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Anchorwomen basketball season preview

Nicklas Heminger, Sports Editor

Nicklas Heminger

Sports Editor

Photo via Goanchormen.com

The Rhode Island College Anchorwomen basketball team starts their season on Saturday, Nov. 12 against The College of New Jersey in the Tyler Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Smith College.


The Anchorwomen are coming off a 23-6 record last season that saw them post a 15-1 record in Little East Conference play. RIC would win the LEC Championship and have the opportunity to take part in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III National Tournament.


The Anchorwomen graduated only three seniors last season, but all eyes are looking forward to the future as they return many seasoned players who will be able to provide important minutes in the team’s rotation. Angelina Nardolillo, Antonia Corsinetti and Izabelle Booth return this season after leading the Anchorwomen in scoring last season. Nardolillo provided 10.7 points a game last season, while Corsinetti and Booth averaged 8.7 and 7.4 points a game, respectively. Jenna Cosgrove is entering her sixth season as head coach of the Anchorwomen, posting a career record of 83-37 and coming off back-to-back LEC Championships. During her time in charge, Cosgrove has won LEC Coach of the Year three consecutive times and helped lead the Anchorwomen to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.


The Anchorwomen enter the season favored to win the LEC according to the 2022 Little East Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. RIC are not only being recognized regionally however, as they have received 13 votes to be ranked in the D-III Women’s Basketball National Top 25.


Cosgrove, when talking about expectations for this upcoming season, told The Anchor, “We are returning a senior veteran class. Our goals are higher than ever as far as we want to get to the NCAA Tournament but get further. Pre-season polls are pre-season polls, but I think that with what we returned and how we look right now early on; we have an expectation to remain as one of the top teams in New England and try to get some respect around the country.”


The Anchorwomen return seniors Corsinetti, Booth, Jeniyah Jones and Neleesha Meunier. Cosgrove believes that the return of these players allows for a more cohesive unit on the court.


“Being so senior heavy and having a really nice complementary group of newcomers, including a transfer who is very mature and provides great leadership,” Cosgrove said. “I just sense that we’re not just better on the court, but just overall as a group and a unit we are more cohesive.”


The Anchorwomen, while being senior heavy, have seen an influx of newcomers. Sophomore transfer Jayda Bing will be counted on to play an important role for the team, after an injury sidelined senior captain Maci Dorantes. Cosgrove praised the freshmen of the team, saying, “They’ve picked up things tremendously well and pretty quickly. I think that’s a testament to who they are as players and how well they have been coached.”


Playing in the NCAA Tournament last season provided many opportunities for the team to grow and learn. Coach Cosgrove recognized this and emphasized that “every step is a building block.”


“A few years ago was our first time in the LEC Championship game and you could see the nerves,” Cosgrove added. “The next year, you go back and you are that much more confident. It was our first time being there (NCAA Tournament), anyone of us including myself. I think the nerves hopefully won't be there as much and we will be much more confident knowing that we can win.”


The Anchorwomen look poised to have another tremendous season, and potentially a run in the National Tournament.


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