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Posting Up - Scoreboard - Top 25 - Features - Notables - Team of the Week - Live Audio |
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A look at the upcoming season 2001-02 season |
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Baldwin-Wallace The past three years have been seasons to remember. The Yellow Jackets have won three consective OAC and OAC Tournament championships. The past two years, B-W has advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Now the Jackets are even more hungry for their fourth straight OAC titles. Getting back to the NCAA tourney would be the "icing on the cake" according to Head Coach Cheri Harrer. "We lost three outstanding four-year senior players who contributed a great deal to our program as people first and players second," said Harrer, who is the winningest women's basketball coach in school history with 210 victories. "Each graduate left us with a big hole to fill. We are hoping the departure of the three graduates will challenge our other players and the incoming freshmen to step up their game." Lost to graduation were All-OAC and Academic All-OAC players Kim Luthman, Jen Nance and Mandy Zolciak. The trio contributed 1,014 points, 435 rebounds, 195 assists and 125 steals. Nance was a two-time All-OAC player who also earned Division III All-American honors. Luthman was three times All-OAC. Zolciak was three times Academic All-OAC and Verizon Academic All-District. They left Berea having helped lead B-W to a 104-13 record during the last four years. This winter, Harrer returns 10 letter winners and two starters from last year's 27-3 overall squad that finished 17-1 during the OAC regular season. Leading the way will be senior point guard Emily Clark, junior center Heather Eckstein, junior forward Holly Koepp, junior guard Allison Miketa, junior guard Jessica Tafe and junior "sixth player" Natalie Winkelfoos and sophomores Karissa Kusick, Sarah Gordon and Erika Schultz giving Harrer nine solid veteran players from a year ago. For the past three years, Emily Clark has been one of the best playmakers in the Ohio Athletic Conference. More importantly, Clark is a leader on the court. As a junior, Emily Clark started in all 30 games and was sixth in scoring with 6.7 points per game. She also led the team for the third consecutive year in assists with 116. Her 449 career assists are the most in B-W history. Heather Eckstein came on strong for the Yellow Jackets last season, appearing in all 30 games. She led the team in field goal percentage as she canned 58.3 % of her field goal attempts (67 of 115). She also averaged 6.3 ppg. and 4.2 rpg. in 14 minutes a contest. This winter, look for Eckstein's hard work to pay off again and for her to continue to be an impact player. Holly Koepp battled a hip injury in 2000-2001 which caused her to miss 15 games, but came back to help the Yellow Jackets in the OAC Tournament and NCAA Playoffs. When healthy, Koepp has the ability to be one of the top players in both the OAC and Great Lakes Region. She averaged 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 games a year ago, including 14.7 ppg. and 8.3 rpg. in three NCAA Division III Tournament contests. Look for Natalie Winkelfoos to a key contributor at the two guard position. A year ago, she averaged 7.3 ppg. and was named to the 2001 NCAA Division III Tournament Great Lakes Region all-tournament team despite being hampered part of the season with an injury. She handles the ball well, has outstanding quickness and again will be one of the OAC's top defenders. Juniors Allison Miketa and Jessica Tafe will be looked at to be contributors to the Yellow Jacket attackas key backup players. As sophomores, Miketa saw action in 17 games and scored 17 points Tafe played in 10 contests and scored six markers. Both will add strength and depth to the backcourt. Sophomore Sarah Gordon was medically redshirted last winter due to a dislocated knee cap. She made an immediate impact during the 1999-00 season by averaging 10.2 points per game following transferring from Division I Bucknell University. In six games last season, Gordon scored 8.2 ppg. Look for Gordon to be one of the top players in the OAC. She has the ability to take over games and will give whatever it takes to win. Two years ago, in NCAA tourney wins against Wilmington and Calvin, Gordon put B-W "on her back" by scoring 27 and 20 points, respectively. Gordon is also currently playing volleyball. A key to her impact in 2001-2002 will be how fast she can go from volleyball to basketball. Harrer's freshman
class made an immediate impact on the season. Two out of her three freshman
saw action in all 30 games. Look for these sophomores to step it up and
have great seasons due to the immense experience in 2000-01. Erika Schultz became a starter when Holly Koepp was injured, and she responded by averaging 6.0 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. and was third with 11 blocked shots. She also recorded four double-doubles. This winter, look for Schultz to be a key contributor for the Yellow Jackets offensively and defensively. Look for sophomore Audrey Whittaker to play more key minutes this year in the post position. She saw action in 17 games, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Harrer is extremely pleased with her recruiting class of 10 student-athletes. Of that group, look for junior transfer Brooke Lamb and freshman Stephanie Musser to help in the backcourt. On the inside, one player who have ability to help this year is 6-0 forward Jenn Neal, and a player that will be a project is 6-4 Kelly Worthington. In addition, a number of others with strong talent are expected to compete for a spot on the varsity. Overall, B-W has solid returning talent and another outstanding recruiting class. The biggest keys to sucess will be how well B-W adapts to the loss of its three outstanding graduated seniors, whether Koepp, Gordon and Winkelfoos stay healthy all season and, as always, how well this team handles the pressure of playing in the OAC. Only time will tell. Capital The Capital Center is the Crusaders' new 2,100-seat home and not the only new wrinkle in the program this season as life without three-time All-American and 2001 OAC Most Valuable Player Kendra Meyer begins. Meyer had been the team’s leading scorer each of the last four seasons. Two things that are not new for Capital is 16-year head coach Dixie Jeffers and a roster that returns three starters and 14 returning letterwinners. Senior, point guard, Rochelle Germany starts the Crusader attack out front and averaged 9.5 points, led the team in assists (55) and was one of only two Crusaders to start all 24 games. Fellow senior Erica Hostetler, a well-rounded guard, started in 16 games and scored 6.5 points per game, and sophomore forward Marri McAndrews, a versatile starter in 20 games last year, both return. Junior guard Danielle Meyer is a pure shooter who started in eight games and is the team’s top returning scorer (10.6 ppg), while senior guard and defensive specialist Laurie Barr compliments the deep corps of guards. Senior forward Tara Dickensheets was a two-time All-OAC performer, who lost all of last season to her second knee injury in three years. Two years ago she averaged 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Senior guard Tenise Moffis is a potent outside scoring threat that led the team in three-point field goals made (32) and juniors in forward Kori Payne and center Michelle Budd lead a cast of role players who will each get quality minutes this season. Talented freshmen have been the hallmark of the Capital program and this season is no different two district players of the year in forward Ashley Curl and guard Mary Gruber along with league player of the year in forward Megan Munk. This trio along with five more newcomers completes the Capital roster The Crusaders return to campus in a big way with 14 home dates and begin the campaign with the Lutheran Brotherhood Capital Classic on Friday, Nov. 16, against Thiel. Oberlin Headlining the returners is two-time first team All-NCAC selection Nzinga Broussard. Broussard, a senior guard, became the second woman in Oberlin basketball history to score 1,000 points at home on Dec. 29. Nzinga led the Yeowomen and was fourth in the NCAC in scoring with her 15.8 points-per-game mark. She also paced the team in scoring in 13 of the 25 games. Broussard scored 20 or more points on six occasions and scored a season-high 26 points at Bluffton. Nzinga also led the team and NCAC for the third straight year with 3.4 steals per game and led the team and was third in the conference with 3.7 assists per game. Broussard holds the school career record in assists (311) and steals with 283. In addition, she holds the school record for assists in a season with 117 and steals with 110. Joining Broussard in the backcourt will be junior guard Sophomore Sonja Spencer, who saw action in all 25 games averaged 8.4 points per game while junior Malisha Richardson also returns at the guard position after averaging 8.8 points per contest and 4.5 rebounds per game. Sophomores Amber Coleman, Chakelia Lawrence and Tessa Stevens, who all saw action last year will provide added depth at the guard slot and push for playing time this year. In the post, Gilbert's squad will have to adjust to playing without twin sisters Rachael Barbee and Heather Barbee, who both were four year letterwinners in the paint. Rachel was the second leading scorer on the team with 10.9 points per contest and lead the team in rebounds with 9.4 per game. Heather, finished her senior campaign by averaging 4.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Looking to fill the void left by the Barbee sisters will be sophomore Tranice Harrell, who missed the entire 2000-01 season due to a knee injury and sophomore Emily Wells, who averaged 2.3 points and rebounds per game in her first season. Sophomores Laura Wallerstein and Lucy Yarnell will push for more playing time in the post this season after getting some experience last season. Ohio
Wesleyan Interim head coach
Liana Coutts will look to 10 returning letterwomen and a talented group
of newcomers to try and recapture that magic and become only the second
school to win 4 straight NCAC women's basketball championships. Sturtz led the NCAC in rebounding (10.9/game) and ranked second in the league in scoring (17.2 points/game) last season. She also led the conference in field goal percentage (.585) and blocked shots (1.45/game) and ranked fourth in steals (2.8/game). The competition for the other starting post position, along with other spots in the rotation, will be keen. Juniors Jennifer Heil and Jodi Freeman and sophomore Kristin Thompson all lettered as reserves last year. Sophomore Tiffany Barbee, who showed promise early before missing the second half of last season, also returns. They will battle a talented group of incoming players. Junior Mindy Hammond, a transfer from Cincinnati, was an all-state selection in high school. Freshman Liz Newell was an All-Ohio selection in high school and freshman Melissa Hill was an all-district pick last season. Freshman Shelby Larson also will vie for playing time. Seniors Talia Brader and Elizabeth Edinger are the Bishops' other returning starters. Brader and Edinger split the point guard position last year and combined for nearly five assists per game. Sophomore Krystal Sensabaugh lettered as a reserve point guard last season. Freshman Angela Gibson, an All-Ohio pick in high school last year, also will look to contribute. Versatile senior Michelle Wolfe, who came off the bench at a variety of positions last year, will look to win the starting guard spot this season. Sophomore Becky Van Fossen lettered as a reserve last year. Coutts must replace first-team All-NCAC selection Jessica Viertlboeck at the wing spot. Viertlboeck led the NCAC in scoring and was named Most Valuable Player at the NCAC tournament last year. Junior Callie Seiley is the only returning letterwinner at wing, but sophomore Michelle Dickston and newcomers Becky Roeder, a sophomore who did not play last year, and Kelly Heil, a freshman who won all-state laurels in high school, will provide a spirited battle for the starting nod. The Battling Bishops open their season at the Hope Tip-Off Tournament. The NCAC schedule begins on Dec. 1 against Oberlin. Trips to Case Reserve, Thomas More and the Ohio Northern Invitational highlight the pre-holiday non-conference slate, and the NCAC schedule resumes in January.
Wittenberg
Among those indicators: the Tigers return 10 letterwinners and 13 players who saw action in 2000-01; five of the eight players who started at least one game last year are back in the fold, including four of the five starters in the Tigers' NCAC tournament defeat at Ohio Wesleyan; and the team's top four scorers and top five rebounders will suit up again in 2001-02. Leading the charge this year will be the junior guard duo of Stephanie Campbell and Kate Rolf, a tandem that led the Tigers in every statistical category in 2000-01. Rolf had a breakout season a year ago, leading the team in scoring and rebounding and earning first-team All-NCAC honors. Campbell, a transfer from Taylor University, fit in well and led the Tigers in minutes, three-point shooting percentage, steals and floor burns due to her hustle. Also returning to the starting lineup are senior point guard Meghan Gaydos and junior forward Tiffany Keller, who came on strong after helping the Wittenberg volleyball team to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Senior forward Jill Swary also started 15 games and figures to be a key frontcourt player, along with sophomore Geri Woessner and junior Rebecca Meers, who both contributed a great deal off the bench. Wooster
This season, though, Lisa Campanell Komara has 14 returning letterwinners at her disposal, including a total of nine juniors and seniors, which mark her first two recruiting classes as head coach and whom she firmly believes will lead Wooster back up the league standings. Highlighting the Scots' list of veterans is two-time all-conference performer, Nara DeJesus. The junior forward, who has averaged a double-double with 14.1 points and 10.1 rebounds over her first 50 games, will be complemented by fellow returning starters Michaelyn Brunner, Courtney Davison, and Kerri Horst. That trio makes up the backcourt with Davison at point guard; Horst, the team's defensive stopper, at shooting guard; and Brunner spotting up at the wing. Taking over the other starting post position vacated by the graduation of Morgan Ramsdell, who contributed 11.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 2000-01, will most likely be Kristen Rice. The junior block shot-specialist averaged 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds last year, and should be a good complement for DeJesus. In addition to its depth and experience, Wooster enters 2001-02 knowing that it played much better down the stretch run last season. In fact, during the Scots' final 11 losses, seven came by 10 points or less, including their NCAC Tournament quarterfinal match-up in which they were tied with 4:00 to play against Ohio Wesleyan, which went on to the NCAA Division III Final Four. Campanell Komara believes that if the team can stay confident and healthy, Wooster can be the surprise team of the year. Pitt-Greensburg
Supplying the foundation for the Bobcats in 2001-02 will be a pair of All-Conference players. Leading the group is junior forward Erin Arnold, the school’s second leading career scorer, and member of the AMCC 2nd team each of her first two seasons. Arnold achieved personal bests by averaging 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Teaming up with Arnold will be sophomore guard Torey Auld who was honorable mention AMCC and set single season records for assists (103) and three point field goals made (35). Auld finished the season averaging 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. "These two have complementary talents that help hold our team together, but are other returnees and newcomers should supply depth and competition across the board," Gelet said. That group will include a pair of sophomores, Annie Sral and Jordan Fox, who each started for parts of the season. Sral, who twice earned All-State honors while in high school, battled a knee injury throughout the season but still managed to average 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 17 games. Fox spent her time as a main perimeter threat as she made 22 three-pointers in 24 games. Six newcomers also figure into the mix and they include junior Kristi Helfer and freshman Becky Joyce, Bethany Sersen, Sarah McKain, Jen Sutlic, and Amy Ploskunak. Gelet, who was named the AMCC Coach of the Year as voted by her fellow coaches, will see the Bobcats face the toughest schedule in her tenure. The Bobcats will twice tussle with defending AMCC champion Penn State-Altoona, and 2001 NCAA tournament participant Penn State-Behrend in conference play. Add in a non-conference schedule which includes a trip to the Wingate Inn Tip-Off Tournament hosted by Messiah, the 2001 NCAA Division III runners-up and preseason No. 1 team, and including ECAC South runner-up DeSales. Other games include a 2001 NCAA tournament team in Bethany, Grove City, an ECAC South playoff team from a year ago, and a pair of NAIA schools in Point Park and Carlow. "Our approach will not change. We will practice and prepare as we always do, and give ourselves and our fans the best effort possible," Gelet said. Kenyon This season's Ladies' roster contains four returning starters and eight returning letterwinners. More importantly, the roster features six players who were a part of the 2000 Kenyon College team that went 21-6, won the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament and made an appearance in the NCAA Division III national tournament. Coach Suzanne Helfant, now in her seventh season at Kenyon, knows how valuable that experience can be. "Those women were a part of something special. It may have been two seasons ago, but they still know what it takes to get to that level and I know they still have the desire to get back," Helfant said. "That kind of experience can translate into wins." Last season, a group of Ladies struggled through their sophomore slumps and ran into some trouble with injuries. The results was a 10-14 record and a sixth place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference with a 6-10 mark. "We had problems staying healthy last year, but if we can avoid that this season it will make an incredible difference," Helfant said. " I think we could surprise a lot of people." Helfant can back that statement up with the fact that the Ladies return their top four scorers, four of their top five rebounders, their two assist leaders and their top three subs. Heading the list of returners is senior Sarah Fox. The 5-9 forward/guard led the Ladies in virtually every category last season. She was tops in points (14.3 ppg), rebounds (4.9 rpg), assists (4.3 apg) and steals (3.1 spg). Fox, who transferred into Kenyon last season, took some time to gel with her teammates, but fit in well by the end of the season. She led the Ladies in scoring in five of her last seven games and at the conclusion of the season she was named a member of the All-NCAC Second Team. Also returning to the Ladies' lineup is senior guard Eileen Wittman, the team's most accurate outside shooter. Wittman went through last season draining 21 of 60 three-point attempts (35.0%). She averaged 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, while collecting 36 steals. Juniors Lauren Camp and Beth Lye are also back to claim their spots on the Ladies' front line. Camp, a 5-9 forward, grabbed 4.1 rebounds per game last year and scored 7.2 points per game. Lye, a 5-11 forward, played a limited role last season, but was able to contribute 3.9 points and 2.3 points per game. The tandem ranked second and third on the team in field goal percentage. Centering the front line this year will be junior Cori Arnold, an All-NCAC Honorable Mention from last season. The 6-0 center played in all 24 games, but started just seven. She made the most of her time by scoring 10.3 points per game and grabbing 4.5 rebounds per game — the second-best averages on the team. She got more comfortable as the season wore on and should be a major contributor in the upcoming season. "As a whole, this year's team has more size and strength," Helfant explained. "We are not going to be a pushover." Providing reinforcements off the bench will be a pair of experienced senior guards in Becky Cornely and Erin O'Neill. Cornely was a part-time starter last season and recorded 5.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. O'Neill brings ball-handling skills and a good outside shooting touch to the floor. Last season she sank 25 of 74 3-point shots (33.8%) and led the team with a 1.2 assists-to-turnovers ratio. The Ladies will get the season started on Nov. 16 against Muskingum in the Centre College Tip-Off Tournament. The team's non-conference schedule also includes three Ohio Athletic Conference schools in John Carroll, Mount Union and Ohio Northern. "We play a tougher non-conference schedule this season, but I think in the long run it's going to help us," Helfant said. "As far as our conference schedule goes, I think our experience will come into play at the end of the year and that we will be competing for the title." "These women have a great work ethic and the team unity is incredible," Helfant added. "They have set their standards high and I think in the long run it's all going to pay off." |
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