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2007-08 Women's Basketball Season Preview
Taking over a program that is coming off a six-win season can prove to be a daunting task. But, with the Elmhurst College women's basketball team returning four starters and boasting a solid recruiting class, first-year head coach Tethnie Forbes is confident that the Bluejays have the talent they need to succeed.
"I certainly have high hopes for our squad this season," said Forbes. "We have a solid group of returning players, including four starters, who picked up a lot of valuable experience last season. In addition, we have a very talented group of recruits who should be able to come in and contribute immediately."
After spending four seasons as an Elmhurst assistant coach from 2002-2006, Forbes is certainly familiar with the Bluejays. One of the players Forbes is most familiar with is returning point guard Candice Sutton (Matteson/Rich South). Sutton has started every game the past three seasons and averaged a career-high 11.5 points last season.
"Candice has the most experience of any of our returning players," said Forbes. "We'll be counting on her to provide leadership on the court as well as looking to her run our offense."
Forbes will look to freshmen Claire Gentry (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway) and Anna Randazzo (Des Plaines/Maine West) to provide the Bluejays with added depth at the point.
"Claire and Anna are both expected to contribute for us," said Forbes. "They are both good ball handlers and have good shooting range from the outside."
With the departure of Eireann Neiheisel, the Bluejays will have a new-starter at the two-guard. Forbes is counting on junior transfer Danielle Farrell (Elk Grove Village/Elk Grove) to fill the starting role.
"Danielle transferred to Elmhurst in the middle of last season but elected to sit out so she would have a full year of eligibility," said Forbes. "She handles the ball very well and can shoot off the dribble and from the outside. She's also not afraid to go the basket. She is the kind of player that will be very hard for our opponents to defend."
Juniors CeCe Larson (Glendale Heights/Immaculate Heart of Mary) and Jen Myers (Lemont/H.S.) also have experience at the two-guard while freshmen Christine Randick (Downers Grove/Immaculate Conception) will also compete for playing time.
Forbes will look to freshman Sarah Halbrader (Loves Park/Rockford Boylan) to have an immediate impact at the wing.
"Sarah is a lights-out shooter from the outside with great range," said Forbes. "She won the IHSA 3-point shootout during her sophomore year of high school."
Newcomers Kelsey Monroe (West Chicago/H.S.) and Charnele Harris (Calumet Park/Shepard) provide the Bluejays needed depth on the wing. Junior transfer Amber Hendricks (Farmer City/Blue Ridge) gives Forbes a versatile player who can swing between the three and four positions.
The Bluejays' top two scorers from last season both return to their starting post roles.
Brittany Bobruk (Darien/Downers Grove South) averaged a team-high 13.0 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game while Lyndsie Long (Sugar Grove/Kaneland) averaged 12.4 points per game during her freshman season, earning third-team all-conference honors in the process.
"We're expecting Brittany and Lyndsie to build on the success they had last season," said Forbes. "They can both play with their back to the basket, yet they can each knock down shots from the outside. Their size and quickness could cause a lot of mismatches for our opponents."
Maggie McTeague (Oak Forest/H.S.) gives the Bluejays an experienced post player who can provide a spark. McTeague started 17 games last season and ranked second on the squad in rebounds, averaging 6.7 per game.
Returners Marissa Parker (St. Paul, Minn./St. Paul Central), Melissa Rauschenberg (Park Ridge/Maine South) and Michelle Gilliard (Chicago/Harlan) along with newcomer Megan Harris (Arlington Heights/Rolling Meadows) will also battle for playing time in the post.
As a whole, Forbes is confident in the depth that the Bluejays possess.
"I think our team is going to be far more balanced offensively, than it has been in the past," she said. "We have a lot of players capable of scoring in bunches, so no one player should have to try and carry the load themselves. I also think we'll get much more production out of our bench."
Forbes knows that in order for the Bluejays to be successful, some players are going to have to learn on the job.
"We're still a relatively young team," she said. "We'll be relying on some players who are going to have to gain experience on the fly. That said, I expect us to be competitive each and every night. I want us to play each and every game as thought it were our last. Overall, I feel that this team has the talent and the potential to jump right into the CCIW Tournament mix."
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