Nov. 14, 2008

Lake Superior State Game Notes

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - The Lewis University women's basketball team opens the 2008-09 season at Lake Superior State on Saturday afternoon. The Flyers are looking for some revenge after the Lakers delivered a loss to the Flyers last season. On Sunday the Flyers play Michigan Tech.

The Flyers hope a good start will help them towards their goal of returning to the conference tournament. Last year's squad featured promise but little experience. Now the Flyers have that experience and are ready to return to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

"I don't feel like Lewis is the type of program that should be looking from the outside in at the postseason," second year head coach Lisa Carlsen said. "Failing to make the tournament really didn't sit well in the offseason. Not getting there is something this group of seniors isn't used to and they want to find themselves back there."

Senior captains Kelly Dianis and Jenna Mooberry have an entire season under their belt as the mainstays on offense.

"A year of experience has made a huge difference. Many hadn't played before last year, and you really can't teach game minutes," Carlsen said. "That experience in game situations last season will be very advantageous for many of the returners."

Dianis and Mooberry feature the most experience on the roster. Dianis started all 26 games last year. She is the Flyers' most dangerous threat from the outside, ranking fifth in the conference in made 3-pointers per game (2.08) last season. But Dianis' importance to the team goes beyond the box score.

"Kelly is a great leader and extremely positive," Carlsen said. "She is also probably the most fun kid I've ever coached. She rarely has a bad day, either at practice or in a game.

"She is a streaky shooter, but when she is on, good luck stopping her."

Dianis is also one of the Flyers' best defenders.

"Kelly doesn't get enough credit on the defensive end," Carlsen said. "She's smart, understands angles and always seems to be in the right place at the right time."

Mooberry provides the Flyers with another versatile option. She led the Flyers in rebounds last season while tying for second in 3-pointers. Mooberry is also no stranger to pressure situations. Last season as UW-Parkside revved up for a final push in the final minutes, she hit a jumper, grabbed a rebound and hit six free throws down the stretch to seal an important GLVC victory.

"Jenna has the ability to shoot 50-60 percent from the field, but she will put the ball on the floor, too," Carlsen said. "She's a good defender, too. She relishes the challenge to be assigned to the best offensive player. I expect her to have a great senior season."

Mandie Morelock and Lauren Martens round out the senior class.

"Mandie is a good athlete and probably has the best jump shot on the team," Carlsen said. "We're going to look to her for senior leadership. She knows it is her last go around and wants to make the best of it."

Unfortunately for the Flyers, Martens' senior season is over before it began. She struggled with injuries the previous two seasons, and the hope was 2008-09 would be her dream season. But a preseason shoulder injury means she will need to be a difference maker off the court.

"She is someone who the team respects a great deal," Carlsen said. "They listen to her and her interests are all about the team. It's just too bad she has had the luck she has had."

She will need to be a leader for the Flyers' talented underclassmen, including sophomore Jenny Turpel.

Turpel had an impressive freshman season. She was second on the team and second among freshmen in the GLVC in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game. She showed an ability to play both in the paint and outside, draining 42.5 percent of her attempts from long range. Inside she was second on the team in total rebounds and ranked fourth in the conference in blocked shots (1.19 per game). Now the challenge is to take the next step.

"Jenny has a chance to make her mark at Lewis, even in the conference." Carlsen said. "I believe she was one of the two best freshmen in the league last year.

"The jump you make from freshman to sophomore year as far as understanding the game is huge," Carlsen continued. "If she makes that jump, expect her to have another great year."

Turpel and sophomore Kady Currin were the two Flyers to see the most significant playing time as freshmen last year. Currin started the final 12 games of the year and played in all but three contests. A point guard, Currin saw time at the off guard last year due to her defense.

"She's a tough kid and that's what I like most about Kady ," Carlsen said. "That toughness on defense will continue to get her significant minutes. She understands the game very well and at the point I think she has a better understanding of my expectations and what we want to do on the court."

A sophomore who may surprise this season is Devon Carbaugh. She was expected to play right away last year, but an injury forced her to the sidelines. Now she is rejuvenated and looking toward a solid sophomore campaign.

"Devon's worked very hard to get back and she is close to 100 percent," Carlsen said. "She's a smart player , a very good defender, fundamentally sound and will fight for minutes right away."

All three sophomores will be keys to making sure the Flyers are again one of the GLVC's best defensive teams.

"I think in order for us to be successful we need to be a good defensive team," Carlsen said. "We aren't the biggest team out there, so we need to be aggressive on the defensive end. I don't know if we will outscore people on a nightly basis, but we can turn our defense into offense. When you can do that you can hang with anyone."

Juniors Lauresha Hawkins and Amy Smith also saw their most significant playing time of their career last season. Smith and Hawkins each played in all 26 games. Hawkins started 16 at the point, while Smith played in a reserve role at the forward spot.

"Amy has improved each season she's been here," Carlsen said. "She's undersized at 5'9" and won't be a banger in the blocks. But she can shoot the three and has a good skill set to finish around the basket. Last year's minutes will really help this year. "Lauresha plays the point well and does a good job on the defensive side," Carlsen said. "She knows she will need to improve her shooting and has worked on it. It's one of our deeper positions and she will face competition."

Looking to compete with Hawkins and Currin for time at the point will be freshman Sierra West. She set season and career records for assists and 3-pointers at Slinger High School in Hartford, Wisconsin.

"Sierra has good speed and good quickness," Carlsen said. "She uses both hands well and can play at the two guard if needed. She is a great competitor and won't back down. I'm excited to see her on the court."

Sophomores Christine Karl and Kelly Monaco will compete for time in reserve roles for the Flyers.

"Christine knows that her key to minutes is to get after it on the defensive end," Carlsen explained. "She needs to pressure the ball and convert that defensive intensity into easy offensive opportunities."

On the flipside, the key for Monaco to make an impact this year will be on the offensive end of the court.

"Kelly is our best shooter, especially from beyond the arc," Carlsen said. "She's improved on defense which will allow her to be on the court more. She's worked hard during the offseason on quickness and I think that will pay off this year."

Like Martens, sophomore Carol Kruckman has suffered a preseason injury and isn't expected back this year. Despite the challenges of early injuries, Carlsen is excited about the 2008-09 season. She also feels confident her team can make big plays down the stretch of games.

"I feel like we are going to be well balanced," Carlsen said. "As we saw last year Jenny (Turpel) doesn't have a problem taking a big shot, so in the final minutes we have three or four players that depending on matchups I'd be fine with taking the final shot."

Look for the Flyers to play some close games, considering the difficult slate in front of them. They host NCAA Tournament qualifier Ferris State on Nov. 25 and play Colorado State-Pueblo and Metro State before entering GLVC play.

"Our schedule is tough, no doubt about it," Carlsen said. "But if we start out well and stay on task with what we want to do we can see if we are up to the challenge before entering conference play."

The GLVC looks to be one of the toughest conferences in the country. The Flyers have two dates with defending national champion Northern Kentucky and an Indianapolis team that won 22 games last season. Bellarmine won 20 games last year, but has lost five starters perhaps opening the door in the GLVC.

While the schedule will be tough, the Flyers' hope is at the end of the regular season they will be adding March 6 to their schedule, the date of the opening round of the GLVC Tournament.