Women's College Basketball: St. Edward's University: Season Preview
2013-2014 season preview
women's basketball Head coach J.J. Riehl is entering her second season at the helm of the St. Edward’s University women’s basketball team, and after an exciting first-year campaign, expectations are high for the 2013–2014 squad. The Hilltoppers return a talented core of nine players, coupled with the addition of five newcomers, giving the squad the talent, depth and experience needed at each position. After a huge turnaround last season, this year’s Hilltopper team is eager to build on the successes of last year and take it a step further by adding to the SEU record books, as well as the trophy case. “I am filled with anticipation and excitement to get started with this season. We have worked extremely hard as a staff, as well as the players, to move our program in the right direction and last year was a huge first step for all of us,” Riehl said. “However, we have to move on to this year and not be complacent with what we accomplished last year. I expect that our newcomers will play an important role in keeping everyone in the moment and not looking back as they come in highly motivated and ready to compete and win.”
The Team St. Edward’s returns a strong nucleus of players, including three starters and the two top scorers from the 2012–2013 squad; combined with the addition of five talented incoming players, the future looks bright for the 2013–2014 campaign. This year’s Hilltopper squad looks to pick up the tempo and put tremendous pressure on their opponents. After a one-man show last year, Stephanie Dekkers will have some competition for control of the reins at the point guard position with transfer Mileka Loydrake. Dekkers started every game for the Hilltoppers last season, averaging 8.6 points per contest and leading the Heartland Conference in assists, dishing out 4.7 a game. Loydrake will provide a high level of athleticism. With Dekkers and Loydrake, the Hilltoppers are guaranteed a duo that will pace the squad with experience and leadership at the point guard position. The depth at the perimeter positions should provide the Hilltoppers the ability to play that up-tempo style they are looking for. Maddie Wheeler returns for her junior campaign after suffering a season-ending injury midway through last season. Wheeler led the Hilltoppers in scoring with 13.9 points per game and was second in assists with 2.1 per game prior to the injury. Joining Wheeler on the wing is the workhorse of the team, senior Kelsee Barr. Barr started 16 of the 21 contests she played in, averaging 6.0 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. Wheeler and Barr are expected to pace the Hilltoppers offensively with their ability to stretch the defense with their shooting and passing accuracy, as well as on the defensive end with their ability to anticipate the passing lanes and create chaos. Seniors Casey Riley and Kendra Field bring both experience and leadership to the squad. Juniors Tomorrow Huff and Jaimie Kadlecek look to provide the squad with two true combo guards as they can play both the point and off guard positions. Freshman Peri Ewin joins the Hilltoppers on the court this year after redshirting last season and will prove to be a threat from the outside.
Erika Rousculp and Valencia White both return after successful junior campaigns. Rousculp was an All-Heartland Conference Honorable Mention performer last season, averaging 9.1 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and notching seven double-doubles on the season. White will continue where she left off in providing the squad with athleticism on both ends of the floor at the post position. Haley Meekins provides versatility as a true inside-outside presence. Kathleen Brisbane and Aimee Durbidge round out the squad’s inside presence. Both have transferred to St. Edward’s after impressive twoyear campaigns: Brisbane as a Junior College All-American and Durbidge as a member of a team that advanced to the national tournament.
The Schedule The Hilltoppers start the season at home with the Calvin Townes Memorial Classic. Then it’s a week of two more non-conference games before kicking off conference play with two early matchups against UA–Fort Smith and Rogers State. A break from conference play will have the Hilltoppers playing host to crosstown Huston-Tillotson and then a Thanksgiving trip to play regional power Fort Lewis in Durango, Colo. Then it is back to conference play with three more conference games prior to the Christmas break. St. Edward’s continues conference play in early 2014, looking to make a run at the Heartland Conference Tournament. “As with any year, the schedule is just that, the schedule. It is simply a sheet of paper with 26 games listed on it and we aren’t going to get wrapped up in whom we play,” Riehl said. “As we talk about so frequently within our program, we have to have faith in our preparation and each other, focus on the current moment and, most importantly, we have to finish each and every moment. If we do these things, we will be successful.”
Learn more about Hilltopper women's basketball at: GoHilltoppers.com (continued, page 2)
2013-2014 season preview
women's basketball “The Heartland Conference is in a completely new era, one which will prove to be highly competitive and successful,” Riehl said. “The days of the conference getting beaten up by regional competition are over. This conference will be extremely tough, highly competitive and exceptionally entertaining to watch as the season progresses.”
Final Thoughts In just her second year at the helm, J.J. Riehl’s leadership has the St. Edward’s University women’s basketball team generating a level of excitement not seen in a while. “Last year’s team did a tremendous job in pushing our program forward, and now it is the expectation that this year’s squad will take us to the next level,” she said. “Expectations have changed among the players, and now winning has gone from a hope or wish to an expectation. The level of determination remains at an all-time high, and with the addition of four transfers, all of which have a love for the game that is only matched by their vision for our future, that motivation and drive only intensify. I am overjoyed to coach this group of young women, and as has become our custom, we will always strive to be ‘One Team… One Family… One Love.’”
women's basketball Head coach J.J. Riehl is entering her second season at the helm of the St. Edward’s University women’s basketball team, and after an exciting first-year campaign, expectations are high for the 2013–2014 squad. The Hilltoppers return a talented core of nine players, coupled with the addition of five newcomers, giving the squad the talent, depth and experience needed at each position. After a huge turnaround last season, this year’s Hilltopper team is eager to build on the successes of last year and take it a step further by adding to the SEU record books, as well as the trophy case. “I am filled with anticipation and excitement to get started with this season. We have worked extremely hard as a staff, as well as the players, to move our program in the right direction and last year was a huge first step for all of us,” Riehl said. “However, we have to move on to this year and not be complacent with what we accomplished last year. I expect that our newcomers will play an important role in keeping everyone in the moment and not looking back as they come in highly motivated and ready to compete and win.”
The Team St. Edward’s returns a strong nucleus of players, including three starters and the two top scorers from the 2012–2013 squad; combined with the addition of five talented incoming players, the future looks bright for the 2013–2014 campaign. This year’s Hilltopper squad looks to pick up the tempo and put tremendous pressure on their opponents. After a one-man show last year, Stephanie Dekkers will have some competition for control of the reins at the point guard position with transfer Mileka Loydrake. Dekkers started every game for the Hilltoppers last season, averaging 8.6 points per contest and leading the Heartland Conference in assists, dishing out 4.7 a game. Loydrake will provide a high level of athleticism. With Dekkers and Loydrake, the Hilltoppers are guaranteed a duo that will pace the squad with experience and leadership at the point guard position. The depth at the perimeter positions should provide the Hilltoppers the ability to play that up-tempo style they are looking for. Maddie Wheeler returns for her junior campaign after suffering a season-ending injury midway through last season. Wheeler led the Hilltoppers in scoring with 13.9 points per game and was second in assists with 2.1 per game prior to the injury. Joining Wheeler on the wing is the workhorse of the team, senior Kelsee Barr. Barr started 16 of the 21 contests she played in, averaging 6.0 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game. Wheeler and Barr are expected to pace the Hilltoppers offensively with their ability to stretch the defense with their shooting and passing accuracy, as well as on the defensive end with their ability to anticipate the passing lanes and create chaos. Seniors Casey Riley and Kendra Field bring both experience and leadership to the squad. Juniors Tomorrow Huff and Jaimie Kadlecek look to provide the squad with two true combo guards as they can play both the point and off guard positions. Freshman Peri Ewin joins the Hilltoppers on the court this year after redshirting last season and will prove to be a threat from the outside.
Erika Rousculp and Valencia White both return after successful junior campaigns. Rousculp was an All-Heartland Conference Honorable Mention performer last season, averaging 9.1 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and notching seven double-doubles on the season. White will continue where she left off in providing the squad with athleticism on both ends of the floor at the post position. Haley Meekins provides versatility as a true inside-outside presence. Kathleen Brisbane and Aimee Durbidge round out the squad’s inside presence. Both have transferred to St. Edward’s after impressive twoyear campaigns: Brisbane as a Junior College All-American and Durbidge as a member of a team that advanced to the national tournament.
The Schedule The Hilltoppers start the season at home with the Calvin Townes Memorial Classic. Then it’s a week of two more non-conference games before kicking off conference play with two early matchups against UA–Fort Smith and Rogers State. A break from conference play will have the Hilltoppers playing host to crosstown Huston-Tillotson and then a Thanksgiving trip to play regional power Fort Lewis in Durango, Colo. Then it is back to conference play with three more conference games prior to the Christmas break. St. Edward’s continues conference play in early 2014, looking to make a run at the Heartland Conference Tournament. “As with any year, the schedule is just that, the schedule. It is simply a sheet of paper with 26 games listed on it and we aren’t going to get wrapped up in whom we play,” Riehl said. “As we talk about so frequently within our program, we have to have faith in our preparation and each other, focus on the current moment and, most importantly, we have to finish each and every moment. If we do these things, we will be successful.”
Learn more about Hilltopper women's basketball at: GoHilltoppers.com (continued, page 2)
2013-2014 season preview
women's basketball “The Heartland Conference is in a completely new era, one which will prove to be highly competitive and successful,” Riehl said. “The days of the conference getting beaten up by regional competition are over. This conference will be extremely tough, highly competitive and exceptionally entertaining to watch as the season progresses.”
Final Thoughts In just her second year at the helm, J.J. Riehl’s leadership has the St. Edward’s University women’s basketball team generating a level of excitement not seen in a while. “Last year’s team did a tremendous job in pushing our program forward, and now it is the expectation that this year’s squad will take us to the next level,” she said. “Expectations have changed among the players, and now winning has gone from a hope or wish to an expectation. The level of determination remains at an all-time high, and with the addition of four transfers, all of which have a love for the game that is only matched by their vision for our future, that motivation and drive only intensify. I am overjoyed to coach this group of young women, and as has become our custom, we will always strive to be ‘One Team… One Family… One Love.’”
