Lady AMCATS featured in TelegramTowns

By Jay Gearan CORRESPONDENT

PAXTON — The Anna Maria College women's basketball team has reached the midpoint of its 2013-14 season, and the players and coaches have optimistic feelings about the second half.

"We have a young team, and we've had our ups and downs, but I am very encouraged so far," said coach Kevin Bigelow.

The AMCATS, who began their season in mid-November, won three of their opening five games, notching wins over Yeshiva, Becker and Nichols.

With additional wins this winter over Wheelock, Elms and Fitchburg State University, the AMCATS entered this week of competition with a 6-8 record.

Led by captains Taylor Walker, a senior, junior guard Katie Pryor and sophomore guard Lindsay Bond, the AMCATS compete in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

"We have a lot of conference games coming up, so we're entering into a very important part of our schedule," said Bigelow, who has only one senior, Walker, on his roster, and she still has another year of eligibility after this season.

Before dropping a conference game at home last week to St. Joseph's, the AMCATS enjoyed an exciting, 77-71,win over Fitchburg State University, behind a career-high 22 points from freshman Christina Gauvin, who starred in high school at Shepherd Hill.

The win over Fitchburg State, with former Burncoat High star junior Traffica Warburton adding 20 points and Walker 17, was special for the AMCATS because it matched the total number of wins from last season.

"We're coming along," Bigelow said. "Over the semester break we worked very hard, and several things offensively and defensively are coming into place. It's always tough, though, and our schedule is very competitive."

The AMCATS' roster points to a promising future with six freshman players including Gauvin, who was named the Conference Rookie of the Week earlier this season. Other first-year players include Deja Taitt, Amy Stafford, Emily Capstick, Samantha Turcotte and Mackenzie Hastings.

Pleased with the number of players from Worcester-area high schools, Bigelow is also encouraged by other recruits from as far away as Florida, such as sophomore guard Alyssa Haberman of Boca Raton. Other sophomores include Brandi Pasternack and Antoinette Jean-Louis.

Assisting Bigelow in his coaching duties are Jessica Vitale and Mohammed Adam.

Now in his second season, Bigelow, who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice at Anna Maria, was named the 12th head women's basketball coach in 2012. Prior to accepting his current position, he was the assistant men's basketball coach under head coach Shawn Conrad. Before beginning his coaching career at Anna Maria, Bigelow was an assistant men's coach at Worcester State University.

When he was appointed the AMCATS' head women's coach last year, Bigelow said, "I can think of no greater school to continue my coaching career and begin my head-coaching tenure."

Working closely with Peter J. Miller, Anna Maria's Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Bigelow is an admissions counselor and athletic liason.