Women's Basketball Preview Part 3: Cleveland State
Nov. 12, 2004
The 2004-05 season will be one of transition and new faces for the Cleveland State women's basketball team. Second-year head coach Kate Peterson is faced with the task of replacing her entire frontcourt, which was responsible for 57 percent of the scoring and 51 percent of the rebounding last season. However, she can take comfort in the fact that the nine returning letterwinners -- who have nearly 100 career starts between them -- are joined by six talented newcomers.
The Vikings have a solid foundation to build on after winning a school-record nine Horizon League games in Peterson's first year on the bench. Executing at both ends of the floor, CSU rattled off 11 wins in 16 tries at one point during the middle of the season. In order to improve on that success, the staff will need a floor leader to emerge at point guard, several players to step up in the post and a reliable scorer to emerge. Regardless of the position, there will be heated battles for every spot on the floor.
Guarded Optimism
Senior Maria Rickards and junior Erin Martin return after combining to average 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists last season. However, both are shooting guards who can make substantial contributions as leaders and scorers.
Martin finished third on the team in scoring (8.4 ppg), while Rickards' 33-point outburst at Niagara proved she has the ability to carry a team.
Challenging to fill the void at the point will be junior Anetra Williams and sophomores Betsy Bowser and Omega Harrington. Williams and Bowser have played a combined 59 games, but have never started. Harrington, who will be eligible in December after transferring from Duquesne last season, might have a slight advantage thanks to her quickness, but will miss a third of the schedule while meeting NCAA residency requirements.
The wildcard in the mix is freshman Brittany Korth. At 5-10, her height will give opposing teams match-up problems, while her solid ball handling skills and shooting ability make Korth capable of playing either of the guard spots.
Frontcourt To Have New Look
The departure of forwards Ashley Schrock and Shannon Sword and center Karyn Woloszynek -- who started 213 of a possible 255 times over past three seasons -- leaves three spots open in which a host of players will challenge for court time.
In the middle, senior Mandy Sichting brings the most experience of any of the returning posts, having started 11 times in 85 appearances. A physical, intimidating, back-to-the-basket player, she is a 57 percent shooter for her career. Providing support in the post will be sophomore Sassy Lane. An athletic center, she will see her first action after sitting out last season to meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements.
At small forward, junior Kim Neidermeyer and sophomore Keena Rembert are two perimeter players with complementary styles. Neidermeyer is more of a finesse shooter, while Rembert is a hard-nosed driver who emerged as one of the team's best defenders last year.
Jill Barnbrook and Christina Shrake are seniors who bring maturity and experience to the critical area of power forward. Barnbrook is another finesse player with good shot-blocking skills, while Shrake is one of the hardest workers on the team. Sophomore Nicole Thomas and freshmen Aisha Farley and Robyn Hoying will provide depth and talent to the inside positions. A junior college transfer, Thomas brings an athletic component to the post while Hoying is a more traditional forward with solid footwork and good hands.
Difficult Schedule Looms
Despite her team's relative lack of experience, Peterson didn't shy away from putting together a challenging schedule. The Vikings will open the season at home against perennial ACC-contender Virginia in addition to traveling to Iowa State and Wisconsin. The January game with the Badgers will be a homecoming of sorts for Peterson, who spent six seasons in Madison prior to her arrival in Cleveland. Assistant coach Kyle Rechlicz finished her playing career at Wisconsin in 2002.
In addition, the early-season schedule is heavy on in-state rivals, with CSU hosting Dayton, Akron and Toledo (a Homecoming doubleheader) before traveling to Ohio. A Thanksgiving tournament at Texas State -- to face the host Bobcats and Texas A & M -- and trips to Central Michigan and Western Illinois round out the non-conference slate.
The Vikings begin Horizon League play at Youngstown State on Dec. 22, in the earliest conference-opener in school history. The home league schedule features three doubleheaders, including a Senior Day tilt with Wright State on Feb. 26 to close out the regular season. Other dates of note include the Feb. 5 contest at Butler that will air on Fox Sports as the Horizon League Game of the Week and the Alumni Game on Feb. 10 against Loyola. The Horizon League Championship begins with the first round contest on March 1 and runs through March 7.
Head Coach Kate Peterson on the 2004-05 season:
On replacing 1,000-point scorers Ashley Schrock and Shannon Sword:"Our game plan is obviously going to change a little with the loss of two proven scorers in Ashley and Shannon. I think we are going to be a much more defensive-oriented team. I am anxious to see who steps up and fills the offensive void.
"However, their departures will give us a little more of a true rotation and allow some players to show what they can do with increased minutes."
Keys to success:
"Our success this season depends on how the players settle into the system that we established last year. Instead of having to teach the basics again, we will build on the already established offensive and defensive systems."
"We really need to value each possession. Last year we were a little to careless with the ball. Along the same line, we need to be a better offensive-rebounding team to create more possessions."
"This group needs to learn to put away teams and really hone that killer instinct. Last year we let some teams hang around and that cost us a couple of times."
Concerns:
"We're going to have to find an offensive flow with a group that has been primarily role players. We've got to build confidence and have a couple of scorers step up. I think Maria Rickards and Erin Martin will be the players that we will have to count on offensively in the early part of the year."
"We graduated our entire frontcourt from last season and will have very little game experience in the post as we head into the year. Mandy Sichting could be a very important component to our success this season."
On the point guard position:
"There will be a strong battle for the point guard spot this year. We have a group of eager young players who see a gap and are working hard to fill the void.
"I'm not ruling out Erin Martin as our opening-game starter, but I would eventually like to move her to her more natural position at off guard."
On the large group of newcomers:
"I'm excited about the fact that we'll have six new faces on the court this year. I think last year's team lacked emotion at times and I'm looking for this fresh group to provide enthusiasm and an emotional charge when they are on the court. As with any new players, there will be a learning curve, but we also have nine veterans to help show them the way."
On the schedule:
"We definitely didn't back off in our scheduling. By playing teams like Virginia, Iowa State and Wisconsin, we face three of the top four conferences in the country. While our non-conference schedule is going to be tough, I think it will really prepare us for a grueling conference run. With what UW-Green Bay has coming back, they could be as good as any team we face this year."
"We made an effort to play other schools in the state. I believe that if we can have some success against our in-state rivals that will be a huge bonus in the recruiting process."
On the return to Wisconsin:
"I think the trip back to Madison will be an emotional one for both Kyle and myself. We invested a lot of time and effort in the program during our stay there."As a Wisconsin native, it will be great to go back and coach in front of all my friends and family. At the same time, it's going to be a very tough game."
Overall assessment:
"This team is going to be fun to watch. They might not have much game experience, but they will play hard and with enthusiasm at both ends of the court. I believe we will really have to rely on our defense to be successful."
"The first month or two of the season, we might have a different starting five until people settle into their roles. I am really looking forward to working with this group and seeing who steps up."
