AylaBrown.com - Forum

She plays forward and she's a gaurd. She's really good at defense, I would not want to be gaurding her. I go to all of their home games and watch all the aways on the computer and tv. I'm only 15 minutes down the road from BC, so I go there a lot. She's a really good player, but she's my second favorite. My first favorite is Stef Murphy because she's my cuzn.

Does anyone know Stefanie Murphy?

If Ayla's first impression was that Coach Crawley was tall, then she must be a giant!

Crawley at her post
New BC coach is teaching by example

By Monique Walker, Globe Staff | November 13, 2008

Sylvia Crawley met her team moments before she was introduced as Boston College women's basketball coach in April. Her players sat in the audience as Crawley fielded questions at a press conference about her move from Ohio University to a dream job in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The 2007-08 season closed weeks earlier with the Eagles finishing fifth in the ACC after being picked 11th in preseason rankings.

What Crawley knew of this group was limited to what she saw on video and read. Per NCAA rules, she couldn't take the team to the court right away. Instead, the upcoming months were used to learn personalities.

"That was frustrating for me and them as well, however it ended up being a good thing because the players got to come to the office and get to know my coaching staff and I off the court," Crawley said.

Crawley quickly discovered she had a team of huggers. Team-building exercises revealed some were natural leaders and others excelled if they were challenged.

By the time September arrived, Crawley and her staff had established a foundation that allowed them to run efficient practices and discover the on-court talents of this team of 13.

Anyone around the program last season noticed the combination of forward Stefanie Murphy (6 feet 4 inches) and center Carolyn Swords (6-6), who towered in the paint, hoarding baskets and rebounds. The duo are an exciting match for Crawley, who at 6-5 played post at North Carolina and then professionally in the ABL and WNBA.

"I want to teach them every trick in the book that I know to all the little tidbits I learned abroad," said Crawley, whose professional career also included stops in France and Spain.

The two are expected to improve after stellar rookie seasons. Murphy, the ACC rookie of the year, averaged a team-high 14.5 points per game and shot 57 percent from the field. Swords, a Lincoln-Sudbury graduate, was the conference's rookie of the week four times and was third in the nation in field goal percentage (64.2), the best of any freshman in the country. And each averaged at least seven rebounds a game.

The opportunity to play for a coach who was a post player has been a treat for Murphy and Swords.

Within the first few practices, Murphy said, "I think I learned more moves than I have in quite some time."

Murphy and Swords played against each other in pick-up games throughout the summer, and when it came time to practice together they each could appreciate the other's strengths. A good pass became more reason to celebrate than a finishing move.

When they began working with Crawley, they agreed they were able to build on what previous coaches had taught them.

"I feel like she has perspective and understands how both the guards and post work," Swords said. "She's creating great awareness between the positions because of all the knowledge she has."

Crawley came to BC after two years at Ohio University, where she led the Bobcats to a 20-13 record last season. It was the most wins for the program since 1994-95.

Crawley also draws on an extensive playing career. At North Carolina, she was part of the 1994 national championship team and was MVP of the Final Four.

Crawley credits that season with helping her develop into a more well-rounded player. As the team's freshman point guard was getting comfortable leading seniors, Crawley said she became more vocal and absorbed game details.

"Because of that I learned how to lead on the floor," Crawley said. "I was a center, but I had the mentality of a guard."

When her playing days ended, Crawley took to the coaching ranks. Among the role models for post players who went on to coach is Anne Donovan, who was a center at Old Dominion and most recently coached Team USA to gold at the Beijing Olympics.

"I think you see more point guards get coaching jobs because point guards have to learn what everyone does on a play, not just their position," Crawley said.

Just because Crawley can identify with post players doesn't mean she doesn't have a rapport with her guards. Crawley prefers an up-tempo style and wants her guards to take advantage of open shots.

"We will always have very good post players here," Crawley said. "This is going to be a hotbed for post players . . . You can't go wrong when you surround good post players with shooters."

There are plenty of guards for BC to choose from this season. Brittanny Johnson, Victoria Jones, and Corey Rusin return, and they are the Eagles' only seniors.

Johnson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee her sophomore season, but came back last year to start 23 of 30 games and average 6.4 points per game.

Junior Ayla Brown of Wrentham may be asked to do a little more inside after averaging 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds as a sophomore. Jaclyn Thoman will be one of the primary players at the point after her team-leading 122 assists last season.

"Everyone is going to be watching me and Carolyn and our post game in general because that's how we beat most teams last year," Murphy said. "Now, if the focus is on us more, our guards are going to be more open and they're going to get the shots."

Boston College opens its season tomorrow against St. Francis (Pa.), a chance for the Eagles to show what they are capable of this season, according to Crawley.

"I think the beauty of this team is they can all contribute in their own unique ways," Crawley said. "As individuals, we're just average, but as a team we have an opportunity to be a really good team."

2008-09 women's preview

November 13, 2008

Boston College
Last season: 21-12 (7-7, tied for fifth in ACC).
Coach: Sylvia Crawley (first season).
Starting five: G Victoria Jones (1.4 ppg), G Mickel Picco (9.5), G Corey Rusin (2.9), F Stefanie Murphy (14.5), C Carolyn Swords (13.7).
Key reserves: G Brittanny Johnson (6.6), G/F Ayla Brown (7.3), G Jaclyn Thoman (4.3).
Outlook: The Eagles return a majority of their roster, including six sophomores. Crawley is encouraging her players to be more versatile this season and run a more up-tempo game. Point guard will be handled by committee.

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
1. North Carolina: Rashanda McCants (15.8 ppg) leads three starters returning to the nation's highest-scoring team last season (86.3).
2. Maryland: Guard Kristi Toliver is a preseason All-American and is three assists shy of the school record (584).
3. Duke: The Blue Devils return 91.2 percent of the rebounding, led by center Chante Black (7.1).
4. Virginia: Monica Wright (17.6) is the top returning scorer and was a second-team All-ACC choice last season.
5. Florida State: A recruiting class ranked among the nation's top 10 will provide depth.
6. Georgia Tech: Three starters are back, led by Jacqua Williams (118 steals last season).
7. Boston College: Expect a faster pace under new coach Sylvia Crawley.
8. North Carolina State: The Wolfpack bring back four starters from a team that reached the WNIT Final Four.
9. Clemson: The Tigers welcome back guards Tasha Taylor and Bryelle Smith, who both suffered season-ending knee injuries last year.
10. Virginia Tech: The Hokies are looking to get back to the postseason after missing for the first time since 1996-97.
11. Miami: Three starters need to be replaced from last season's 9-21 team.
12. Wake Forest: Alex Tchangoue (11.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) anchors the wing.

Boston University
Last season: 20-12 (11-5, third in America East).
Coach: Kelly Greenberg (fifth season).
Starting five: G Christine Kinneary (8.5 ppg), G Kristi Dini (4.4), G Amarachi Umez-Eronini (8.4), F Jesyka Burks-Wiley (13.2), F Kerry Cashman (1.2).
Key reserves: G Kat Briggs (0.9), F Aly Hinton (8.4), G Alex Young (freshman), F Caroline Stewart (freshman), F Maggie McKemie (transfer Furman).
Outlook: The Terriers lost two of their top three scorers, forward Kasey Devine and guard Cheri Raffo, a 1,000-point scorer, to graduation. After sitting out a season, McKemie, a junior, joins a roster that includes four freshmen. The Terriers led the league last season with 69.4 points per game and a 76.9 free throw percentage.

AMERICA EAST OUTLOOK
1. Vermont: Key returners include junior guards Courtnay Pilypaitis, the league's player of the year, and May Kotsopoulos, the league's defender of the year.
2. Hartford: The defending league champs will have to overcome the graduation of forward Danielle Hood (15.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg).
3. Boston University: Senior Jesyka Burks-Wiley was an all-conference second-team pick last season, when she started all 32 games.
4. Albany: The youth rolls in with five freshmen, four of whom are at least 6 feet.
5. Maryland-Baltimore County: The Retrievers' Carlee Cassidy (17.0) was the league's top scorer last season.
6. Binghamton: Center Laura Franceski (9.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg) leads a defense that held opponents to 39.5 percent from the field last season.
7. New Hampshire: The Wildcats return two-thirds of their 58.4 ppg average last season.
8. Maine: Four starters return from a 7-23 squad.
9. Stony Brook: Sophomore point guard Misha Horsey runs a team with no seniors.

Harvard
Last season: 18-11 (11-3, tied for first in Ivy League).
Coach: Kathy Delaney-Smith (27th season).
Starting five: G Brogan Berry (freshman), G Niki Finelli (8.7 ppg), G Emily Tay (10., F Emma Markley (4., F Katie Rollins (11.4).
Key reserves: F Emma Moretzsohn (4.0), G Jackie Alemany (1.1), F Claire Wheeler (1.1).
Outlook: The frontcourt should be among the Crimson's strengths as four players stand 6 feet 2 inches or taller - senior Moretzsohn towers over them all at 6-7. When it comes to experience, Rollins leads the bunch, starting 56 of 57 career games. She was Harvard's leading scorer and No. 2 rebounder (4.4) last season. Sophomores Markley and Wheeler should contribute more.

IVY LEAGUE OUTLOOK
1. Harvard: Senior guard Emily Tay was second in the league in assists (143) last season.
2. Dartmouth: The Big Green should be a contender with guards like Koren Schram (11.4 ppg), who led the league with 70 3-pointers.
3. Cornell: The Big Red must make up for the loss of Jeomi Maduka, last season's Ivy player of the year, who gave up basketball for track and field, after leading Cornell to its first NCAA Tournament berth.
4. Yale: Leading scorers Melissa Colborne (15.7 ppg) and Jamie Van Horne (9.1) lead the backcourt.
5. Columbia: Guard Danielle Browne (10.0 ppg) leads four returning starters from a seven-win Ivy season, a school best.
6. Penn: Four starters and top six scorers return.
7. Princeton: Second-year coach Courtney Banghart leads a group that went 7-23 last season.
8. Brown: The Bears won just two games last season, but have a decorated recruiting class to support four returning starters.

HOLY CROSS
Last season: 19-13 (10-4, second in Patriot League).
Coach: Bill Gibbons (24th season).
Starting five: G Briana McFadden (13.5 ppg), G Meredith Ward (freshman), G Bethany O'Dell (11.4), G/F Whitney Fremeau (1.7), C Kathy Gruzynski (4.5).
Key reserves: F Elizabeth Campbell (6.5), G/F Alyssa May (3.5), G/F Tayana Carper (3.5).
Outlook: Holy Cross just missed out on the league title last season but the Crusaders bring back a wealth of experience, including junior guard McFadden, the league's player of the year. McFadden converted a league-best 81 percent of her free throws. Holy Cross owned the league's best percentage from 3-point range (.338), led by O'Dell's 38 percent marksmanship.

PATRIOT LEAGUE OUTLOOK
1. Holy Cross: If the frontcourt can match the production of the backcourt, the Crusaders could go far.
2. Lehigh: The Mountain Hawks allowed just 52.9 points per game last season, fifth best in the nation.
3. American: Three starters graduated from a team that was undefeated on the road.
4. Army: Guard Alex McGuire (11.8 ppg), the only active player in the league with 1,000 career points, is back for her senior season.
5. Bucknell: The Bison became the first No. 5 seed to win the Patriot League tournament last season.
6. Lafayette: Eleven players return from a 14-win team, but the league's leading scorer, Vanessa Van De Venter, isn't one of them.
7. Navy: Former Bowdoin coach Stefanie Pemper takes over a team coming off a 7-23 record.
8. Colgate: The Raiders return four starters from a 1-29 team, but the leading scorer, Sami Kozlowski, averaged just 9.3 ppg.

NORTHEASTERN
Last season: 14-16 (8-10, sixth in Colonial Athletic).
Coach: Daynia La-Force Mann (third season).
Starting five: G Jamie Conroy (freshman), G Jasmine Crew (8.2 ppg), G Ashlee Feldman (8.6), F Kendra Walton (9.9), F Kim Carr (5.9).
Key reserves: G Brittany Wilson (freshman), G Kashaia Cannon (freshman), F Tiffany Crews (1.4), F Mia Mayberry (0.6), F Chanez Robinson (freshman).
Outlook: After going just 4-26 in 2006-07, Northeastern surged to 14-16 last season, the fourth-best turnaround in the nation. The Huskies will look to senior Feldman to lead a backcourt that graduated three players. She played in all 30 games last season and shot 34 percent from 3-point range.

COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
1. Old Dominion: Forward Tiffany Green (11.4 ppg) and point guard Jazzmin Walters (7.5) are the only returning starters for the Monarchs, who own an NCAA-record 17 straight conference titles.
2. Virginia Commonwealth: Senior center Quanitra Hollingsworth (13.3 ppg) is expected to lead after missing the end of last season with an Achilles' injury.
3. James Madison: The Dukes must replace three starters from last season's 24-win squad.
4. Drexel: Eight players are back, including forward Gabriela Marginean (19.0 ppg), the preseason CAA player of the year.
5. Towson: Last year's team notched a school-record 22 wins.
6. UNC Wilmington: Brittany Blackwell was CAA rookie of the year with a team-leading 14.4 ppg and 7.7 rpg.
7. Delaware: The Blue Hens are looking to rebound from a seven-win season.
8. Georgia State: Guard Brittany Hollins (13.2 ppg) is the only player among nine letter-winners to have played all four years with the Panthers.
9. Northeastern: Eight freshmen join the team.
10. William & Mary: Guard Courtney Portell drained a school-record 72 treys last season.
11. Hofstra: The anticipated return of center Jess Fuller (stress fracture in leg) should energize the team.
12. George Mason: First-year coach Jeri Porter welcomes seven newcomers after a 9-21 season.