Women's Basketball Ready to Rebound After Sub-par 2008
Lisa Carrillo-Gunning
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: Sports
As Paul Nelson begins his sixth season as head coach for Benedictine University's women's basketball program, he hopes to return his team to its winning ways in 2009-10.
The Eagles ended the 2008-09 campaign with a fourth place finish in the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) and were below the .500 plateau at 12-14 overall (8-10 in conference).
"I am very excited about what we have coming back especially with returning three starters," said Nelson. "Any time you have that many veterans and starters back in the fold it gives you proven experience on the court. We will need to call on all of that experience to blend in our three newcomers who I am very excited about, as well.
"The NAC has been very tough competition in women's basketball and I see no difference in that fact this season. We have some teams who have shown they are very competitive outside the conference, as well as in league play. I expect us to be at that level this year. That will be one of my goals for this team."
The Eagles are picked to finish fourth in the NAC South Division pre-season coach's poll after leading the league in 3-point shooting with an average of .340 and 6.4 made per game in 2008-09. Aurora University was picked to win the South Division, while three time defending champion Concordia University (Wis.) is the favorite in the North Division.
The Eagles will pin their hopes on 10 returning letter winners, giving the team depth off the bench.
Monika Krozel (Ridgewood H.S.) averaged 11.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a junior in 2008-09 and is looking for an even bigger senior season. In the final NAC statistics, she ranked third in blocked shots, ninth in free throw percentage and 13th in rebounding.
Junior Jenn Bren (St. Charles East H.S.) averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game ayear ago. Bren was fifth in the NAC for field goal percentage. She was named to the NAC's "All-Sportsmanship Team" in 2008-09.
Junior Lidia Arias (Argo Community H.S.) averaged 6.7 points per game as a sophomore and became a fixture on the floor for Nelson.
The Eagles ended the 2008-09 campaign with a fourth place finish in the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) and were below the .500 plateau at 12-14 overall (8-10 in conference).
"I am very excited about what we have coming back especially with returning three starters," said Nelson. "Any time you have that many veterans and starters back in the fold it gives you proven experience on the court. We will need to call on all of that experience to blend in our three newcomers who I am very excited about, as well.
"The NAC has been very tough competition in women's basketball and I see no difference in that fact this season. We have some teams who have shown they are very competitive outside the conference, as well as in league play. I expect us to be at that level this year. That will be one of my goals for this team."
The Eagles are picked to finish fourth in the NAC South Division pre-season coach's poll after leading the league in 3-point shooting with an average of .340 and 6.4 made per game in 2008-09. Aurora University was picked to win the South Division, while three time defending champion Concordia University (Wis.) is the favorite in the North Division.
The Eagles will pin their hopes on 10 returning letter winners, giving the team depth off the bench.
Monika Krozel (Ridgewood H.S.) averaged 11.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a junior in 2008-09 and is looking for an even bigger senior season. In the final NAC statistics, she ranked third in blocked shots, ninth in free throw percentage and 13th in rebounding.
Junior Jenn Bren (St. Charles East H.S.) averaged 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game ayear ago. Bren was fifth in the NAC for field goal percentage. She was named to the NAC's "All-Sportsmanship Team" in 2008-09.
Junior Lidia Arias (Argo Community H.S.) averaged 6.7 points per game as a sophomore and became a fixture on the floor for Nelson.
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