2008-09 Season Preview
The Taylor University women's basketball team will have a new look this season in a variety of ways. Despite returning three starters from last year's team that finished third in the Mid-Central College Conference, Taylor-ranked 16th in the NAIA Preseason Poll-will welcome seven new faces to the court this season as the Lady Trojans look to return to the NAIA National Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons.
One of the biggest reasons for the new-look Lady Trojans is the absence of former NAIA All-American Katie Madden and 2008 second team All-MCC selection Alison Heesch from this year's roster. Although the presence of these two outstanding post players will be missed, head coach Tena Krause has shifted her team's personnel to a more guard-oriented offense.
The youth movement that has swept through Krause's locker room features a talented group of three sophomores and four freshmen who have yet to play a single minute for the Lady Trojans, but are poised to make an immediate impact on a conference championship run.
The infusion of young talent on the Taylor roster also features speed-and plenty of it. A firm believer in playing to her team's strengths, Krause will take advantage of that speed and a roster full of guards with a new up-tempo style of play to set up the transition game. Fans will witness an exciting brand of basketball utilizing multiple presses and the fast-break, as Krause will look to her defense to create offensive opportunities for this young team.
"Young" is a relative term for this year's Taylor squad however, as the three returning starters-Paige Rudolph, Nikki Kassebaum, and Bethany Ballard-optimize the term "veteran" with over 200 combined games between them. The trio will be looked to for leadership both on and off the court, as well as go-to players when it's time to score the basketball.
Rudolph, a NAIA Third Team All-American last season, will be the cornerstone of the offense for the Lady Trojans. After averaging 16.6 points per game as a junior, the Evansville, Indiana, native will be the focal point of opposing defenses all year long. Her ability to rebound and find the open player is what Krause will continue to expect from her floor general.
The other two returning starters, Kassebaum and Ballard, will be expected to help carry the offensive load. A three-point sharpshooter, Kassebaum is Taylor's primary outside threat, as evidenced by her 42% shooting from beyond the arc a season ago. Averaging 11.5 points and 6.4 rebounds last season, Ballard is a force on the inside for the Trojans on both ends of the court. The junior will be asked to contribute in even bigger ways heading into the 2008-09 schedule.
The task of molding such a large group of newcomers with the returnees was originally a concern for Krause as the preseason began in the fall for the Lady Trojans. That concern quickly turned into optimism for the upcoming season when Krause saw the instantaneous chemistry that developed with this group of 11.
"With certain teams, you can quickly see that they have developed a strong sense of team chemistry. This group has that unique feeling," said Krause. "This is also a very hard working group of young ladies. They have done a great job of putting in the extra hours in the gym to make themselves better every day."
SENIORS
Paige Rudolph (5-6, Guard, Evansville Memorial High School) was named a Third Team NAIA All-American last season along with being named First Team All-MCC. A shot creator and a very difficult assignment for opposing defenses, Rudolph averaged 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists during the 2007-08 season. Her 87.4% efficiency from the free-throw line ranked her fourth in the country. On February 19, 2008, Rudolph became the 14th player to join the Lady Trojans' 1,000 point club. Also an outstanding defender, Rudolph will be called upon this season to guard some of the opponents' top scorers.
Nikki Kassebaum (5-9, Guard, Timberland High School) ranked third in the MCC last season shooting 47.7% from behind the three-point line in conference play. The 8.6 points she averaged a season ago should be anticipated to increase this year as the Missouri native is looked to as more of a go-to scorer. Her long range shooting is an obvious strength, but offseason work on penetrating with the basketball has made her into a more complete player.
JUNIORS
Bethany Ballard (5-11, Forward/Center, Warren Central High School) is the lone junior on this year's squad and one of three returning starters from last season. Increased strength from the offseason conditioning program and added range to her jump shot will make Ballard an even more difficult assignment for opposing defenses. Expect her offensive workload to increase from the 07-08 season, when she averaged 11.5 points and 6.4 rebounds.
SOPHOMORES
Allison Reece (6-0, Center/Forward, New Castle High School) enters the 2008-09 campaign as the most improved player on the roster, after averaging nearly 2 points and 2 rebounds per contest in her rookie season. An increase in strength, speed, and confidence has the six-footer poised for a breakout sophomore year. The playing time she received as a freshman will pay huge dividends as she looks to gain a more physical presence in the post throughout the brutal MCC schedule.
Tasha Marshall (5-6, Guard, Lebanon High School) will play the point guard position this season, with her greatest strength being excellent court awareness and utilizing the passing angles. Marshall is intent on feeding the ball to her post players, and controls the court well on the fast break. Although not a threat to put up huge scoring totals, Marshall is a playmaker and will be instrumental in implementing multiple presses this season.
Courtney Turner (5-9, Forward, Heritage Christian High School) missed her freshman season due to injury, but returns to the forward position intent on making an impact in the Lady Trojan frontcourt. A key member of two state championship teams in high school and a former MVP of the Indiana Class 2A State Championship game, Turner's biggest strength is her ability to get up and down the court. Also an outstanding rebounder, she will be called upon to help control the defensive glass.
Morgan Achterhoff (5-10, Guard, MOC-Floyd Valley High School) transferred to Taylor in the offseason from Northwestern College (Iowa), where she was a key reserve as a freshman for the NAIA Division II National Champion Red Raiders, averaging 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. A former Iowa state champion in the long jump, Achterhoff's leaping ability and speed will be a key component of the Lady Trojans' up-tempo style this season.
FRESHMEN
Alissa Goeglein (5-9, Guard, Concordia Lutheran High School) is slotted to play the shooting guard position for Taylor after averaging 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during her senior season in high school. Goeglein plays with a high basketball IQ, sees the court, and reads defenses exceptionally well. Her ability to move without the ball and create scoring opportunities for herself both from the outside and in the post should help the freshman see the court early for the Lady Trojans.
Morgan McLeish (5-6, Guard, Ryle High School) joins Goeglein to form one of the finest freshman guard tandems in recent Taylor history. One of the better guards on the team in terms of an offensive/defensive combo, McLeish averaged 15 points and 5 assists per game her senior season as an attacking offensive player with a deadly crossover. Her quickness and aggressive style of play will play large roles in Taylor's pressing defenses.
Nellie Eskew (6-2, Center, Anderson High School) is the tallest player on Taylor's roster, and could prove to be an early contributor if she can adjust to the pace of the college game. Eskew showed her immense potential as a high school senior when she recorded a triple-double (points, blocks, rebounds) in a game. Her presence as a solid post player on the bench will allow coach Krause to spell Bethany Ballard when needed.
Kaycee Sullivan (5-10, Forward, Rushville High School) is a scoring threat from just about anywhere on the floor. A multi-sport standout in high school, Sullivan can score in the post, knock down the mid-range jumper, and has been known to knock down three-pointers when given the opportunity. Rushville High School's leading scorer last season with 12.1 points and 6 rebounds per game, the freshman is expected to make early contributions for the Lady Trojans.
SCHEDULE
Facing the Lady Trojans will be another challenging schedule to prepare the team for a postseason run.
After beginning their season at home in the Taylor Tip-Off Classic (Oct 31-Nov 1), the Lady Trojans will hit the road to square off against Illinois-Springfield and Missouri Baptist.
One of the most difficult stretches of the schedule begins on November 18th with a mid-week trip to perennial powerhouse Cedarville University, followed by a weekend at the Aquinas Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the team will face two 2008 NAIA National Tournament qualifiers in No. 15 Davenport University and No. 24 Aquinas College. The tough slate is capped off by the team's MCC opener on November 25 at No. 4 St. Francis against the Cougars, who were picked first by the conference coaches in the preseason polls.
Taylor will host their second home tournament over the Christmas break for the Taylor Holiday Classic on December 30-31. The Lady Trojans will face St. Mary-of-the-Woods at 8 p.m. on Tuesday night, followed up by a 2 p.m. clash with Ohio Dominican University on Wednesday afternoon.
As usual, the MCC will be one of the toughest NAIA basketball conferences in the nation. St. Francis and Indiana Wesleyan were slotted by the coaches as the top two teams heading into the season, but the Lady Trojans were picked to finish third and appear poised to make another run for the conference crown.