The Northeast women’s basketball team finished the 07-08 season with a 26-7 record and returns six players from that team.  Three of the six returners were starters last season and the team returns 50+ points per game.  The three returning starters, Jasmine Lovejoy, 5’8”, Wilbraham, MA; Mairead McNally, 5’9”, Belfast, N. Ireland;  and Elisha Foley, 5’8”, Melbourne, AU;  are all back court players who played very well as freshmen.  Fellow back court teammate, Alexis Habiger, 5’5”, Wilbraham, MA; also contributed as the first guard off the bench.  At the forward position, the team returns Raelene Buschow, 6’0”, Blue Hill, NE and Whitley Smiley, 5’9”, Chicopee, MA.  Coach Svehla’s thoughts are nothing but positive regarding his returners.  “We have some very nice players returning from last year’s team.  Jasmine was very electric and led us in scoring last season. Mairead did a great job of running the point position.  Elisha played really solid at the 2-guard position.  Alexis was our spark plug off the bench.  Raelene and Whitley saw action in most games last season and will give us some interior experience.”

The freshmen group consists of Dawn Bonnell, 5’8”, Robinson, IL; Holly Phelps, 6’0”, Tyler, TX; Sofie Lundberg, 6’0”, Soderkoping, Sweden; Chaundera Riley, 6’0”, Minneapolis, MN; Stephanie Robinson, 5’6”, Sioux City, IA; and Sheana Wallin, 5’6”, Newman Grove, NE.  The freshmen class brings skill at all positions.  Coach Svehla expects this group of freshmen to be major contributors, even though the team returns plenty of experienced players.  “They will be thrown into the mix and they will be asked to contribute immediately.  I feel good about our new kids.  We always want to get the best talent that we can get, but we also want kids with great attitudes and work ethics.  These freshmen have those characteristics and I expect them to do well.  We return some good sophomores and these freshmen will be a great blend.”   

Teams throughout the country usually begin their seasons with expectations and the Northeast women’s basketball team will be no different.  The team returns experience, the team has good talent, the depth appears to be strong, and the work ethic and attitude are there.  This team expects to accomplish great things during the 2008-09 season and Hawks’ fans will be treated to some exciting basketball.

More Information

Matt Svehla
(402) 844-7316
matt@northeast.edu