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Scots raise fitness level, tempo
Release Date:
November 12, 2009
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
The challenge this season for women’s basketball coach
Melissa Bittner will be to replace a pair of graduated players:
Tanesha Hughes, the Midwest Conference’s leading scorer and
rebounder last season; and 1,000-point scorer Melissa Gorski.
“You don’t replace players like that, you just reload,” said
Bittner. “We have three players who have waited in the wings and now
it’s their chance to shine.”
The three guards – all-conference senior Lynsey Barnard
(Pekin, Ill./Pekin) and juniors Justine Boone (Geneseo,
Ill./Geneseo) and Alison Andrews (Algonquin, Ill./Harry D.
Jacobs) – form the nucleus of what Bittner calls a “very athletic”
group. Bittner expects Boone to improve her assist-to-turnover ratio
at the point guard spot. Barnard – third on the all-time list for
treys – is being counted on to be more of a penetrator this season.
Andrews, who tied with Barnard as the team’s third leading scorers
last season (10.0 ppg), has the potential to blossom in all aspects
of her game.
“I expect Alison to pull down more rebounds and score more
points,” said Bittner of her 5-foot-9 guard. “Alison, Justine and
Lynsey all have the ability to improve their game.”
Another returner expected to contribute is
junior Erica Puig (Niles, Ill./Regina Dominican). At
5-foot-10, Puig will be one of the Scots’ tallest players. Bittner
is counting on athleticism and conditioning to offset any lack of
size.
“The team has been working with Coach (Brian)
Woodard on their conditioning,” reported Bittner. “The team
has come to practice with a really good fitness level. We’re going
to have to rely on our fitness and athletic ability.”
Sophomore backup point guard Keli Jo Hinkle
(Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) and junior post Kim Howard
(Bloomingdale, Ill./Immaculate Conception) are reaping the benefits
of the extra conditioning.
“Keli Jo has gotten herself into really good
shape,” praised Bittner. “She’s put in a lot of work in the
offseason on her shooting. Last year she was a very good defender
but didn’t bring much offense. We’re looking for more offense from
her this year.”
Howard will have big shoes to fill in the post,
where the Scots have had the league’s top rebounders the last two
seasons. Averaging eight minutes per game in 17 contests last
season, the 5-foot-10 Howard won’t be a carbon copy of the Scots’
previous posts.
“Kim has a different style of play than Tanesha
last year,” reported Bittner. “She can be just as effective. She’s
being looked at as a rebounder. She’s taken pride in setting screens
and helping other players get open.”
Sharing time in the lane with Howard will be
5-foot-10 freshman Zipporah Williams (Chicago, Ill./Orr
Academy). Called a “very good rebounder,” Williams can also score in
traffic.
“She’s a very good finisher,” said Bittner.
“She has the ability to focus when it gets a little rough and is
exceptionally good to finish when there is contact.”
Of course, not all the Scots will want to take
it inside. Freshman Colleen Forrest (Deerfield,
Ill./Deerfield) comes in with proven accuracy from beyond the arc.
At 5-foot-4, Forrest isn’t expected to take many shots from among
the trees, but teaming with Barnard as outside threats, opposing
defenses will have to honor the three ball.
“Colleen is a very good shooter,” said Bittner.
“She realizes her strength is from beyond the arc. We’re counting on
her to score from 15 feet on out.”
Bittner is also counting on Chelsea Gross
(Lamoille, Ill./LaMoille) to have potential as an outside threat. An
all-stater in high school, the freshman guard is another Scot who
could create trouble for defenders on the perimeter.
With “smaller” post players and an abundance of
three-point shooters, the Scots may employ a more up tempo look.
While Bittner wants an up tempo style, don’t look for the offensive
mindset to be “bombs away.”
“We’re not going to live by the three and die
by the three,” claimed Bittner. “We’re interested in good shot
selection and not being too quick to pull the trigger.”
While an aggressive attack is planned for the
offense, the defense could also turn up the heat. Look for more zone
defense out of the Scots than in past years, but don’t expect them
to sit back and leave the outside shot wide open.
“We’re going to be smaller than most teams,”
predicted Bittner. “We will be very athletic. Lacking the size,
we’ll need to be the scrappy, aggressive, athletic in-your-face
team.”
Not exactly gearing for a run-and-gun offense,
the Scots do expect to get into transition as often as possible.
They hope that will transfer into better defense and in turn, create
more turnovers.
“Our biggest focus will be on defense and
rebounding,” said Bittner. “The best teams in our league, and the
best in the nation, are the ones who put up good defensive numbers.”
Bittner expects to have plenty of ammo as the
Scots reload for the 2009-10 season.
Women's
Basketball
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