The Iona College women’s basketball team is ready for another competitive year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Although they have been picked to place 5th in the preseason poll, the team is looking to win the conference for the first time in school history.

The Gaels bring back their veteran point guard, senior captain Suzi Fregosi, who red-shirted last year due to a hip injury. She was named to the All-MAAC third Team at the beginning of last season. She will serve as the team’s key leader for the 2011-2012 season.

Along with Fregosi, head coach Anthony Bozzella has named two more captains of the squad this season, senior Tomica Bacic and junior Haley D’Angelo.

The maroon and gold also bring back their leading scorer from last year, senior Kristina Ford, who made the All-MAAC Preseason First Team for this upcoming season.

“I honestly believe that when she is on, there is no better player than Kris in the MAAC,” said Bozzella.

Along with Ford, Fregosi and Bacic, there are four other seniors to lead this well experienced Gael squad, including Kara Kochanek, Jessica Scannell, Milica Paligoric and Sarah Schoof. Other key returners are junior Diana Hubbard, and sophomores Jackie Marshall, Sabrina Jeridore and Shonice Hawkins. 

Bozzella also brought in a well-rounded freshman recruiting class, which contains Aleesha Powell from Philadelphia, Pa, Damika Martinez from Meriden, CT and Briana Graham from Detroit, Michigan. Another new face for the Gaels will be junior Jiya Dorcas-Eya, who is a transfer student from Lagos, Nigeria who attended Northwest Florida State her first two years of college.

Coach Bozzella is entering his 10th season as head coach at Iona, and 20th year of coaching, looking to cement his legacy at Iona as MAAC champions this season. Along his side, assistant coach Christi Abbate is also entering her 10th year with Iona, and 15th season. Along-side Bozzella,Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Ashlee Kelly will enter her third year at Iona and will continue to work hard with the post players on the team.

Lauren Defalco will enter her second season as an assistant coach, but she is no stranger to the program, as she played for four years under Bozzella and graduated in 2008.

There are two new faces to the coaching staff. Tim Gardner will be the Director of Basketball Operations. Gardner formerly was the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Kean University for six seasons.

Along with Gardner, Eric Alston Jr. will round up the coaching staff, as he will be the Assistant Director of Basketball Operations. Alston was a four-year manager for the team during his schooling at Iona, graduating in 2011 with a degree in Marketing.

The Gaels open up their season in the Iona College Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 11 at 11:11 am, taking on North Carolina A&T at the Hynes Athletics Center.

The other two teams that are participating in the tournament will be Michigan St. and Villanova. The winner of these two games will go up against each other the following day.