Marchele Campbell and Jill Norton are transferring from the Syracuse women’s basketball team, both players told The Daily Orange late last night.

Campbell – whose father, Michael, said earlier in the season that Campbell planned on remaining at Syracuse despite being unhappy – will head for a junior college next season.

Norton, who’s about to complete her sophomore year, said she plans on transferring to a non-Big East school but plans to stay in Division I.

A redshirt freshman, Campbell was ineligible her freshman season because of an NCAA academic suspension. She appeared in just 10 games this season for the Orangewomen after being suspended for 10 games in the middle of the season by SU head coach Keith Cieplicki for violating team academic policy.

She’s chosen to attend a junior college to sharpen her game after missing nearly two years of playing time. She plans to attend one season of junior college and then try to play at a Division I school again.

The 5-foot-4 Campbell said Cieplicki feels she’s too small and creates match-up problems for the Orangewomen. She also said that this season’s suspensions were unfair and unjustly stripped her of a year of playing time.

‘If he’s going to suspend us for his reasons for a game or two games that’s fine, but (10) games?’ Campbell said. ‘He basically ruined my whole sophomore season.

‘I’m real happy. I can’t wait to play somewhere else. I feel like the two years here were worthless. Even when I did play, he didn’t want me to shoot. I’d always feel nervous. If I made one mistake I knew I was coming out.’

Norton will take next season off as mandated by NCAA transfer guidelines. Unlike Campbell, Norton said she’s not leaving on bad terms but for personal reasons. She declined to comment further.

‘I don’t want to leave on bad terms,’ Norton said. ‘I don’t have any bad feelings. I’ve had a good two years here.’

SU just completed a 6-21 season and was eliminated in the first round of the Big East tournament. Cieplicki suspended four players during the regular season for violating the team’s academic policy. Senior April Jean and sophomore Tierra Jackson both left the team. Jackson has since transferred to an unspecified school. Campbell along with freshman Tracy Harbut were suspended but both chose to return following their suspensions. Four players have now left the program since Cieplicki took over for Mariana Freeman.

Norton averaged 2.6 points and 13.2 minutes in 25 games, three of which she started. Campbell, who started one game, averaged 3.3 points in 10.9 minutes.

Published on April 5, 2004 at 12:00 pm