Experience Will Be Key for MLC During the 2009-10 Campaign

By Tammy Greunke/Fremont Tribune

Practicing with a full roster would be considered a luxury right now for the Midland Lutheran College women’s basketball team.

“As often happens, we’ve been plagued with a lot of injuries and illness, so we’ve probably not had a practice where all 20 players have been in attendance and actively participating,” MLC head coach Joanne Bracker said.

Among those injuries is a season-ending knee injury to Nicole Worth, a freshman guard from Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Lady Warriors also will be without their leading scorer from a year ago when they open their season Friday. Marcy Hauschild graduated after averaging a team-high 14.7 points a game last season.

But a number of players with experience are back from last year’s team which posted an 8-22 record.

“We do have an excellent nucleus returning of both inside players as well as some perimeter players, so that’s what you certainly build on,” Bracker said, noting that she has been pleased with the leadership shown on and off the court by the team’s four seniors.

With the varying group at preseason practices, Bracker said naming a starting lineup may be a game-time decision.

Two of the players that likely have secured starting positions are Megan Torkelson and Kelli Hermsmeyer.

Torkelson, a 5-4 junior, will start at point guard after averaging 3.7 points a game last season. She missed the first half of the season a year ago while rehabbing from a knee injury.

Hermsmeyer is set to start at center/post. The 5-11 sophomore put in an average of 11.5 points a game last season to go along with 6.8 rebounds.

Others players who have been healthy in the preseason and will figure into the mix are seniors Kerry Butzke (5-10 forward), Carly Horky (5-10 forward) and Sharlay Butler (5-7 forward), sophomore Tricia Hoffman (5-9 forward) and freshman Danielle Stephan (6-0 post).

Bracker also is looking for sophomore Jami Thramer (5-10 post) and junior Morgan Smeal, a 5-6 junior guard from Snyder, to challenge for varsity playing time.

The overall experience level of the team will be a strength, Bracker said, but depth is a concern.

“I think (our depth) is fragile right now,” she said. “That’s probably the greatest challenge as of today.”

Unlike the past few seasons, Bracker foresees this year’s team to be more balanced.

“We have some players who have the potential to be high-percentage shooters, but until you actually get into competition the consistency is an unknown,” Bracker said. “We have adequate size inside and maybe average to above average quickness at most of the positions.”

Based on the team’s preseason scrimmages, Bracker would like to see the Lady Warriors step up their defensive play in order to put enough pressure to force their opponents into turnovers.

“We need to become more aggressive on defense and develop the rebounding into a strength,” Bracker said.

Midland will open its season by hosting the Godfather’s Classic at the Event Center. The Lady Warriors will play Johnson & Wales at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Bethel at 3 p.m. Saturday.

MLC will play seven non-conference games before opening Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Nov. 21 against Morningside College. The Mustangs, coming off a national title in 2009, are ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Division II women’s basketball coaches’ Top 25 preseason poll.

Morningside is one of five GPAC teams ranked in the Top 25. Northwestern (No. 2), Hastings (No. 4), Sioux Falls (No. 15) and Concordia (No. 22) also are considered to be among the top teams in the country.

“That’s 10 games where you know you’re going to be challenged because you’re going against one of the top 25 teams in the nation,” Bracker said.

Getting off to a good start before league plays begin will be important for the Lady Warriors.

“The non-conference is important to get prepared,” Bracker said. “The confidence factor is huge because confidence can be challenged in the conference when you’re going against the No. 1 and then the No. 5 team and then maybe the No. 7 team.

“That can be extremely challenging. I would say the pre-conference schedule is extremely important in terms of building confidence.”

Published in the Fremont Tribune on Oct. 29, 2009:
http://www.fremonttribune.com/articles/2009/10/29/sports/college/doc4ae9b401c5fc8333679759.txt