By Ryan McCord

It was John F. Kennedy who coined the term, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Thanks to the CAA tsunami splash better known as George Mason’s Final Four Run on the men’s side, which officially put the conference on the national hoops map, expect to see a new energy from both the men and women to prove that this is a college basketball conference to be reckoned with.

One program looking to exceed its typical expectations is the Hofstra women’s basketball team, which is coming off one of its finest seasons ever. With a team motto of “Our Time,” these players are out to prove that they are indeed capable of keeping up with the three programs picked ahead of them in preseason, all of which are locked and loaded with talent.

There is no reason why fans of the women’s team cannot share the same level of preseason enthusiasm that is clearly evident on the men’s side of the university.

To go along with five capable seniors that can now call themselves “winners” after last season’s 19-12 effort, there’s a new coach pacing the Pride sidelines, former N.C. State star Krista Kilburn-Stevesky.

While former head coach Felisha-Legette Jack did an admirable job of implanting a formidable foundation, it will be up to the young and charismatic Kilburn-Stevesky to tweak the blueprint in the championship direction.

“In this conference there is not a down moment,” said Kilburn-Stevesky, who was instrumental in putting together a JMU squad with a plethora of talent. “Talk about being able to bring it night after night. That’s what you hope this team can do.”

That monster of a JMU roster could very well be the best team in the country that nobody knows about. The Dukes return all five returning starters, including three all-conference performers that will combine with two transfers that are sure to pay dividends in efforts to supplant 15-time defending CAA champion Old Dominion as cream of the conference.

As for the Monarchs, long time head coach Wendy Larry is not only expected to win her 500th game this season, but also the conference outright. Old Dominion is the benchmark for success in the conference, and this season should prove no different, returning four starters from a team that won 22 games in what was considered a “down season” last year.

The team projected to finish immediately ahead of the Pride is Delaware, a team Kilburn-Stevesky has a high opinion of, its shooting in particular.

“Delaware’s overall numbers from the free throw line, 75 percent, and 42 percent from field goals are the kind of numbers we set our sights at,” Kilburn-Stevesky said.

Hofstra will look to improve upon its 39 percent shooting from the floor as a team last season as well as an unfavorable assist to turnover ratio that could in fact be the difference in the postseason.

“We need a sixth man and someone directing sails on the floor to take ownership,” Kilburn-Steveskey said. “I don’t have to coach effort, and I would like to see the defensive intensity stay at the high level that I’ve seen this offseason.”

Pride senior shooting guard Cigi McCollin is the team’s long range threat, knocking down 88 three-point field goals last season. McCollin is a reigning second team all-conference performer, and the same honor was appointed to her by the CAA this preseason.

Highlighting the Pride frontcourt are seniors Lizanne Murphy (10.4 points, 7.8 rebounds) and preseason first team all-conference center Vanessa Gidden (15.5, 9.5, 1.6 blocks) who not only expect to anchor the key defensively, but also will be asked to take on essential roles in team leadership.

The Pride has talent, but in order to fully exercise its potential and snag its first ever NCAA bid, somebody is going to have to step up and take on an expanded role.

“That’s what I’ve been preaching since I got the job in May,” said Kilburn-Stevesky, who replaced Legette-Jack after she left for Indiana. “We’re a work in progress. We’re gonna have to keep our earmuffs on and not worry about what the public thinks because we have to get ourselves acclimated to the system.”

Expect another solid season in the key from Gidden, an All-CAA performer.