Women's Basketball Position Breakdown
2009-10 Women's Basketball Preview
by Derek Wehrwein
Issue date: 11/19/09
Section: Basketball (Women's)
Guards:
Senior Tiffany Moe will anchor MSU's backcourt. The 5-foot, 9-inch point guard started all 34 games for the Mavericks last season and has led the team in assists for two straight seasons. Sophomores Jennie Noreen and Lauren Barber join her in the backcourt. Noreen started in the season opener.
Forwards:
MSU will rely heavily on 6-foot senior Liz Trauger, who saw action in 29 games last season and averaged 8.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Joining Trauger at forward are four freshmen, including Ali Wilkinson, and sophomore Tess Milczark. Wilkinson posted double-digit points last Tuesday.
Centers:
Sophomore Laura Weber averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season, but her role should increase. Weber logged 19 minutes at the post position against Dana College Tuesday, finishing with eight points, two blocks and four rebounds. Gretta Layman will see time off the bench.
Newcomers:
The Mavericks feature many new faces this season, including redshirt Wiens and Wilkinson, who scored a combined 25 points against Dana College. In all, seven of MSU's 16 players are freshmen: guards Wiens, Casey Christian and Kirstin Nelson, and forwards Wilkinson, Stephanie Haight, Brittany Thiesfeld and Alyssa Van Klei.
Outlook:
The Mavericks obviously won't be as talented last year. It's nearly impossible to recover from losing Joanne Noreen, Alex Andrews and Heather Johnson, but the Mavericks have a good youth movement that should still compete for a NSIC title. If the players can learn the system and buy into it, they should be fine.
Prediction:
Second in NSICDerek Wehrwein is a Reporter staff writer
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