BCC women would like '08 to copy '07
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
When Brookdale Community College's women's basketball team plays its first game of the new year on Saturday at Sussex, head coaches Marianne Campacci and Joanne Cobb hope that 2008 looks a lot like 2007.

The Blues went to the National Junior College Athletic Association's Division III National Championships back in March 2007 where they finished sixth and started the 2007-08 campaign at 8-1 overall and were undefeated in the Garden State Athletic Conference.

"We're very pleased," said Campacci. "We're playing very well. We have six sophomores who understand our philosophy and they have jelled with the freshmen."

Because the sophomores and freshmen have clicked, the Blues are a very deep team. They can rotate their players without a drop-off in talent, and it allows Campacci and Cobb to be flexible. The Blues can play end to end, or half court, press and trap teams, or play zone.

The Blues are currently ranked 11th in the country and moving up.

One of Brookdale's signature wins this year was 65-53 over Division II Mercer. It was the first time that the Blues (Division III) had beaten Mercer.

Itwas one of their sophomores, the 5-foot- 10 Sasha Fabrizio (Brick Township), who was the difference that night. She owned the glass, pulling down 25 rebounds.

Fabrizio is averaging 13.56 rebounds a game (fourth best in the nation).

"She has a nose for the ball," noted Campacci. "It's a natural ability. She has claws for hands. When she gets her hands on the ball, it's hers."

Fabrizio is giving the Blues a doubledouble each night, averaging 11.56 points a game.

It's not too early to draw some comparisons between this year's teams and last year's GSAC and Region XIX champions. There is one big positive difference, point guard.

"We needed a point guard," said Campacci.

This year, they have one in freshman Kitora Jones. Assist and point are up and the offense is very versatile.

"She's running the show," Campacci said of Jones. "We're getting more assists from everybody. We're moving the ball against the press without putting the ball on the floor.

"Everyone is getting their hands on the ball," she added.

Jones leads the team in scoring (15.33) and 3-pointers (11). She is averaging 2.56 assists and 2.33 steals a game.

Maria Locicero (Mater Dei) has been doing a fine job as the team's second point guard.

Olivia Triano (Keyport) has been doing it all. She recently had a tripledouble.

The small forward can slash to the basket, score off jump sets and step back and shoot the three. She is second

on the team in scoring (14.33) and leads the team in assists (29 for a 3.22 per-game average) and is second in rebounding (6.78).

Erica Hoffman (Middletown South) is a shooting guard who does so much more. She is second in assists (2.67) and leads the team in steals (2.56).

Keisha Taylor (Point Pleasant Borough) is another versatile forward who can post-up or play beyond the arc. She is second in 3-pointers behind Jones with 10 and is averaging 8.0 points a game.

Brookdale has been doing all this without Jamie Biddle (Howell), last year's Region MVP. A quad injury is expected to keep her out until mid-January.When she returns, the team will have another 5-foot- 10 forward who can play inside or outside.

Lisa James (Manchester) just recently returned to the lineup and showed her value by scoring 20 points off the bench in her first game back.

Brookdale's first home game of '08 is Jan. 19 against Bergen (3 p.m.). That is followed by a home game with Atlantic Cape on Jan. 22 (7 p.m.) and Gloucester, Jan. 24 (5 p.m.).