Women's Basketball Preview, Part 7: UIC
Nov. 2, 2007
School records of 19 victories and an 11-game winning streak, its first-ever postseason appearance and three players from the same class reaching 1,000-career point plateaus are just a few highlights from the 2006-07 UIC women's basketball season.
After reaching those milestones, head women's basketball coach Lisa Ryckbosch's motto for 2007-08 is "Something To Prove."
The coaching staff is thrilled by last year's achievements, but they are also bound and determined to never look back.
Despite the loss of five seniors to graduation, they have entered the 2007-08 campaign with the mentality that the goals already attained are just the beginning of what this program is planning to accomplish.
UIC returns seven letterwinners and a bevy of new talent. Adding to this year's firepower are six freshmen that will be looked upon to fill the void of three high-powered scorers.
"This team is very anxious to create its own identity and emerge as a cornerstone of the legacy we are building," said Ryckbosch. "Last season's success was one step in the journey to establishing ourselves as a championship program."
PERIMETER
Ryckbosch finds herself with an interesting but positive dilemma on her hands with seven players capable of contributing to the perimeter game.
"As our most experienced perimeter player, expect Jessie Miller to pick up where she left off last season," said Ryckbosch. "As a freshman, she was thrown into the fire and responded like a champion."
Miller returns as the top scorer from last year's team, averaging 8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The guard notched 65 more points than fourth-ranked all-time scorer LaShonda Grant had in her rookie season.
Junior Meghan Hutchens has waited patiently in the shadows of five seniors the past two years and is looking forward to her chance to shine. Hutchens is ready for the opportunity to explode on the court for the Flames this season.
"Meghan does a great job running the floor and she has great size and length both offensively and defensively," said Ryckbosch. "She understands how to make baskets."
Sophomore Briana Hinkle has improved her game and is shooting the ball very confidently.
"Briana gets up and down the floor extremely quickly," said Ryckbosch. "I think that she is ready to assume a bigger role offensively and we would also like to see her embrace the role of defensive stopper."
In addition to three veterans, five freshmen will be vying for time on the floor in UIC's backcourt rotation.
Freshman Ashley Tomzik shares some of the same qualities that Miller brought to the program as a rookie. The 5-8 guard from Park Ridge, Ill. resembles Miller in strength, competitiveness, knowledge of the game and ability to pick up new plays.
Tomzik averaged 18.3 points and 2.2 assists per game her senior year at Maine South High School. The three-time all-conference selection guided the squad to two conference titles and a fourth-place finish at the 2006 state championship.
"Ashley has been extremely impressive and at this point in the game, I think she is ready to contribute immediately," said Ryckbosch.
Shameia Green has the ability to get to the basket like three-time All-Horizon League selection Grant. The 5-7 native from St. Louis, Missouri is a complete package that can score, rebound and physically dominate on the court.
"Shameia is extremely athletic getting to the basket and I am excited to see what she brings to the table this season," said Ryckbosch.
Taylor Manley has the skills to run the offense for the Flames this season as well.
"Taylor is an excellent shooter and as she learns the system, she will have a chance to put herself in the floor," said Ryckbosch.
Shanice Sadler has the ability to play inside or out and her versatility will be an asset to the team.
"Shanice is very strong and can use her body very efficiently inside or she can step away from the basket and score facing the hoop," said Ryckbosch.
Katie O'Donoghue rounds out the new arrivals that will be competing for time at guard or forward. The 5-11 freshman from Chicago is physical and can shoot the ball.
"Katie is a smart basketball player with excellent eyes," said Ryckbosch. "Katie's outstanding work ethic and combativeness will put her in the mix."
Hard work and the drive to be successful are just a few characteristics of this year's newcomers. The coaching staff is looking forward to seeing how this group will contribute to the success of this year's team.
"That is what I love so much about this group of newcomers," said Ryckbosch. "They are all willing to compete and do what it takes to earn minutes on the floor."
POST
The post players are the nucleus of this season's squad with four returning letterwinners competing for a chance to bring another offensive weapon to UIC's game.
Senior Nicole Rinaldi and juniors Ashley Hluska and Nikki Grobbecker are the captains and heart of this year's team with over 200 games combined on the hardwood.
Hoping to add fuel to the fire is freshman Kristin Petrinec, who averaged 13.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as a senior at Bloomington High School.
Sophomore Cassie Johnson, who suffered a foot injury mid-season in 2006-07, is also back after playing in 25 games as a rookie.
All four of the returning post players have started for the Flames at some point in their careers and each one brings something positive to the game as they have all improved.
"Each of the four post players have gotten physically stronger and have become more of an offensive threat," said Ryckbosch. "They want the ball inside and are able to convert when they get the ball."
Rinaldi was hampered with an illness during the 2006-07 season, but is back at full strength this year and looking to return to the form she showed as a sophomore when she started in all 30 games and notched seventh place in the UIC single-season records book with 42 blocks.
Grobbecker earned a starting spot in 22 contests last season. As one of the strongest players on the team, Grobbecker is beginning to use the strength that she has gained in the weight room on the court.
"Nikki's improved strength has had a huge impact on her ability to establish offensive position on the low block, as well as defend and rebound better than last season," said Ryckbosch.
After fine-tuning her game the past two years, Hluska came on strong at the tail-end of the season to earn a starting nod in the final eight games. The center ended the season averaging 6.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while also shooting 44.3 percent from the field.
"Ashley is playing with such confidence," said Ryckbosch. "When she wants the ball, no one can stop her."
"I am impressed with the progress of this group of post players," said Ryckbosch. "They have stepped up to the challenge of being leaders and making us more of an offensive threat on the inside."
Petrinec adds a good shooting touch to the already talented batch of post players.
SCHEDULE
Ryckbosch has never played it safe when scheduling non-league contests and this season is no different. The Flames face teams from eight different conferences, including BIG EAST powerhouse DePaul and NCAA Final Four participant LSU.
"If we aspire to win the Horizon League and go to the NCAA Tournament, then we need to test the waters and put ourselves in the position to learn and benefit from playing tough opponents," said Ryckbosch.
With the addition of Valparaiso, the Horizon League is going to be more competitive this year than ever before.
"There are talented players already in the league and really gifted newcomers entering the league, so I expect this year's conference race to be tighter than ever," said Ryckbosch.
Ryckbosch has big plans for the UIC women's basketball program and last season's success was a step in the right direction.
"This is the second generation of what we have come here to build," said Ryckbosch. "I am very anxious to put that finished product on the floor. We are going to continue to play the same ball that we have in the past, but we are going to strive to get better."
--Story provided by UIC office of sports information
