Post by Admin on Oct 14, 2014 12:09:52 GMT -6
First Women's team story of the year via Ryan Deal
www.aberdeennews.com/sports/northern-state-women-bring-back-plenty-of-experience/article_d0332091-2e46-5d6f-9a82-fca01212ba36.html
Expectations are high after exceeding them last season.
The Northern State women’s basketball officially begins practice Wednesday to start of the 2014-15 season. The Wolves went 24-7 last season, won the NSIC North, went undefeated at home and advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Not bad for a team that was picked ninth in the preseason NSIC coaches poll. The Wolves are expected to be higher in this season’s preseason coaches poll, which should be released this week.
“Obviously, we proved a lot of people wrong,” NSU coach Curt Fredrickson said. “This year, they will be one of the favorites. I’m guessing they will be in the top four or five in the league in the coaches polls. They’ve got some pressure on them, but I think they have been around the block enough now where they can handle that.”
NSU has already received some national attention as it was picked 19th in the Women’s Division II Bulletin Preseason Top-25 Poll. The Wolves return six players who started at some point last season, bring back a majority of their scoring and have six seniors on the roster.
“I don’t know if I can ever remember coaching a team that has six seniors on it,” said Frederickson, who begins his 36th season as NSU’s coach and has 747 career wins. “So it is a very experienced team. We’ve got a big team, a tall team and some pretty decent underclassmen to help us. We are feeling pretty good about things.”
NSU center Rachel Krogman is the top returning scorer (15.5 ppg) and rebounder (10 rpg) from last season. The 6-foot-1 senior earned all-conference and all-region honors. Her and senior forward Megan Mutchler (11.3ppg/6.7rpg) were the only two players to start all 31 games for NSU. The 6-foot-1 Mutchler was named to the all-conference defensive team. Senior Sadie Stotesbery started 26 games a season ago. The 6-foot-2 Stotesbery averaged 6.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The senior trio gives NSU one of the more experienced and taller starting front courts in the NSIC.
“It is always fun to coach experienced players, especially experienced players that are tall,” Fredrickson said.
Junior post Lauren Deadrick, who played in 20 games last season, is expected to see an increased role off the bench. Miranda Ristau of Warner is the most ready out of the incoming freshmen and she could push for time in the post, said Fredrickson.
Sophomore Paige Waytashek and senior Kara Hofschild are expected to hold down the point guard duties again. Waytashek (6.8 ppg) started 18 games last season and Hofschild (3.5 ppg) started the other 13 games. Senior MacKinzie Magner, senior Sami Smith and junior Devon Brecke will all see time at the shooting guard spot. Alexis Tappe and Bethany Crosswait, both sophomores, will provide minutes off the bench on the perimeter. Tappe is slated to play small forward behind Mutchler and Crosswait could see more time at the off guard position.
“We’ve got a good inside game, I think we’ve got a good outside game,” Fredrickson said. “Now we are trying to develop some depth behind those seniors.”
www.aberdeennews.com/sports/northern-state-women-bring-back-plenty-of-experience/article_d0332091-2e46-5d6f-9a82-fca01212ba36.html
Expectations are high after exceeding them last season.
The Northern State women’s basketball officially begins practice Wednesday to start of the 2014-15 season. The Wolves went 24-7 last season, won the NSIC North, went undefeated at home and advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Not bad for a team that was picked ninth in the preseason NSIC coaches poll. The Wolves are expected to be higher in this season’s preseason coaches poll, which should be released this week.
“Obviously, we proved a lot of people wrong,” NSU coach Curt Fredrickson said. “This year, they will be one of the favorites. I’m guessing they will be in the top four or five in the league in the coaches polls. They’ve got some pressure on them, but I think they have been around the block enough now where they can handle that.”
NSU has already received some national attention as it was picked 19th in the Women’s Division II Bulletin Preseason Top-25 Poll. The Wolves return six players who started at some point last season, bring back a majority of their scoring and have six seniors on the roster.
“I don’t know if I can ever remember coaching a team that has six seniors on it,” said Frederickson, who begins his 36th season as NSU’s coach and has 747 career wins. “So it is a very experienced team. We’ve got a big team, a tall team and some pretty decent underclassmen to help us. We are feeling pretty good about things.”
NSU center Rachel Krogman is the top returning scorer (15.5 ppg) and rebounder (10 rpg) from last season. The 6-foot-1 senior earned all-conference and all-region honors. Her and senior forward Megan Mutchler (11.3ppg/6.7rpg) were the only two players to start all 31 games for NSU. The 6-foot-1 Mutchler was named to the all-conference defensive team. Senior Sadie Stotesbery started 26 games a season ago. The 6-foot-2 Stotesbery averaged 6.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The senior trio gives NSU one of the more experienced and taller starting front courts in the NSIC.
“It is always fun to coach experienced players, especially experienced players that are tall,” Fredrickson said.
Junior post Lauren Deadrick, who played in 20 games last season, is expected to see an increased role off the bench. Miranda Ristau of Warner is the most ready out of the incoming freshmen and she could push for time in the post, said Fredrickson.
Sophomore Paige Waytashek and senior Kara Hofschild are expected to hold down the point guard duties again. Waytashek (6.8 ppg) started 18 games last season and Hofschild (3.5 ppg) started the other 13 games. Senior MacKinzie Magner, senior Sami Smith and junior Devon Brecke will all see time at the shooting guard spot. Alexis Tappe and Bethany Crosswait, both sophomores, will provide minutes off the bench on the perimeter. Tappe is slated to play small forward behind Mutchler and Crosswait could see more time at the off guard position.
“We’ve got a good inside game, I think we’ve got a good outside game,” Fredrickson said. “Now we are trying to develop some depth behind those seniors.”