Women's basketball

Purchase, NY (Mar. 4, 2010) – Having lost the most prolific scorer in Purchase history to graduation, head coach Steven Loscher worked in a change of philosophy for the 2009-10 edition of the women’s basketball team.
The finished product: A scrappy defense that ruthlessly forced turnovers and was able to keep pace with the elite teams of the Skyline Conference.
The Panthers’ run fell just short after an upset win at St. Joseph’s-LI in the league quarterfinals and ended their season at the hands of the eventual tournament champions, Farmingdale State – a team that lost only one game the entire season.

[Pictured above: ALL-SKYLINE 1ST TEAM HONOREE JESSIE DOMES LED THE PANTHERS IN SCORING IN 2009-10. -Photo by Oren Vourman]
Loscher focused heavily on conditioning, epitomizing the ideology that if a team can’t outplay their opponent then you must be prepared to outwork and outlast them. This season, the Panthers did just that on multiple occasions, most commonly at the courtesy of co-captain Jessie Domes, whose offensive presence was among the most productive in the conference. Capping her final season at Purchase, Domes was named to All-Skyline 1st Team after finishing the season ranked third in points per game, averaging 16.9 in conference play, first in free-throw percentage, and second in three-point percentage.
Co-captain Shayla Diaz provided vocal stability for the Panthers’ offense as well as some timely shooting in close games, but it was her trademark defensive intensity that helped Purchase go as far as it did this winter. Also playing in her final season, Liila Mack made her last stand at Purchase a memorable one, transforming into one of the most dominant front court players ever to play at the “Purchase Pavilion.” The senior trio typified the concepts of leadership, hard work and consistency.
Purchase (12-15) will sorely miss the play of Domes, Diaz and Mack, but are primed for another long postseason run with a strong group of underclassmen returning. Alyse LaPadula, Jasmine Davis, and two-sport standout Melanie Culpepper will anchor next season’s returners.
Also returning next winter will be three-point specialist Amanda Capone and top rookie Imani Floyd, who is expected to have an expanded role with the departures of the team’s two leading scorers.
-Meghan Lalonde