2004-05 Season Preview
The 2004-05 Alma College women's basketball team returns four seniors and three juniors from a 2003-04 squad that finished fourth in the MIAA title race. The Scots face the challenge of replacing conference MVP Karen Hall after she led the league in scoring (21.4), rebounding (9.3) and free throw shooting (87 percent) last year. Upon graduation in 2004, Hall stands as the Scots fourth all-time leading scorer, amassing 1,452 points and is third in school history in rebounding with 764 boards."You do not easily replace a player of Karen's abilities," said head coach Charlie Goffnett. "We are either going to have to play small or get production out of our more inexperienced post players. Our youngsters have a real opportunity to step in and contribute at the post position."
The Scots carry both experience and depth into the guard position. Junior guard Katey Peacock (Greenville) returns after earning second team All-MIAA honors a year ago. She finished the season fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game, ranking fifth in three point shooting (.410) and assists and finished the season with the second-best free-throw shooting percentage (.840). Also returning for the Maroon and Cream, Ashley Borcherding (Millington) will be a key guard in Goffnett’s offense. The 5'6" junior earned honorable mention All-MIAA accolades last season, averaging nine points per game, finishing ninth in assists (2.9) and eighth in three-point accuracy (.390) among league players.
"Defense, rebounding and establishing an inside game are areas in which we must improve," said Goffnett. "Offensively, our shooting is excellent - we have a full arsenal of shooters, returning four players that shot over 40 percent from three point land."
Senior Rondi Lounds (St. Johns) will give Alma an experienced veteran to run the show. The 5'3" point guard was seventh in the conference in assists and eighth in steals in 2004. Mindy VanDamme (Gwinn) returns as one of the top three-point shooters in the MIAA as the 5'6" junior led the nation for much of the season last year, shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. Senior Jesse Roston (Negaunee) and junior Lauren Graves (Clio) add energy and hustle off the bench. Goffnett also looks to freshman Abigail Way (Fowlerville) who will provide needed depth at the point or shooting guard positions.
In the front court, the Scots are led by Michelle Dettling (Chelsea). The 5'10" forward garnered honorable mention All-MIAA honors last season, leading the conference in three point shooting (.550) and was fourth in field goal percentage (.550). Dettling also averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game. Two sophomores - Kelly Halverson (Roscommon) and Emily Niemi (Gwinn) will vie for playing time after seeing limited action a year ago. Two freshmen, Ashley Matuzak (Saginaw/Nouvel) and Erica Philp (Ubly) bring impressive high school credentials and will contribute right away. Philp joins the team after playing with the MIAA Champion volleyball team this fall.
Schedule
The conference race is shaping up tough - normal for the MIAA - and Goffnett knows this will be a season defined by the attitude and mindset his players carry into the league schedule.
"We finished fourth last year with Hope, Calvin and Albion winning 20 or more games. Of those schools, only Albion graduated a number of seniors so our conference may be as balanced as I have seen it in quite awhile," states Goffnett. "Kalamazoo returns the bulk of its roster and the rest of our league teams are very competitive. We will certiainly be playing in an underdog role."
Posted: Wed, November 3rd, 2004 at 9:15PM
