2011-12 Season in Review – Expect Bright Future Ahead for Lady Lakers

CANANDAIGUA, NY. – The 2011-12 National Junior College Athletic Association Region III Division III women's basketball season was one that saw the Finger Lakes Community College Lady Lakers experience a sustained level of growth. The Lady Lakers, under second year head coach Bill Henry, finished the season with an overall record of 14-15 (6-7 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference (MSAC)). Finger Lakes came within one game of finishing with a .500 record this season behind a team that casted all freshmen. Coach Henry believes that this group of players can carry the team to a level of sustained success in 2012-13.

The Lady Lakers season highlights consisted of winning 3 of their first 4 games, defeating Alfred State College (Division II team) at home on 11/30 (by a score of 62-61), and a three-game win streak that put them at 13-10 in the win loss column late in the season (with wins over Tompkins-Cortland Community College (CC) on the road on 1/28 (72-56), Broome CC at home on 2/1 (67-45), and Jefferson CC on 2/4 at home (85-55)).

Finger Lakes dawned two of the nation's top guards this season, Cassandra Strait (Dundee, NY) and Kelli McCauley (Irondequoit, NY). Both players reached the top 30 in individual scoring in 2011-12. Strait finished 11th, averaging 20.1 points per game (ppg) in 29 games played. McCauley finished 27th, averaging 15.9 ppg in 29 games played. In addition to placing 10th in scoring in the nation, Strait was 14th in assists, averaging 4.3 assists per game.

Forward Britany Monpere (Palmyra, NY) was also a standout player and key factor in the team's success this season. She provided the Lady Lakers with a stable force in the paint, averaging 11 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 26 games played. Teammate Jordan Smith (Lyons, NY) proved to be a great asset as well at the forward position. She played with great tenacity and was consistently a solid defender of the ball on defense. Forward Marissa Congdon (Canandaigua, NY) added quality depth in the low post for Finger Lakes this season. She averaged 6.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 27 games played.

The Lady Lakers will look to return most of if not all of their roster from this season in 2012-13. If this team remains healthy next year and continues to build chemistry, expect them to produce several more wins than they achieved this season and also look for them to make a serious run at capturing the conference title.