Mount St. Dominic Girls Hoops Adapts Quickly to New Coaching Staff

The Lions have won three straight games since their head coach resigned and assistant Kyla Ramseur took over as the acting head coach.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The Mount St. Dominic girls basketball team has adapted quickly to a coaching change, winning three straight games under new head coach Kyla Ramseur. The team found out on January 21 that their previous head coach, Brian Dorflaufer, had resigned, and Ramseur, a former college player, was named the acting head coach for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The Lions have responded well, defeating Montclair 58-23 in the first round of the Essex County Tournament, as well as picking up wins over Payne Tech and Wayne Hills in the weeks prior.

Why it matters

The coaching change could have been disruptive for the team, but they have embraced the new energy and system brought in by Ramseur. The Lions are showing resilience and adaptability, which will serve them well as they continue their season and push for a deep playoff run.

The details

Under Ramseur, the Lions have instituted a new 2-2-1 full court press that has been effective, leading to fast break opportunities. In the win over Montclair, eight different players scored, led by 27 points from sophomore Gia McArdle. Junior Bella Iannitelli also had a strong game with 13 points and 9 rebounds. The team's leading scorer, McArdle, has continued to pace the offense, while other players like Iannitelli, sophomore Izzy DeLorenzo, and freshmen Hailey Root and Sofia Gonzalez have stepped up as well.

  • On January 21, the team found out that head coach Brian Dorflaufer had resigned.
  • On January 31, the Lions defeated Montclair 58-23 in the first round of the Essex County Tournament.

The players

Kyla Ramseur

The assistant coach who was named the acting head coach for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after the previous head coach resigned.

Gia McArdle

The team's leading scorer, who has continued to pace the offense under the new coaching staff.

Bella Iannitelli

A junior who had a strong game against Montclair with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Izzy DeLorenzo

A sophomore who has stepped up and contributed to the team's success.

Hailey Root

A freshman who has made an impact, scoring 10 points in the win over Payne Tech.

Sofia Gonzalez

A freshman who has also contributed to the team's offense, scoring 9 points against Payne Tech.

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What they’re saying

“We definitely changed a little. We are trying to have a positive environment and get our energy up. We are using what happened to drive us in these games.”

— Bella Iannitelli, Junior (tapinto.net)

“I feel like we got to keep going. I think we have a new team dynamic and we have been growing as a team.”

— Gia McArdle, Sophomore (tapinto.net)

“That was what we added in recent games with the new coaching staff. We use a new press and it is working well. We emphasize trapping and getting the ball to get those fast break baskets like we did today.”

— Bella Iannitelli, Junior (tapinto.net)

The takeaway

The Mount St. Dominic girls basketball team has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of a coaching change, quickly embracing the new system and energy brought in by acting head coach Kyla Ramseur. Their ability to come together and continue winning games despite the disruption is a testament to the team's character and dedication.