Lafayette College Women's Basketball

Tom Lochner enters his ninth season as Assistant Coach. Lafayette improved to six Patriot League wins in the 2024-25 campaign and it won its first home playoff game since the 2021-22 season. Lochner has been head coach Kia Damon-Olson’s primary assistant since his hiring in 2017. Over that time, he saw to the development of the team’s 21st 1,000-point scorer, Abby Antognoli. The Bay Head, N.J. native was selected to the All-Patriot League Third Team and All-Patriot League Academic Team three times over her career on College Hill. Lochner also helped develop current sophomore Talia Zurinskas to eventually be named to the All-Patriot League Rookie Team. Lochner was Lafayette coach Kia Damon's first hire when she took the head coaching job at Lafayette, bringing with him more than 30 years of experience of the sidelines of successful collegiate and high school programs. "I am very excited to have Tom on staff. Our players are going to thrive under his tutelage," Damon said. "I have known him for well over 15 years and I have always been impressed with his demeanor, knowledge of the game and work ethic. We share a similar philosophy on the value of education through sport and our role in the process. Tom has played an integral role in building successful programs throughout his career and I am very confident he will do the same here at Lafayette." Lochner spent six seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Delaware, where he helped the program average 21 wins per season en route to a 130-63 record. His assistant coaching tenure under Tina Martin ended with her retirement in April. It was highlighted by the 2012-13 season during which the Blue Hens finished with a 32-4 record, and an undefeated mark in conference play. Delaware also captured a CAA Tournament title for its second straight season and made the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. That team was led by two-time NCAA All-American and 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Elena Delle Donne. Prior to Delaware, Lochner spent 23 seasons (1987-2010) on the women's basketball staff at La Salle, including the final six (2004-10) as the Explorers' head coach. During his time in Philadelphia, the Explorers racked up 296 overall wins to go along with two NCAA Tournament appearances and one WNIT berth. As head coach, he earned 2006-07 Big 5 Coach of the Year honors after leading La Salle to 19 wins. He finished his head coaching career with a 71-102 record. Lochner started his career in 1981 as the JV head girls' basketball coach at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, N.Y. before taking over as varsity head coach in 1983. From 1983-87 where he compiled an 88-13 record. He led his alma mater to a 1986 New York State Championship and was acknowledged as New York State Section II Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1986. In 2010-11, Lochner served as an assistant coach at William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia after his lengthy La Salle tenure ended. A 1989 graduate of Temple University, Lochner earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education/Athletic Administration in 1989 and later secured his master's degree in Sports Management in 1997 from Temple. During his time at La Salle, he completed a second master's degree, this in Elementary/Special Education in 2006. Lochner resides in Willow Grove, Pa. with his wife Beth. Their son, Curtis Lochner, is Delaware MBB alumni, while daughter, Samantha, is a St. Peter's University WBB alumni. Updated on 5/27/25

John Hannafin is in his third season as an assistant coach of the Lafayette women's basketball program. He previously served as the director of basketball operations in 2022-23. After being promoted to assistant coach before the 2023-24 season, Hannafin has taken on a larger role in recruiting efforts and game planning. Lafayette garnered six Patriot League wins during the 2024-25 season and it won its first home playoff game since the 2021-22 campaign. Hannafin worked with the program’s latest 1,000-point scorers, Makayla Andrews ’24 and Abby Antognoli ’25, who both earned multiple All-Patriot League laurels over their careers. He also aided in the development of current sophomore Talia Zurinskas in her freshman season, when she was named to the All-Patriot League Rookie Team. Hannafin comes to College Hill after an almost three-year tenure as the assistant girls’ basketball coach at Staten Island Academy where he worked on post-player development, daily practice plans, competitive schedule management and social media administration. Hannafin helped lead the Tigers to a No. 4 NYS ‘A’ ranking and the 2022 NY Class A State Championship. “I am thrilled to have John join our staff. His energy and love for women’s basketball were evident throughout the hiring process,” said Lafayette coach Kia Damon-Olson said. “John’s background with running camps, community outreach and teaching will serve us well as we continue to build a championship-caliber program.” Before Staten Island Academy, Hannafin was a student assistant for the women’s basketball team at his alma mater, Springfield College. The Staten Island, N.Y. native assisted the coaching staff daily, preparing scouting reports using Synergy Sports Tech and recording shot chart statistics. Hannafin operated Springfield women’s basketball’s first Facebook page and curated a monthly newsletter to provide updates on the program. He also helped plan the program’s first alumni game, reaching over 350 previous graduates via email and social media. Dating back to 2015, Hannafin’s athletics-focused resume includes multiple experiences that will aid him during his time with Lafayette: sales coordinator and director of marketing for Moe’s All-Star Camps & Training, marketing and community outreach intern for Wagner College athletics, college coach liaison for the Staten Island Showcase and clinic coordinator for Clinic with the Pros. Hannafin earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Springfield College in 2020, along with a Master of Education (Physical Education K-12) at Brooklyn College in May 2022. Updated (5/27/25)  

Lauren Hammersley was hired in May of 2024 as the director of basketball operations of the Lafayette women's basketball program.  Hammersley aided the Leopards to hosting and winning a playoff game for the first time since the 2021-22 season, while improving the team’s Patriot League win total (6) in her first season on College Hill. The former Assumption and Adelphi graduate worked with the program’s 21st 1,000-point scorer Abby Antognoli, as well as Lafayette’s All-Rookie Team selection and current sophomore, Talia Zurinskas. The Breezy Point, N.Y. native comes to Easton after working as an AAU basketball coach/personal trainer for Crown Basketball and the Long Island Lightning.  “I am excited to add Lauren to our staff. She was highly recommended by a number of people I trust in the industry,” said head coach Kia Damon-Olson. “The passion she has for the game of basketball, coaching and helping young people stood out during the interview process. The players and staff will benefit from the energy, joy and knowledge she brings to each endeavor.” Hammersley gained operations experience when she co-directed a basketball camp in 2021 and 2022 for the Breezy Point, N.Y. youth community. The New York resident was responsible for all operating aspects of the camp. In 2022, Hammersley graduated from Assumption University with a bachelor’s of arts in psychology and was a captain of the women’s basketball team there in her senior season. After her four-year career in Worcester, Mass., she then obtained her master’s degree in childhood education at Adelphi University, where she played for the Panthers as a graduate student for two seasons. During the 2022-2023 season, Hammersley paced the Northeast 10 Conference in there-point percentage, shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. Updated 5/27/25  

Imani Watkins joined the Lafayette women’s basketball coaching staff in September of 2025 as the program’s new assistant coach.  Before arriving in Easton, Watkins had been working as a sixth-grade social studies and science teacher at Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C. Prior to her stint as an educator, the High Point, N.C. native secured a coaching role as an assistant varsity and head JV coach with West Guilford High School’s boys’ basketball in 2021. In addition to her day-to-day coaching responsibilities, Watkins aided the team by organizing travel plans, use of equipment and communication with parents and staff. The former Bearcat landed her first teaching gig in August of 2022 as a long-term substitute teacher at Guilford County Schools. After graduating from Binghamton in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Watkins entered the pro basketball scene. From September of 2018 to February 2023 the guard played for AC Poak (Greece), Istanbul University (Turkey), Cidra Bravas (Puerto Rico), Halcones de Xalapa (Mexico) and the Gisa Lions (Germany). She also played for CS Sfaxien in Tunisia during the African Cup. During her time at Binghamton, Watkins was a force to be reckoned with. She finished her career as the Bearcats’ all-time leading scorer with 2,125 points, which also ranks ninth all-time within the America East’s history. Over four seasons, Watkins started in all 122 games, averaging 17.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.3 apg and 2.2 spg. She is a three-time America East All-Conference selection and in 2018 she was the conference’s player of the year. Updated 9/18/25  

Anthony Dentino joined the Leopard family in December of 2022 and works primarily with the men's and women's middle-distance and distance runners. The 2024-2025 campaign proved to be a successful one for the Leopards, as the men’s cross country team moved 9th to 8th place in the Patriot League. During the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons, Dentino’s athletes accounted for 5 school records, 40 Lafayette All-Time Top-10 marks, 32 ECAC / IC4A qualifying times, and 5 All-East performances. His athletes also produced 12 scoring marks at the indoor and outdoor Patriot League championships with recently graduated mid-distance runner Nava Chevan finishing on the 800m podium at both championships. In 2023-2024, Dentino’s women’s cross country team moved from 8th place to 6th in the Patriot League in his first full season guiding the program. On the track, his men’s and women’s squads combined for 32 top-10 program marks including 2 school records, 13 ECAC/IC4A qualifying marks, 3 All-East performances, and 10 individuals or relays tallying points at the indoor and outdoor Patriot League Championships.  During the 2022-2023 academic year, Dentino's athletes produced 18 top-10 program marks including a school record. Additionally, 11 different athletes qualified for the ECAC/IC4A Championships and 11 individuals or relay teams scored points at the indoor and outdoor Patriot League Championships.  Prior to arriving on College Hill, Dentino was a Special Education teacher and coached cross country and track & field at Robbinsville High School (NJ) from 2016-2022. His teams claimed multiple Colonial Valley Division Championships and a Boy’s Group II Central Jersey Sectional Cross Country Championship in 2017.  Dentino is a 2015 graduate of Rider University where he became the first athlete in school history to medal at the MAAC Cross Country Championships all four years of his career and holds top-10 program marks in the 3K, 5K, and 10K.   He currently resides in Emmaus, Pennsylvania with his wife, Alicia, their newborn son, Austin, and dog, Tilghy. Updated 3/24/26