Women’s team aims to improve on first losing season in 26 years
Last season the Bison experienced something they had not seen in 26 years: a losing season.
Head coach Amy Ruley saw her team go 9-17, the fewest number of wins in her 27 year tenure with the Bison.
However, the Bison also saw much stronger competition last year, playing the likes of Minnesota, Alabama, New Mexico and Middle Tennessee State.
“ I think the kids coming back have a better feel now for what it’s going to take, the level of competition, the type of competitors they have to match up with,” Ruley said.
The schedule does not get any easier this year as NDSU faces five teams who made the NCAA tournament last year and one more that was in the Women’s National Inivational tournament..
This season’s team has both plenty of promise and plenty of questions.
The biggest challenge will be filling the void left by graduated senior Katie Lorenz.
Lorenz led the Bison in points, assists, steals and minutes last season and handled the bulk of the point guard duties.
Many of those responsibilities will fall on the top returning scorer from last season, Lisa Bue.
The junior guard averaged 10.5 points per game last year and was voted one of the two team captains this year, along with senior Amanda Girodat.
Girodat has sat out nearly all of the last two seasons after injuring her knee early in both years.
Ruley hopes Girodat will be back on the court and 100 percent healed by late December.
The Bison also return Katie Dahlen and Kayla Dahlen in the backcourt, two solid contributors from a year ago.
Danni Heintzelman, Brenda Slyt, Ali
Sonstelie and Jerri Penley all return in the frontcourt.
There will be plenty of new faces on the floor as well.
Junior college transfer Emily Moran will likely see quite a few minutes at the point guard position until Girodat returns.
“ She gets out to make things happen,” Ruley said. “She’s an up-tempo player.”
Freshmen Inger Hodgson and Jill Zaruba, along with juniors Jenna Lemnus and Jackie Sanden, are all expected to play some.
Ruley will have an uphill climb to try to get this team back to the level she is used to, but she feels this team can make some improvements.
“ I’m pretty optimistic about this year as far as improving on where we left off and getting some additional people involved,” Ruley said.