Bethel College Women's Basketball

Returning eight letter winners and all four starters from one of the youngest teams in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) has raised the bar of expectations for 2010-11. Last year’s team ended the season with a 16-11 overall record (12-6 in the KCAC), tying the school record for number of wins, and establishing a fifth straight year of improvement under Coach Mark Fox and his staff.

Returning letter-winners are: senior forwards Samantha Askew, Dodge City, and Holly Anthony, Sterling; senior guards Angela Wood, Wichita, Rachael Bachman, Emporia, Kelsie Wilson, Dodge City, and Krishna Phifer, Humble, Texas; and juniors Jordyn Blanson, Oklahoma City, and Jessica Muckenthaler, Emporia.

Joining them as returners will be junior Allison Harned, Wichita, and sophomore Lindsay Waltner, Freeman, S.D.

Two big holes will need to be filled, however, for this team to continue building upon the success it has achieved – Hannah Blackburn and Amanda Hiebert. Blackburn finished her career as a four-time all-conference player (twice unanimous 1st team), while holding eight individual and four team records, including the career rebounding leader, the season rebounding leader and most games played in a career at Bethel College. Hiebert, the 2008 KCAC Freshman of the Year, has missed the last two seasons due to ACL injuries and has elected not to return to basketball.

A stiff non-conference schedule awaits the Lady Threshers as they host nationally ranked Haskell and Concordia and NAIA-D1 Stephens College, while also traveling to Daytona Beach during the Christmas holidays to compete against more national tournament participants: Taylor University and Robert Morris. And, as always, the KCAC will provide its own tests as Sterling, KWU and Southwestern have been consistently ranked in the national polls, while also competing in the National Tournament.

Fox and his staff welcome seven new faces to the program. Erin Bradley, Newton; Jennifer Scott, Newton; Katie Regier, Whitewater; Melissa Irwin, Payton, Colo.; Payton Walker, Weskan; Samantha Wilkerson, Hartford; and Spencer Suderman, Moundridge. All of these young ladies bring skill sets to the table that will provide for competitive practices and should push them, and the team, to greater heights.

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I’m really excited for the upcoming year; everyone seems to be meshing well with strong leadership from the upperclassman. Our team has grown together through adversity, but it has taught us perseverance and determination. We are excited to have a group of girls that are committed to O.N.E. common goal.— Rachael Bachman