No athlete rests who wants to grow, even in summer. Committed
players go looking for more games, in the biggest arenas they can
find. For the players in Coach Stringer’s program, that can
mean national level teams, even the Olympics.
Coach Stringer and her staff continue their work during the summer
by hosting a basketball camp at Rutgers, developing talent for the
years ahead. The search for replacements on college teams is a constant.
Seniors graduate, and a new crop must learn to take their place.
Off-court that summer, things happened to make one crave the on-court
pressure for its purity. Tasha Pointer, one of the Scarlet Knights’ top-ranked
players, was seriously injured in an act of senseless violence. And
Coach Stringer and her family found themselves faced with yet another
of the sort of wrenching challenges that had become all-too-familiar
to them. 
May 2000: Key Players Graduate
The Scarlet Knights must replace lead scorer and rebounder
Shawnetta Stuart, and sixth woman Usha Gilmore. More than half the
team for the 00-01 season will be first-year players, freshmen or
transfers.
Summer Team Experience
Dana Boonen trains at home with the Belgium national
team. Davalyn Cunningham tours with the Big East All-Stars.
July 11: Tasha Pointer Shot in Eye
The team’s top-ranked point guard Tasha Pointer is shot in
the eye with a BB a block and a half from home in West Chicago,
while returning from a game.
September 2: Stringer’s Son Injured
Coach Stringer’s son Justin, age 16, suffers a brain injury
in a car accident. He must spend months in recovery.
His long-term prospects are unknown. September at the Olympics
Starter Tammy Sutton-Brown competes with the Canadian
team, and newcomer Fatime Ndiaye, with her home country Senegal.
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Tasha Pointer demos her skills and reflects
» watch
the video
“Rutgers’ Pointer keeps it real” by Jess Strelitz
USATODAY.com 2/28/01 Profile of Pointer recounts shooting
» view
article
“Stringer’s priorities changed after latest family tragedy” by
Greg Tufaro Home News Tribune 10/19/00 Account of accident and its
consequences
» view
article
Related links:
Tammy
Sutton-Brown’s Olympic Profile
Fatime
Ndiaye’s Olympic Record
Official site of the Jr.NBA/JR.WNBA
Info on junior level basketball leagues around the country
Scarlet
Knights’ on NCAA Recruiting
Rutgers’ Summary
of NCAA rules
Coach
Stringer’s
Basketball Camp
Official
site for NCAA Women’s Basketball
Rutgers’ links
to articles from the 2000-2001 Season
Injersey.com’ (New Jersey’s Home on the Internet) archive
of Rutgers’ basketball stories for 2001
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