1999-00 Season
Previews
On paper, the Bulldogs seem to be staring a rebuilding year straight in the eyes. But Adrian features one of the best players in the league, has depth at the forward spot and has a talented cast of freshmen. So, despite the graduation of six seniors, Head Coach Kathy Morris enters the 1999-2000 season with optimism.
The Bulldogs still have their number one weapon in senior Ann Terpstra, and as Terpstra goes, so do the Bulldogs. The 6-1 center from Chelsea,Mich. (Chelsea H.S.) led Adrian in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage last season, and Adrian’s hopes are riding on her potential. Terpstra, a two-time First Team All-MIAA pick and the MIAA scoring champion as a sophomore, averaged 15.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and shot 60 percent from the field as a junior. She is already Adrian's all-time career blocked shots leader (103), will crack the 500-rebound mark this season (currently 477) and has amassed 783 points in 58 career games. Need proof that Adrian has success when Terpstra does? The Bulldogs were 9-0 last season when she scored 20 or more points.
Sophomore guard Kristen Lasecki (5-6) also returns to the starting lineup. Lasecki started 23 games as a freshman, where she averaged 3.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and dished off 66 assists while bringing an unflappable presence to the court. The consummate team player, Lasecki looks to pass before shooting -- a trait that helped last year’s senior-laden team but will have to be altered a bit. While Adrian still counts on her unselfish play, she is a capable scorer who excels in both the transition game and a set-up offense.
Who will join Terpstra and Lasecki in the 1999-2000 version of the Bulldogs? Look for several players who flourished as role players last year to challenge for the final starting spots. Coach Morris can turn to senior captain Kelsey Patton (Addison H.S.), a hardworking forward who despite a lack of size (5-9) will go to battle with any frontcourt player in the league. Her efforts don’t always materialize on the final statistic sheet, but Patton’s work ethic and leadership have earned the praise of the Bulldog coaches. A pair of sophomores -- Margaret Moses (Otsego H.S.) and Annie Morton (Standish-Sterling H.S.) -- received valuable playing time off the bench last season and were major factors in Adrian’s 15-10 record. Both players are over 5-10 but play more like guards. Moses provided instant offense last season, topping the 20-point mark several times and finishing with an 8.2 point per game scoring average. Morton is 6-0 but runs the court like a gazelle, thriving in the transition game. She averaged 4.4 points per game last season.
Major concerns exist at point guard -- where a freshman will likely be handed the starting job -- and on the perimeter. The Bulldogs shot just 25% from behind the three-point line last year, and perimeter success is critical if the Bulldogs want to remain in the upper echelon of the MIAA.
Opponent defenses will focus on stopping Terpstra, so Adrian has to prove it can score from the outside. Adrian is also without a proven defensive stopper. For the past three seasons, Morris looked to now-graduated Alison Eggly and LaKecia Payne to shut down the opposition’s top scoring threat. Filling the role of defensive stalwart is a critical preseason task.
The Bulldogs are also looking to avoid a slow start. Adrian was under .500 (4-5) in November and December of 1998 before finishing out the season with an 11-5 record -- including an upset win against regionally ranked Defiance.
Alma
With the return of four starters and seven letterwinners, the Alma Scots have a bright outlook heading into the 1999-2000 season. Headlining these returners are senior guards Mary Barnhart and Shannon Gross. Both were All-MIAA second team selections a season ago, and figure to fill the huge scoring vacuum left by graduated senior Ellen Bradbury, a two-time
All-MIAA first teamer and MIAA MVP. Also returning is junior Rebekah Downing, who will be in her third year of starting at the point guard slot.
"The success of our season is going to be based on how well our upperclassmen play," said Alma head coach Charlie Goffnett, who enters his 12th season at the helm of the Scots. "We do have some experience coming back, but somehow we have to replace 20 points and 12 rebounds a game. Ideally, I think we’ll have to do this with everybody picking their game up -- you can’t go out and recruit someone to score 20 points and grab 12 rebounds -- we’ll have to do it collectively."
The coaching staff is excited about the return of senior Adrianne Fitzgerald, who did not play last year. "She’s going to give us another good 5-9 athlete that can run and jump and really give us a different look as far as speed and pressing."
The backcourt contingent also includes Downing and junior Joy Horton. "With Downing starting for three years, with that type of experience we feel pretty good with the ball in her hands. Joy had some very good games for us last year, and she’s playing with a lot more confidence this year. We’re trying to get her to be more aggressive offensively. We’re thinking that we’re going to get more from Joy this year."
More uncertain for the Scots is the frontcourt. Gone is Bradbury, who ended her career with a bevy of records, as she ranks in the top five career-wise in points, rebounds, blocked shots and field goal percentage. The lone returning starter among the front line is scrappy junior Julie Whitmore, who made a successful return from knee surgery in 1998-99 to average eight points and five rebounds a game. A hard-nosed player who can defend both perimeter and post players, she will be looked to for more scoring this season and may see time on the perimeter as well.
"Julie Whitmore might be our best player right now. She’s worked really hard in the offseason, and with Fitzgerald coming back and a good recruiting class in the post, we would like to use Julie more on the perimeter than we did last year," remarked Goffnett. "She gives us just a tremendous competitor that can shoot the ball and post up. The nice thing for Julie is because she did play inside last year that’s she pretty rugged, so when she gets out playing on the perimeter and we get her matched up with guards, we’ll put her inside and she’ll really go to town."
Sophomore Shannon Boven also will see significant time, as she made notable improvements in her freshman season. Joining Boven and Whitmore up front are three freshmen that should be an integral part of the Alma program for years to come. At the center position are two players, including the tallest player in the program’s history, 6-3 Sarah Kruttllin. Joining her up front is fellow center Shelly Ulfig.
"We’re going to have to rely on freshmen in the post to some degree, but probably to a lot of degrees. Sarah has really looked good in practice. In our style of play where we’re going to throw the ball inside in our set offense, we think she can be a really good player for us offensively. Shelly Ulfig can block shots and she can score inside. I don’t know if we can play them together right now, but if we can get 12, 14, 16 points a game out of those two people as a combination, that would almost give us what Ellen gave us as one person."
The Scots are also excited about two other freshmen, forward Janell Twietmeyer and Kristie Gehrs. Twietmeyer can play either power forward or small forward. "We’ve been very impressed from what we’ve seen so far in practices (from Twietmeyer). She’s very skilled offensively -- she can dribble, pass, shoot and post up," related Goffnett. About Gehrs, Goffnett said "She’s a very good player. She’s a combination guard -- she can play the point and play the off-guard. She’s a Julie Whitmore-type competitor, and is going to gives us a guard that can dribble, pass and shoot."
As for the MIAA in 1999-2000, things are very uncertain with the two first-place teams from a season ago, Calvin and Defiance, breaking in new coaches. "I would like to think that we could be in the top echelon. I know Hope had a good recruiting class, and based on what they did last year and with the majority of their players back, I would have to put them first.
"I told my team 'If they’re going to keep score we’re going to try to win' -- we’re going to go for the championship right now. Our goal is the same every year."
No. 17 Calvin
Calvin will feature a new look this year as Kim Gall takes over the reins as head coach from Gregg Afman who is now heading the women's basketball program at Westmont College (Calif.). Gall previously coached the women's basketball team at Geneva (Pa.) for 14 years.
Gall inherits a team that returns four seniors and three starters from last year's 24-6 club but must find a way to replace its top offensive player in Kerry Walters and its top defensive player in Jodi Toonstra, who have both since graduated. Based on last year's success, Calvin has been ranked No. 17 in the D3hoops.com preseason Top 25.
Leading the list of returnees is senior point guard Mindi Andringa, a two-time first team All-MIAA selection and a preseason honorable mention All-America choice by Women's DIII News. A year ago, Andringa averaged 10.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Over the final 12 games of the season, the Pella, Iowa, native averaged 15.7 points per game and connected on over 50% of her field goal attempts. Heading into her senior campaign, Andringa is just 162 points away from becoming the seventh player in Calvin history to crack the 1,000 point barrier in a career and is also 105 assists away from breaking the Calvin career mark for assists. Andringa has also proven to be deadly at the free-throw line as she has nailed 161 of 196 career attempts at the charity stripe (82.6%).
Andringa will have a familiar target to pass to in the post as 6-0 senior center Robyn Fennema (South Christian) returns for her third year on varsity. A year ago, Fennema appeared in all 30 games, starting in seven while averaging 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. She also connected on 51.2% of her field goal attempts.
Senior power forward Jill Kreuze (Grand Rapids Christian) is another senior and returning starter. Although not a prolific scorer, Kreuze has developed into one of the most valuable players in the Calvin program over the past three years with her rebounding, passing and defensive skills. In addition, Kreuze is one of the top screen-setters for the Knights, often freeing perimeter players like Andringa for open shots. As a junior, Kreuze, led the Knights in rebounding at 6.5 boards per game while also averaging 5.4 points and 2.2 assists-per-game. In league games, she averaged 7.0 rebounds per contest to rank fifth in the league in caroms as she earned honorable mention recognition from the MIAA.
Senior Lauren Louters (Grand Rapids Christian) is the fourth senior and third returning starter for the Knights. At 5-11, Louters is tall enough to play underneath the basket and quick enough to move out to the perimeter. With Toonstra graduated, Louters may be asked to play some minutes in the backcourt this year. Louters is coming off a season that saw her average 7.2 points and 4.0 rebounds a game. As a sophomore, she averaged 9.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game through 11 contests before going down with a season-ending knee injury.
Sophomore Kendra Toonstra (Calvin Christian) is the only other returning letterwinner. A 5-11 post player, Toonstra saw varsity action in a pair of games last year while finishing as one of the top scorers and rebounders on Calvin's JV squad. The remainder of the Calvin roster is filled with either freshmen or sophomores who spent last year on the Calvin junior varsity.
Some of the freshmen to watch in the backcourt include Jennifer Plakmeyer (Calvin Christian), Emily Mejeur (Kalamazoo Christian) and Tricia Dyk (Western Michigan Christian). Plakmeyer and Dyk can both play the point guard position and their development through the year may allow Andringa to move over to the shooting guard spot. Mejeur has good outside shooting range and can swing between the shooting guard and wing spots.
The interior will be bolstered by freshmen Hayley Davis of Lansing Catholic Central High School, Emily Beard of Southfield Christian High School & Mandy VandenBosch of Grand Rapids Christian High School. A 5-10 forward, Davis has good speed and can fill the lanes on the fast break. Beard is an athletic 6-0 center who is coming off of a strong campaign on the Calvin JV volleyball team. VandenBosch is a rugged 6-0 post player who can swing between the center and power forward spots. One of three Grand Rapids Christian High School graduates on the varsity, VandenBosch has strong rebounding and passing skills and can also run the floor well.
The non-conference schedule is challenging as Calvin will open its season against Lakeland (Wis.) in a tournament hosted by UW-Stevens Point. Lakeland returns all five starters from a team that earned a bid to the NCAA III Tournament a year ago while posting a 23-4 record. The Knights will also face Division II power Saginaw Valley State in the Grand Rapids Press Tournament while also competing at the Wittenberg Invitational over Christmas break. Non-conference dates with NAIA foes Aquinas and Olivet Nazarene also dot the schedule.
Capital
At Capital University, high expectations for the women's basketball team are an annual rite that often coincides with the changing colors of the leaves each autumn. The winningest Division III program in the country during the 1990's (259-37 record/.876 win pct.) aims high and often delivers. Under the direction of head coach Dixie Jeffers, Capital has amassed 10 consecutive 20-win seasons, four Final Four appearances (1993-95, 1997), and two national championships (1994 and 1995). Part of the success of the Crusaders is due to the fact that those involved with the program focus on the present and future rather than the past.
The No. 3 Capital squad will feature 15 returning letterwinners, only one of whom will be a senior this season. The returnees, including 11 sophomores, are older and wiser after a 24-5 campaign that ended with an overtime loss to undefeated national champion Washington University in the NCAA Sectionals last March. Dixie Jeffers has added some talented recruits to an already-powerful arsenal to form a squad that should rank among the nation's finest.
Kendra Meyer heads a deep frontcourt that mixes height and athleticism. Meyer averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Crusaders last season. She will combine with LeAnn Mallernee to form an imposing tandem of six-foot-one juniors. Mallernee missed the first 10 games last year with an injury, then averaged 14.2 points over the final 19 contests. All-OAC Second Team forward Tara Dickensheets and All-OAC Honorable Mention pick Kate Fishley are hoping to make successful returns after their rookie seasons were cut short by knee injuries. Each player was averaging double figures in the scoring column last year when her season ended prematurely.
Capital also possesses enough weapons at the guard position to punish opponents who concentrate too much on stopping the forwards. Amy Strine, the lone senior on the team, is an effective scorer off the dribble or shooting the three-pointer. Last year, she averaged 8.1 points per game and shot .434 from beyond the arc. Diminutive sophomore Tenise Moffis is the Crusaders' biggest deep threat. Moffis nailed 39 treys last year at a .429 clip. Junior point guard Marissa Rugg directs the Capital attack with a steady hand while also providing leadership and pressure defense in the backcourt. When Rugg is lifted from the lineup, lightning-quick sophomore Laurie Barr offers a change of pace for opponents to contend with. Sophomore Erica Hostetler adds to Capital's considerable depth off the bench. She was one of 11 Crusaders to average at least 11 minutes per game last year.
With Dixie Jeffers on the bench and 15 returnees in uniform, Capital appears primed for another banner season. The young Crusaders got a taste of success last year, and they should be not only wiser, but also hungrier because of that experience. As always, expectations will be high, but so will the level of talent on the 1999-2000 Capital women's basketball team.
Franklin
With the return of the bulk of their roster and a solid recruiting effort, Franklin is poised for its best showing since the 1994-95 season. That group went 24-2 and made the second of Franklin's two trips to the Division III tournament since joining the NCAA in 1992. After narrowly falling on the road to Wilmington in the conference championship game last March, the Lady Grizzlies have their sights on regaining the league supremacy that saw them win five consecutive championships this decade.
Franklin only graduated one senior, four-year starter Michelle Singer. There were two returning players set to begin their fourth years, but neither will be in action this winter. Amy Johnson, a starter alongside Singer in the backcourt last year and one of Franklin's career leaders in assists, steals, and three-pointers, opted to sit out the upcoming season to concentrate on academics. Fellow senior Jamie Fulk, the team's second-best shooter from the field, will be out of action for medical reasons.
There is plenty of talent to pick from among the younger players. The bulk of the experience comes from a veteran junior class. Everything begins with preseason All-American candidate Anne Heile. The 6-2 center topped all HCAC players in league play in rebounding (9.2) and blocked shots (2.0) while leading Franklin in scoring last season at 13.1 points per game. Her primary help on the perimeter last season came from Sherry Martin, who experienced a breakout year. The 5-7 wing shattered most school three-point records while averaging 12.0 points.
Five-foot-seven guard Tara Borgman is Franklin's other returning long-range threat. The school's all-time leader in three-pointers made, Borgman is a career 38.5% shooter from downtown and provides offense off the bench (5.5 points in 1999). Another scorer is 6-0 forward Amy Eldridge, who came off the bench to average 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds an outing. Eldridge, a starter as a freshman, will be sidelined most of the non-conference games after having shoulder surgery over the summer.
Two other juniors expected to contribute are 5-6 wing Michelle Bowman and 5-3 guard Sara Sheets. Bowman fell prey to mono midway through the season but has bounced back. Sheets, another injury victim as a sophomore with a bad back strain, averaged 2.8 points in limited action.
Four of this team's sophomores saw significant action last year. Tara Jordan started most of the conference campaign after missing the first six games with mono. The 5-10 power forward averaged 5.3 points and 5.8 rebounds. Suzie Thompson (5-4) is Singer's heir apparent at the point, having averaged 3.3 points in relief duty last year. Natalie Sponsel, a 5-8 wing, made an immediate impact last season with her intensity. Capable of scoring inside and armed with improved range, Sponsel's biggest contribution to the team still comes from her defensive prowess and rebounding.
A heralded freshman class looks to improve on Franklin's athletic ability and lend additional depth. No fewer than five of the rookies played on teams that were ranked in the top ten of their respective classes in Indiana last season, including two from No. 1-rated teams.
Franklin's 16 wins last season were their most in four years, although there was some frustration in the knowledge that in at least three instances (both Manchester losses and against Huntington) Franklin had a lead inside of two minutes to play and came away with defeats. With an year of extensive playing time under their belts for the veterans, a 20-win season is certainly a possibility for the squad.
Penn State-Behrend
The Penn State Behrend women’s basketball team will mix a solid group of experienced upperclassmen with a talented crew of young players. "We return a great core of players that have had a lot of athletic success," said seventh-year head coach Roz Fornari. "We are eager to see what we can achieve this season."
The Lions return 10 players from last year’s team that went 17-9 and won the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championship. The point guard position for the blue, white and red has experience and depth. Senior Carrie Nestor (Erie/McDowell) will be a four-year starter and the commander on the floor. Nestor is the single-season leader for assists and is only four away from establishing a career record. Relieving Nestor will be sophomore Katie Weigold (Erie/Villa Maria), who saw time at point and shooting guard last season, while freshman Jessica Tanner (Franklin/Franklin) adds great defensive ability and will push both for time.
At the guard positions for Behrend is a combination of experience, shooting ability and quickness. Leading the way are returning starters senior Tiffany Buck (Irwin/Penn Trafford) and junior Lisa Sanders (Bradford/Bradford). Buck is the career leader in three-pointers made with 122, while Sanders is the team’s emotional leader. Top challengers for time are sophomores Kate Costanzo (Kittaning/Kittaning) and Weigold. Rookie guards include Adrienne Janiuk (Erie/Strong Vincent), Amanda Mauser (Cecil/Canon-McMillan), Holly Anderson (Pittsburgh/North Hills), and Tanner.
The Behrend Lions also remain strong in the paint, returning all five of their posts. Sophomore center Erin Phillips (14.0 ppg & 6.7 rpg), from McDowell High School, led the team in scoring and rebounding, and earned the AMCC "Rookie of the Year" award. She will attempt to hold down her starting role along with junior Jen O’Lare (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park), who was second on the team in points and rebounds per game at 11.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Competing for a starting position will be three sophomores Christine Charnock (Cranberry Township/Seneca Valley), Jacqueline Jackson, and Megan Supernovich (Elizabeth/Elizabeth-Forward). All have contributed a significant amount already and will look to improve on their roles this season. Charnock runs the floor well, while Jackson provided five-plus points and boards a game off the bench. Supernovich is returning after a year off from basketball.
"Our players are very hardworking," said Fornari. "They have set high expectations for themselves and this season. We have the ability to be a very competitive basketball program in our conference, regionally and nationally. This year may be that opportunity -- it will be up to our players to make that decision."
The Lions are on a roll. The program has captured 100 wins in the last six years under Fornari, and her team’s have been to the postseason in three of her six seasons at Penn State-Behrend. In 1997-98, they participated in the ECAC’s, and in 1995-96 the Behrend Lions captured the ECAC Southern Regional Championship. Her first squad in 1993-94 went 21-6 and earned the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. The 1994 team reached the regional semifinals before bowing out to the eventual national champion Capital. The women’s basketball program has a rich tradition, so we can expect this year’s team to defend its AMCC title and work hard to gain another postseason berth.
Pitt-Bradford
After two seasons with experience on the Panthers' side, this year they will look for a lot of youth and exuberance to lead the way. Mandy Lindsay, a two-time 1st team All-AMCC selection, is one of only two returning starters.
The Panthers have tasted success the past two years and are going for a three-peat in the AMCC finals in 1999-2000. "We have some maturing and team building to do during preseason and the first part of the year," head coach Katy Grenewalt points out. "We're young, but at least five of the returnees have cut down the nets for a championship. Their desire to win another one will push the first-year players. I've noticed some of the freshmen are up to the challenge and there will be some battles for starting positions this season and that is a good situation to be in."
Pitt-Bradford will use a number of different looks on offense and defense this year to make them more versatile. The Panthers have relied heavily on the inside game the past two season, but now they will look to the backcourt for leadership and scoring. "I still anticipate a very successful season for us. We will be smaller than we have been in the past, but also a lot quicker," added Grenewalt.
Wilmington
The Wilmington Quakers will
take the court in search of their fourth consecutive 20-win
season. The team went 20-5 last season and won the Heartland
Conference, but fell short of its ultimate goal - a ticket to the
big dance.
This season the Quakers have the same goals in mind and return with a lot of the same firepower. Leading the charge in the 1999-2000 campaign will be senior forward, Josie Eilerman (Ft. Loramie/Ft. Loramie). Last season she averaged 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest. She was named a Kodak All-American Honorable Mention and the Heartland Conference's Most Valuable Player. During the '98-'99 season, Eilerman pulled down her 500th career rebound and scored her 1,000th career point. She is one of just four WC women in school history to surpass both milestones.
Backing up Eilerman on the perimeter is Heather Meranda (Georgetown/Georgetown). The 5-8 junior guard was second on the team in scoring last season with a 16.4 ppg average. But she can do more than just score. Meranda also averaged 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Along with Eilerman, she was named an All-Conference player. Also returning to her starting role will be senior guard, Amy Ashbrock (Cincinnati/Mt. Notre Dame). Ashbrock averaged 8.4 points per game and 2.8 rebounds. She improved throughout the season and turned her game up a notch in the postseason tournament.
Along with Meranda, she earned a spot on the All-Tournament team after drilling 5-of-6 three pointers and scoring 18 points in the final. With the loss of center Stacee Smith and forward Jill Shafer, the Quakers will have a couple of holes to fill in their starting lineup. Look for sophomores MacKenzie Hammond (Troy/Troy) and Jorgi Eilerman (Ft. Loramie/Ft. Loramie) to be the front-runners for these spots. Both came off the bench last season. Eilerman averaged 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while Hammond averaged 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Incoming freshman Megan Woodruff (New Vienna/East Clinton) could also make a big impact. She graduated from East Clinton as the school's valedictorian. On the court she played the point and during her senior year she averaged 17.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. She sank 85% of her free throws and shot 45% from three-point range. She finished her high school career with 1,254 points.
Guiding the Quakers through his 10th season, is coach Jerry Scheve. He is the college's winningest coach and owns a 146-79 record over his previous nine seasons. Joining Scheve on the bench will be two new assistants, Jeff Hans and Jessi Hignite.
The Quakers open their season at home against Rose-Hulman in the Wilmington College Tip-Off Tournament on November 19.
Wooster
College of Wooster third-year women’s
basketball coach Lisa Campanell Komara has put together a pair of
talented recruiting classes the past two seasons, which form the
nucleus of one of the youngest squads in the country. The
preseason roster lists one senior and one junior to go along with
five sophomores and a host of freshmen that will be vying for
minutes this year.
Komara sees her team’s youthfulness as an exciting opportunity to showcase a new look for the Scots. Wooster fans and opponents can expect to see an up-tempo, hustle style that will open up the floor more, but it will all take time to develop.
"We can’t focus any further than the next game because we’re so young," said Komara. "We’ll have to be very patient this year, while we grasp the concepts of trying to press more and run a little bit more."
On the offensive end of the court this season, the Scots look to replace their all-time leader in scoring, Katie Montague, who averaged 15.9 points per game for her career. Komara sees this not as a challenge, but as a way to bring much more balance to the offense.
"Katie was the go-to person the last four years," explained Komara. "When I came here, the opposition knew Katie was going to take 50% of our shots, so they would double-team her and cause problems. In essence, losing Katie actually kind of opens things up for us. We hope to have four people averaging in double figures, instead of two."
Aleashia Washington, the lone senior on the squad, may lead that balanced attack as she returns after having a career year last season, averaging 9.6 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and leading the team in blocks with 22.
"Aleashia has become more consistent for us each year she’s been here," commented Komara. "She understands the role she plays on this team very well, and I think this year, she could have a breakout season for us."
The lone junior on the team is Jocelyn Horn, who is expected to be the starting point guard for the Scots. She will replace three-year starter Erin Gertz. Horn scored 5.1 points per game and had a team-best 82 assists during the 1998-99 season.
"Joci pushes the ball up well and sees the whole floor very well," said Komara. "Erin gave us a very steady, set-up offensive game, but with Joci as point guard, we may see more fast breaks and open floor points."
The five members of the sophomore class form the core of Komara’s rebuilding plan. Maureen Mull, who was third on the team in scoring as a freshman with 10.4 points per game, leads that group. The 5-5 guard also dished out 2.5 assists per game and had a team-high free throw percentage, converting 76.5% of her foul shots.
Guard Stephanie Woodruff and forward Shelby Blake are two other sophomores who saw action in every game as freshmen. The extremely quick Woodruff scored 7.7 points per game and led the Scots in steals with 45 last year, while Blake scored 1.6 points per contest and grabbed 1.4 caroms per game.
The two other members of the sophomore class who might see increased playing time are guard Kerri Horst and forward Megan Hogue.
"The strong sophomore class got a lot of experience last year as freshmen, which will be a tremendous asset as time goes on," said Komara. "They are a groups that really wants to bring this program up a notch."
With just seven returning letterwinners, many freshmen will get a chance to see some action. Leading members of the freshman class are forward Nara DeJesus, guard Jessica Merritt, and center Kristen Rice, who also plays volleyball for Wooster.
