College of Staten Island

2007

Women’sBasketball

2006

MediaGuide

Marlene Springer, President

From undergraduate research to working on doctoral theses, students at the College of Staten Island are provided with the tools and opportunities they need to make positive contributions to society. To gain these skills, students may perform research with senior faculty in The City University of New York (CUNY) Institute of Macromolecular Assemblies on the College’s campus, using sophisticated equipment side by side with highly credentialed scientists. These joint research projects study the fundamentals of healing and disease to discover methodologies for the fabrication of new assemblies, such as vaccines. Other students enrich their education through internships with leading companies in New York City, such as Deutsche Bank, Smith Barney/Citigroup, and Fox Sports. New York City’s most accomplished high school graduates enroll in the highly selective and rigorous CUNY Honors College for incoming freshmen pursuing four-year degrees. A prestigious “college within a college,” the program provides these University Scholars with free tuition and a laptop computer, challenging academic courses, and a “Cultural Passport” that allows them to explore all that New York City has to offer.

A fast-changing and increasingly interconnected world demands a wide sphere of knowledge. To meet this challenge, students at CSI participate in dynamic study abroad and exchange programs in

over 35 countries. On campus, students enjoy the serene environment of the College’s 204 park-like acres, a pleasing contrast to the densely populated streets of New York City. And throughout the campus, students and faculty connect via a high-speed, wireless, multimedia network, supported by extensive fiber-optic cabling. Student life revolves around the Campus Center. Here, students organize and run nearly 50 clubs and various campus publications, keeping the Center filled with vibrant programming, activities, and events. The community programming of the College’s radio station, WSIA, 88.9 FM, extends beyond New York City to parts of New Jersey. The College’s Center for the Arts (CFA) is the premiere cultural arts and performance space on Staten Island. The CFA’s Concert Hall is recognized for its superior acoustic qualities, and the Broadway-style Williamson Theatre presents many New York City premieres from national touring companies and international artists. Past performance highlights include recent Grammy award winner Michelle Branch, Joan Rivers, and Amateur Night at the Apollo, as well as Shakespearean, operatic, and symphonic performances. The College’s Observatory is internationally recognized as an asteroid tracking station, and findings are reported to the Minor Planet Center of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Another of the College’s rich resources is the Library. Research and study facilities are enhanced by the CSI’s robust network and electronic resource subscriptions, and students can collaborate and relax in the new cyber-café and coffee bar. Whether inside or outside of the classroom, at home or abroad, the College of Staten Island experience speaks to the hearts, minds, and bodies of its students. The dedicated faculty and staff of CSI realize the students’ potential for excellence, and offers innovative and exciting paths to guide them as they transform their lives and ultimately, the world.

College of Staten IslandThe City University of New York

PresidentDr. Marlene Springer

College of Staten Island2800 Victory BoulevardStaten Island, NY 10314

Campus Center

Library

Table of ContentsAbout the College of Staten Island IFCTable of Contents/Athletics Info 1Coaches & Roster 2-32006-07 Season Preview 4-5 Player Capsules 6-9Opponent Information 10-12Media/Post-Game Information 132005-06 Year-In-Review 14-15CSI All-Time Records 16-17CSI Staff Directory 18-19

Recognizing the importance of strengthening the body as well as the mind, the College has a well-equipped Sports and Recreation Center with a 25-meter, eight-lane swimming pool, racquetball and basketball courts, an aerobic room, and weight rooms. Surrounding the Center are baseball and softball stadiums, soccer fields, and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. Comprising 12 athletic teams, the CSI Dolphins have garnered 64 CUNY Conference Championships since 1976, with many teams advancing to national tournaments. As a true multi-purpose facility, the Center serves the community as a trade show and convention hall, while the top-flight recreational facilities are available to the public through affordable membership subscriptions. The Sports & Recreation Center houses a 1,200 seat arena, serving as the home of men’s and women’s basketball. The teams have thrived within its confines, sporting a combined 185-78 (.703) record on its home floor. The Sports & Recreation Center has also been the home to three City University of New York Athletic Conference Postseason Championship Tournaments, including the 2005-06 tourney this past winter.

About Us

Fast FactsLocation: Staten Island, NYFounded: 1976Enrollment: 12,600Colors: French Blue & WhiteNickname: DolphinsVice President for Student Affairs: Dr. Carol JacksonAssociate Dean for Student Affairs: Michael DanielsActing Athletic Director: Jason Fein Athletics Phone: (718) 982-3160Athletics FAX: (718) 982-3138Athletics Hotline: (718) 982-3440Athletics Website: www.csidolphins.comAthletic Facilities: Sports & Recreation Center

AffiliationsNational Collegiate Athletic Association-Division III City University of New York Athletic ConferenceHudson Valley Women’s Athletic ConferenceEastern College Athletic Conference

The College of Staten Island Women’s Basketball 2006-07 Media Guide is a production of the Office of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation at the College of Staten Island.

Writing, layout, and design by David Pizzuto, Acting Associate Athletic Director/Sports Information Director and Stephen Spagnoli, senior sports information assistant. Cover design by Kimberly DeRitter.

Principle Photography by Robert Skorney, Skorney Studios. Team photography by Kimberly DeRitter and David Pizzuto.

Edited by Jason Fein,Acting Director of Athletics.

Printed by Tennant Printing, DeLand, Florida.

On the cover: Nicole Estrada, Nicole Stefanski, Amanda Sanguinedo & Melanie D’Ambrosi.

Credits

12006-07 Media Guide

Coaches Page

2 CSI Women’s Basketball

H e a d C o a c h Marguerite Gualtieri will be heading into her 9th season at the helm of CSI women’s basketball. Her coaching journey began following an illustrious

playing career, where she earned a scholarship to Hofstra University. While there, Gualtieri embarked on a playing career filled with achievements. The standout guard led the Flying Dutchwomen during her three-year career from 1987-89, setting school marks for points in a season (718, ’88-’89), three-pointers in a season (107, ’88-’89), three-point percentage in a season (46.5%, ’88-’89), and points in one game (41 points in ’88-’89). After her playing career came to an end, Gualtieri focused on educating. She moved to the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University, to teach special education. She still enjoyed playing in various community basketball leagues, but she missed the competitive feel of college gameplay. “I was still playing but it wasn’t challenging anymore,” said Gualtieri, who was concerting most of her efforts to her career away from basketball. It was then that Gualtieri recieved a call from her friend Margaret Alaino, the head women’s basketball coach at LIU, asking her to serve as an assistant with the club. Gualtieri saw the offer as a chance for her to continue playing competitively in team practices, so she accepted the offer. “At that point I used to play with them at practice,” she remembers. “As a coach in that situation you see things you wouldn’t normally see, and for a long time I was more of a player than a coach, and it was a learning process the whole way.” Ironically, Gualtieri’s tenure as assistant wouldn’t last long. During the early stages of the season, Alaino left LIU and Gualtieri was handed the reigns, making her the youngest Division I coach in the country at the time, at the age of 22. Given the overwhelming responsibility, the shift forced Gualtieri to make basketball number one in her life again, and she dedicated herself full-time to the task. “It gave me a lot of insight on how I would coach today. My whole thought process changed.” Gualtieri spent nine years at LIU serving under then Athletic Director Paul Lizzo, who would later become an Assistant Athletic Director at CSI. In her nine seasons at LIU, Gualtieri focused not just on wins and losses, but on getting her student-athletes prepared for a future after basketball. For Gualtieri, seeing her athletes succeed away from the court was what really made the job worthwhile. Still, the must-win pressures of Division I basketball were adding to Gulatieri’s frustrations. “At times it became a little more political than I would have liked,” she remembered. “When I first started the kids were

really motivated to play. As I continued, the focus was on winning at all costs, and

it turned me off.” Perhaps it was good timing then, that

when Gualtieri looked for a new direction in her life, Lizzo had moved on to CSI. He, along with

then-CSI Athletic Director and women’s basketball coach Eugene Marshall, beckoned Gualtieri to come along for the ride. Gualtieri, now a wife and mother, was hesitant at first, but ultimately made the decision to come aboard. “They convinced me that things were different in a good way from Division I. So there was an opening and I took it.” It didn’t take long for Gualtieri to impress. In her first season the Dolphins finished 18-9 and made it all the way to the CUNY final. Over the next two seasons, Gualtieri would go one better, winning back-to-back CUNY crowns and making trips to the NCAA Division III National Basketball Tournament, notching a pair of 20-win seasons in the process. She has since added another title in 2005, and the team’s 81-10 record within CUNY since 2000 makes them the most successful CUNY squad, men’s or women’s, of the decade. Marshall and Lizzo have since moved on, but Gualtieri is still with the Dolphins, enjoying a comfort level that she never before had experienced. She is currently the longest active women’s coach at CSI. While continuing to focus on having her athletes grow and mature away from the court, Gualtieri still enjoys the competitive nature of the game, and results, while not as important, still drive her and her teams. Over the past decade, CSI has grown from a local threat to a national power, continuing to stock its schedule with some of the nation’s fiercest programs. It’s all a part of bringing CSI to the next level and keeping herself and the team challenged, and so far the results have paid off. “There’s always a drive to move on to the next level and to have a good year. When that motivation is gone, then I wouldn’t want to do it anymore.” The coach has never worried about her win-loss totals suffering, she’s more concerned with how her teams handle the challenges. Just like in life after basketball, she realizes her players will need to stand tall against big obstacles. The basketball schedule she puts in place is just another one of those tests. “Year after year, we have to go out there and earn a good record. It makes you feel better when you can look back at what you accomplished and know that you did it the hard way.”

Marguerite GualtieriHead Coach9th Season

Gualtieri’s 167-62 record makes her the 25th winningest coach in NCAA Division III history.

Jaclyn Badagliacco has been a part of the department staff since 2003. She received her education from CSI, earning a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies with a minor in

history. No stranger to the CSI family, Badagliacco has been a part of the college since 1998 participating in both basketball and softball during her time as a student. Staying loyal to her alma mater and wanting to continue in the tradition of the department, she has been the assistant for the women’s basketball program since graduation, also helping to oversee and work with local and regional basketball camps in the area. She is a valued part of CSI efforts in recruiting, scouting, and day-to-day operations. In 2005, Badagliacco became CSI’s new Marketing and Promotions Coordinator, where her responsibilities keep her involved in all aspects of athletics year round. Her valued dedication has also seen her lend her efforts to Sports & Recreation Center supervising responsibilities as well as intramural and recreational activities.

Coaches Page

32006-07 Media Guide

Jaclyn BadagliaccoAssistant Coach3rd Season

Neville LestradeAssistant Coach

3rd Season

Numerical RosterNo. Pos. Name Ht. Cl. High School Hometown3 G/F Jessica Ferrugio 5-5 Fr. Tottenville Staten Island, NY10 G Tina Bellocchio 5-2 Fr. St. John Villa Staten Island, NY11 G Jennifer Patton 5-4 Fr. St. Peter’s Staten Island, NY13 G/F Amanda Sanguinedo 5-4 So. St. John Villa Staten Island, NY14 G/F Jolyn Silva 5-5 Fr. Curtis Staten Island, NY15 G Erin Alesi 5-2 So. Notre Dame Staten Island, NY21 F Kelly Sweeney 5-8 Fr. St. Joseph Hill Staten Island, NY22 G Nicole Stefanski 5-3 So. St. Peter’s Staten Island, NY23 G Melanie D’Ambrosi 5-4 So. St. Joseph Hill Staten Island, NY25 F Jennifer Zuccaro 5-9 Fr. Curtis Staten Island, NY32 G Nicole Estrada 5-3 So. Bishop Kearney Brooklyn, NY

Head Coach: Marguerite Gualtieri Assistant Coaches: Jaclyn Badagliacco, Neville LestradeStudent Volunteer Assistants: Kim Thompson, Melissa Quiles

A part of the CSI women’s basketball scene since the 2004-05 season, Lestrade started his coaching career as a volunteer, and is now a major influence in helping the young Dolphins, most notably, when it comes to the inside game. A former athlete at CSI, Lestrade spent just one season with the CSI Dolphins men’s squad in 2003-04. It did not take long for the senior with little experience to perform. He started in all 28 games he appeared in, averaging 7.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest. His 72 blocked shots that same season were the second highest in school history for a single season, and his seven blocks on two occassions that year stand as the most in a single game in CSI history. Helping the Dolphins respond in the paint is a valued part of his teachings, and Head Coach Marguerite Gualtieri will once again be depending on Lestrade to help steady that aspect of the Dolphins game this year.

2006-07 Season Preview

4 CSI Women’s Basketball

As the 2006-2007 women’s basketball season gets underway, the Dolphins have one goal in mind: winning another CUNYAC title. Marguerite Gualtieri is entering her ninth season as coach of the Dolphins, and while her aspirations from year-to-year remain consistent, she also realizes the obstacles her group will have to overcome in order to attain success. “The freshmen give us tremendous depth, and our full-court game will be strong, but our height doesn’t favor our ability to rebound the basketball,” she said. “We’re hoping our quickness can compensate for our lack of size.” Gualtieri’s tenure at CSI has seen her produce some of the better defensive squads in the program’s history, but her team’s ability to gain a rebounding edge may be a season-long challenge for CSI’s legendary coach. Following the 2004-2005 campaign, the Dolphins lost all-time leading rebounder Jacclyn Rock to graduation. Rock’s departure put most of the interior responsibility on guard Kim Thompson, who responded sensationally by leading the club with 217 caroms while also posting team-highs in points-per-game and steals. Now, Thompson has also graduated from CSI, leaving the Dolphins in a similar situation this season. “Heading into the season, we’re hoping that some of the freshmen will be able to make a positive impact to help compliment the veterans. It’s a work in progress, basically.” The Dolphins will return five players from a season ago, including tenacious point guard Nicole Stefanski, who sat out the entire 2005-2006 season with a torn ACL. “It was so hard to watch from the bench last season,” she said. “I am looking forward to getting back on the court and helping my teammates.” Two seasons ago, the St. Peters’ product was a key contributor to a Dolphins team that put together a program-best 26-3 record and earned an appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament. Her contributions throughout that season were pivotal, as she led the squad with 172 assists and 103 steals, and despite being just 5-foot-3, also placed 2nd on the team in rebounds with 185. “Nicole is a tremendous asset to our team,” Gualtieri commented. “She runs the point well, plays excellent defense, and is physically strong. Her hustle on loose balls and missed shots exemplifies the type of player that she is. With our style of play being so fast-paced, her quickness gives her the ability to capture a lot of those long rebounds, and that’s important.” Stefanski’s injury opened up a door for Melanie D’Ambrosi, and she became the team’s starting point guard. Although many people were uncertain as to how she would thrive in the role, she performed exceptionally well, leading the team with 118 assists, placing 2nd on the team in points-per-game with a 14.3 average, 2nd on the squad in steals with 90, and 3rd on the club in total rebounding with 140. “Melanie’s ability to succeed at the starting point-guard position last year on short notice showed us just how special a player she could be,” the coach said. “Having played in all 28 games last year and eventually playing in a conference

championship game, she learned a lot about what needs to be done in order for a team to succeed.” Stefanski and D’Ambrosi, both natural point-guards, will be playing together for the first time when the 2006-2007 season begins. Coach Gualtieri is excited about the results the combination may produce. “Two years ago, Nicole and Stephanie (Iosue) were technically point-guards and they worked well together,” she stated. “It gives us flexibility as a team. I am confident that Nicole and Melanie will develop a chemistry that will be vital to our success.” Another athlete returning to the fray for the 2006-2007 campaign is Nicole Estrada. After missing the 2004-2005 season due to injury, Estrada became a key member of the squad that made it all the way to the CUNYAC championship game last season. She played in all 28 of CSI’s contests, starting all but one of them. Her ability to stay healthy led to good results, as she placed 2nd on the squad in assists with 81, 2nd in total rebounds with 156, 3rd in steals with 74, and 3rd in points per game with 10. Still, the Bishop Kearney product showed tentativeness at times, something that Coach Gualtieri hopes will improve. “Nicole is an athlete that worked very hard over the summer to improve her game. Watching her in practice, we can tell that her aggressiveness has definitely improved. One thing we are trying to preach to her is confidence, because we know she has the talent. When we are on offense, we want her to want the ball,” Gualtieri said. One returning athlete hoping to make a successful transition from role player to starter will be sophomore Amanda Sanguinedo of St. John Villa High School. A season ago, Sanguinedo became one of Gualtieri’s favorite options off of the bench, sparking the club with uncanny quickness and a stingy defense. Her tenacity helped her to place 4th on the squad with 33 steals, and her hustle and persistence produced good results on the boards, as the guard snatched 93 caroms, good for 5th on the team. “Amanda is another player that we’re going to expect to rebound for us. We like her quickness, and she seems to have a tremendous will to win. We are confident that she’ll make a healthy transition and help us as a starter.” Gualtieri knows that all successful teams need a deep supporting cast. When asked about which role players would provide depth, the first names the coach brought up were sophomore guard Erin Alesi out of Notre Dame High School and Tina Bellocchio out of St. John Villa High School. A season ago, Alesi got her feet wet in the coach’s system, appearing in 19 contests, starting five of them and averaging 11 minutes per game. Bellocchio, who did not play a season ago, spent time with the squad learning as much as she could about the CSI system. “Erin and Tina give us some veteran depth this year,” Gualtieri stated. “Both have shown promise in practice, hustling for loose balls and giving it all they have. Erin played last year so she has a good understanding of the strategies involved. Tina sat out last year but she eagerly learned about the way things are

Finding the Zone A strong mesh of the seasoned veterans and the six aspiring freshman will be the key to the 2006-2007 season

2006-07 Season Preview

52006-07 Media Guide

done. Their contributions will be important”. The six total returners have a good grasp on what it takes to be successful. Gualt ieri believes their performances in practice have demonstrated their awareness. “Most of the returning ladies know what it takes to be successful,” Gualtieri said. “As far as the freshmen are concerned, it’s going to take some time for them to realize what needs to be done in order for us to win, but we’re confident that eventually they’ll catch on nicely.” Two of the freshmen that Gualtieri is looking for big

things from include Jennifer Zuccaro, a 5-foot-9 forward out of Curtis High School and Kelly Sweeney, a 5-foot-8 forward out of St. Joseph Hill High School. Zuccaro is expected to make an immediate impact and make a difference in the rebounding department. Sweeney is expected to play a major role upon her arrival as well. “Jennifer will provide us some relief on the boards,” Gualtieri commented. “Her contributions will be important to us, especially when we play teams that have an exceptional height advantage. Kelly is still a little bit behind physically after suffering an injury, but she will be ready for the season.” In addition to Zuccaro and Sweeney, the Dolphins have a trio of freshmen joining the fray this season, including guards Jessica Ferrugio out of Tottenville High School, Jennifer Patton out of St. Peter’s High School, and Jolyn Silva out of St. Joseph’s Hill High School. “We certainly have great depth at the guard position this year,” Gualtieri commented. “Because of our style of play, I’m not opposed to playing a lot of guards. Our game plan will favor our guards. We’ll look to push the ball even more than we’ve done in the past few years. We’ll also try to out-shoot teams and battle for long rebounds.” Gualtieri couldn’t single out any of her players as being this year’s major point producers. “Last year, Kim (Thompson) was our main scoring threat, and she stepped up big for us,” Gualtieri stated. “This season, it’s going to be a balanced effort. We’re trying to get the entire team to be involved in the offense in order to develop a balanced attack.” It is no secret that Gualtieri has a lot of faith in the players that have grasped the system in their tenures as Dolphins. The issue that concerns her most is the confidence of the freshmen joining the club. “I would say it is very normal for the freshmen to be a little intimidated in the beginning, but as the season progresses, hopefully they will get more comfortable and settle in,” she said. “The last couple of seasons, we’ve been fortunate to see certain ladies step into roles and perform above and beyond what we

expected. We are hopeful that the veterans on this team will help them find their way.” To help further that development, Gualtieri has named an entirely new group of captains for the upcoming season in Stefanski, Estrada, and D’Ambrosi. “These three ladies are student-athletes that have a tremendous work ethic, and continue to try and better their games,” Gualtieri said. “On the court during games, or in the gym during practice, it always seems that they are giving 100-percent, and I want this year’s team to emulate the things they do. Having such a young team, it is important for captains to set good examples for the first-year players.” As far as the competition in the conference is concerned, things continue to get tight within the CUNYAC. Baruch College is coming off their greatest season in school history, Hunter College is reloaded and ready to compete again, and teams like Brooklyn, Lehman, and John Jay showed tremendous improvement last year and are hoping to make a statement heading into this year’s campaign. With the conference being as competitive as it has ever been, Gualtieri and her coaching staff realize that conference games will be grinding. “Coming into the season, I’d say the conference looks to be as good as it has been in a while,” she stated. “A lot of the teams that were rebuilding are ready to take their games to the next level, and the teams that were already primed to win are going to be just as hungry as they were last year.” Recent history shows that the Dolphins have been ready to play when it comes time to take on their conference foes. Over the past four seasons, the Dolphins have captured four southern division titles, posted a 48-4 regular season mark in conference games, and made four consecutive trips to the CUNYAC Championship Game, taking home the title in 2005. The Dolphins have also been nearly unbeatable at home in conference games during that stretch, posting a remarkable 25-1 mark at the Sports and Recreation Center, with the only loss coming to Baruch College last year. Gualtieri believes that with a team effort and with a collective focus, the team can continue to be successful. “Our style of play is not going to change,” Gualtieri stated. “We’ve had good success in our transition style of play over the years, and we are hoping that we continue to achieve good results. It is going to take a collective effort, and everybody will need to be on the same page.” In all, the Dolphins are a team rich with experienced veterans and aspiring freshmen. Gualtieri feels that once the team is able to shake off some early-season rust, the squad should be primed for an eventful season. “I am very excited about the things we can achieve this year. With all the teams in the conference on the rise, we will need to improve and get better as well. I think we may see a little nervousness in the beginning, but once the ladies begin to get comfortable, we’ll be able to play our game with confidence, and that is important.” As the 2006-2007 season approaches, it is no secret that the Dolphins have the talent to be successful. With Gualtieri believing that the team will eventually gel into a contender for a title, it seems to be not a matter of if, but when the team will take their place among the elite of the CUNY conference.

Sophomore Erin Alesi is one of only five returning players expected to shoulder the load in 2006-07.