelled. Senior Guard Kelsey Cognetta said, “I think this year we are doing good competing and making each other better. We have good chemistry with each other.”
Boucher said he hopes for a fast start but he wants it to be sustained throughout the season. “I don’t want us to start fast and then we sink. I want us to gradually get better because of the process and the standards that they [the players] are holding themselves too,” Boucher said.
Some players that Boucher sees as key pieces to this years team are Cognetta, D’Annolfo and his forwards Amanda Petrow and Sarah Kober.
Boucher said this of Cognetta, “She is a senior and a captain, one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached,” Boucher said. Boucher calls D’Annolfo the team’s “Swiss Army Knife,” as she can play multiple positions.
In addition, he said she is very good defensively and can play anywhere on the court.
Boucher also said that sophomore Sandi Purcell and first-year Emily McPadden will help the team shooting. Boucher discussed
McPaddon’s abilities, “She is a great three point threat. She has incredibly range.”
The Owls are coming off of a 18-11 record last season and a 8-6 mark in LEC. The Owls fell to Westfield State University in the Semifinals of the ECAC Tournament to conclude their season last March.
They will open the season this Friday afternoon against SUNY Cobleskill at 3 p.m. at Spaulding Gymnasium.
Brian can be contacted at bclemmenson@kscequinox.com
