Heading into the 2014-15 season, the Wilmington College women's basketball team has plenty of questions that will need to be answered.
"There are a lot of question marks about this team, but our veterans have all returned as better players than they were a year ago, and our freshmen have the potential to be one of the better groups we have had in several years," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "I think it is going to be lot of fun putting this team together, and I look for us to improve continuously throughout the season. How far that can take us only time will tell.
The first question is how will they replace four seniors, including guard Haley Howard, that all played vital roles a season ago. Wilmington graduated two point guards and two post players, leaving the Fightin' Quakers with "virtually no experience" in those spots
Howard, a point guard, is the first player in school history to lead the team in points, rebounds and assists.
Junior Ashley Andracki (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson) will move to the point guard position after starting 15 games at a wing for Wilmington last season. She averaged 13.8 minutes per game with 1.9 points per contest.
Sophomore Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade-Julienne) could also find minutes running the offense. Jefferson is the top returning scorer with 8.3 points per game, but her biggest impact came on the defensive end, where she was sixth in the OAC in steals.
Junior Whitney Barfknecht (Vandalia, OH/Butler) along with freshmen Lexi Weber (Clyde, OH/Clyde), Shelby Mulliken (Walton, KY/Walton-Verona) and Ellie Kivell (Hamilton, OH/Lakota West) could all find time at the point guard position, however, preseason injuries have stunted the freshmen's development.
Senior Kirsten Glick (Arcadia, OH/Arcadia) and sophomore Hannah Haeseker (Germantown, OH/Valley View) bring the most experience playing the post. Haeseker made 18 starts in the post, while playing in all 27 games. She averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds, and was second on the team with 27 made three-pointers. Additionally, Haeseker is the top returning rebounder for the Quakers.
Glick started the season as a starting post player, but an injury slowed her progression. However, she wound up playing in 23 games, averaging 3.3 points and 2.6 rebounds.
Natural guards Mary Moyer (Martinsville, OH/Clinton-Massie) and Alexandria Kingsbery (Lima, OH/Central Catholic) are going to play the post this season. Moyer, who transferred from Talledega College at semester break, played in 14 games a season ago, while Kingsbery played in 15 games.
Freshmen Emily Smith (Bellbrook, OH/Bellbrook), Sawyer Hooper (Leesburg, OH/Wilmington), Emily Harman (Versailles, OH/Versailles) and Heather Cox (Leesburg, OH/Fairfield Local) are all involved in the post player competition.
A host of veterans will battle for the two starting wing positions. Seniors Spencer Robles (Clyde, OH/Clyde) and Courtney Tucker (Cincinnati, OH/Sycamore), sophomore Ja'Cole Tabor (Dayton, OH/Chaminade-Julienne), Jefferson and Barfknecht could be locked in a fierce competition all season long.
They all will bring something different to the lineup.
Robles, who started 21 of 27 games last season, led the team in three-pointers last season. Tucker played in 26 games with 12 starts and has been given the task of slowing the opponents top wing threat for the last three seasons. Tabor could be the wildcard. While her ability to contribute was hampered last season by a host of injuries, she has been one of the steadier performers in practice.
Freshmen Savannah Hooper (Leesburg, OH/Wilmington) and Meranda Wilson (Marysville, OH/Marysville) will join the competition at wing.
Wilmington opens the season by hosting the Damon's/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament, which features National Runner-Up Whitman, on November 15.