A sense of pride and self-respect is returning to the Friars' women's basketball program this winter.

In their first season under Head Coach Phil Seymore, who was an assistant coach with PC's men's team the previous five seasons, the Friars won six of their first 20 contests through January 31. Their victory total, in fact, eclipsed the combined number of wins—five—the Friars posted over the last two seasons, including winning just one game in 2004-05.

At one stretch this season, PC won five consecutive games, topped off by a 58-57 victory over new BIG EAST Conference rival the University of Cincinnati. That triumph on January 7 broke a 39-game winless streak in conference play dating back to February 2003. Five of PC's losses have been by six points or less, including two overtime defeats.

Three Friars were averaging in double figures in scoring over the first 20 games: forward Shauna Snyder '07 of Albuquerque, N.M.; guard Chelsea Marandola '09 of Johnston, R.I.; and forward Gayle Nwafili '06 of Maplewood, N.J. Nwafili, who also was averaging more than nine rebounds a game, has seven double-doubles (registering double figures in two offensive categories) to her credit, while Marandola has been named BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Week twice this season.

Another newcomer, forward Shantee Darrian '09 of Trenton, N.J., was contributing an average of 7.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

For the latest seasonal results and other PC sports action, click here.