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FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Head Coach
Bill Peters won 15 games in his first season at the helm, the fifth-most in school history, and looks to improve on that as he enters his second season with the Marian University women's basketball team when it opens 2011-12 with a home contest against Lawrence University at 7 p.m., Nov. 16.
The Sabres opened a lot of eyes last season when they qualified for the Northern Athletics Conference tournament following a fourth place finish after being picked to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll. Marian returns four-of-five starters this season and will be led by its lone senior,
Alexis Becker, who has the ability to carry the squad when she gets the hot hand.
Becker averaged 15.3 points per game last season and sits 17th on the Marian all-time scoring list with 790 career points. She is on pace to become just the 12th player in school history to join the 1,000-point club at Marian. Becker will be looked to this season to provide leadership to a young squad, especially after the team lost the school's 11th 1,000-point scorer,
Brooke Haen, to graduation.
Elizabeth Zutz, who led the team with a 16.3 scoring average last season, returns as a junior, as does point guard
Bianca Whittington. Zutz, a versatile post player, can shoot the three, as well as score with her back to the basket.
From day one of the 2010-11 season, Peters describes Whittington as the most improved player on the team, having worked on her shot tremendously. She'll be looked to for increased production as a scoring threat and distributor in the offense.
Sophomore
Dani Huray, who started all 26 games for the Sabres last year, was second on the team with 62 assists and 29.1 minutes per game. She will be counted on for her solid defensive presence.
The Sabres add 10 newcomers to the mold, including five quick and athletic freshmen. Multi-sport athlete
Nicole Rublee, who just finished up her first season with the women's soccer team, will trade in her cleats for a pair of sneakers this winter and should be in the mix for playing time.
Kayla Rowley will also seek a spot in the rotation, while
Anna Smit and
Amelia Mirsberger will also compete for time.
Peters also welcomes five junior college transfers in
Breana De Coursin, Rachael Pethke,
Ashley Backes,
Alyssa Pyscher and
Sarah Albert. Backes, a transfer from UW-River Falls, will be in the mix early, as well as Albert, who will be counted on for her outside shooting after transferring from St. Norbert College.
The season tips off against Lawrence University Nov. 16, and Peters is hoping for a fast start.
“It will be huge to have some success early,” Peters said. “The girls have played very hard and bought into our system. Throw in some added athleticism from our newcomers with some wins and we will be very successful this year.”
The schedule will challenge the Sabres early on as they take part in the Webster University Tournament in the season's first weekend, taking on Rust College followed by host Webster. Webster is among three teams, including Chicago and Wisconsin Lutheran, on the Sabres' schedule that has garnered either ranking votes or a spot in the preseason top-25 list entering the 2011-12 campaign.
Following the Webster tourney, Marian jumps right into conference play with eight straight league games beginning with reigning NAC regular season and tournament champ, Wisconsin Lutheran on Nov. 26, at home.
The Sabres will wrap up the conference ledger with two of their last three games on the road at Edgewood and Lakeland. They conclude the regular season schedule with a home date against Alverno prior to the NAC Challenge game which precedes the eight-team NAC tournament.
