Sea Gulls looking for first CAC Title since 2002
SALISBURY, Md. - The goal for the Salisbury University women’s basketball team is simple, win all your games. Head coach Bridget Benshetler, now entering her 17th season at the helm of the Sea Gulls, is a firm believer that you get what you ask for.

“If you set your goals at 16 wins, then you’ll win 16 games. We do expect to win all our games and we do expect to play in the [Capital Athletic Conference] championship,” said Benshetler.

The road to the championship isn’t easy for Salisbury, who has finished 7-7 in league play the last three seasons which included a CAC Championship appearance in the 2003-04 season. The teams on Salisbury’s non-conference schedule combined for a 90-70 record in the 2005-06 season which saw two teams earn berths to the NCAA tournament. Last year’s CAC runner-up, University of Mary Washington, is ranked No. 8 in the preseason USA Today/ ESPN Division III top 25 and The College of New Jersey, who finished 19-9 last year and won the New Jersey Athletic Conference, received six votes for the top 25.

The CAC, which Benshetler feels is the most competitive conference in the country, had two teams earn NCAA tournament berths and had five teams finish above .500.

“I can’t say we are number one or two in the conference because Marymount won it last year and Mary Washington was second but I put us in the top four. We obviously have to work to keep that and improve,” said Benshetler.

The Sea Gulls ranked second in the CAC in scoring last year, averaging 73.3 points a game. Part of the success is credited to second-team All-CAC performer Jessica Mills, who is the returning scoring leader for Salisbury. The senior averaged 9.9 points a game last year and 5.4 rebounds.

“She is very versatile. She has the ability to play the three and the four which allows her to play inside and outside. She is going to be a catalyst and with a young team we are going to need her to hold things together,” said Benshetler about Mills who plays guard/forward.

Returning with Mills in the front court is senior point guard Jenna Peters who averaged 2.7 assists a game last year and 2.0 steals.

“We go as she goes,” said Benshetler. “There is a lot on her this year being our senior point guard. She has to run the show.”

Mills and Peters will be joined by two other seniors, guard Katie MacFarland and forward Meghan Klug, who played in 21 and 25 of the games last year, respectively.

Defensively, the Sea Gulls ranked near the bottom of the CAC in scoring, giving up an average of 69.5 points a game. Despite the low ranking, Benshetler feels the stat is skewed.

“We play an up-tempo game which forces the other team to play at our pace,” said Benshetler. “They are going to get more possessions and score a little more. However, sixth is not good enough. We do have to be better in that category.”

To improve on the defensive side the Sea Gulls are going to call on Klug, sophomore Marissa Manzo, and freshman Janay Johnson, who Benshetler said is one of the more powerful and physical players she has coached.

Klug averaged 3.7 rebounds a game last year and Manzo pulled down 4.5 boards. Both Klug and Manzo averaged just under 15 minutes of game time per contest.

As is custom for Salisbury, every player will be expected to contribute one way or another.

“I think all our players can contribute,” said Benshetler. “If I didn’t believe that I wouldn’t have brought them here. I don’t play six players a game. I play eight, nine, and sometimes 10. Our attitude is that you better be ready.”

Victoria Lawson, who Benshetler believes will be the fastest player in the conference, will play behind Peters at point guard.  Peters and Lawson, the only two point guards on the roster, will look to get the ball in the hands of junior Meghan Phillips who averaged 9.2 points a game last year and led the team in three-point percentage (39).

The Sea Gulls return seven players from last year’s squad and brought in six fresh faces to try and put Salisbury back in the national spotlight.