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High Hopes
SDSU women playing for berth in WNIT after 21-7 success last year
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 11/10/05
BROOKINGS - South Dakota State's women's team isn't trying to figure out how to match its initial foray into Division I basketball.
The Jackrabbits want to build on last year's success and turn it into a postseason berth.
"Anyone can do something once, but it's the good teams that can come back and do it consistently," said junior Megan Vogel, the team's top returning scorer and one of the Jacks' few familiar faces. "That's what we have to make sure we accomplish this year."
SDSU posted its fourth straight 20-win season, going 21-7 and getting wins over big-named schools like Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma State. The Jackrabbits also defeated NCAA Tournament qualifier Middle Tennessee State and were impressive in close losses at traditional powers USC and Purdue, finishing 8-7 against Division I opponents.
"Division I is different than what we've been doing in the past," Coach Aaron Johnston said. "You don't really get a feeling for that until you see it first-hand."
This year, South Dakotans will also get the chance to see it, as SDSU will host eight D-I teams at Frost Arena, including Alabama and Middle Tennessee State. They also welcome back the Hoffman twins from Mitchell with their Texas State Bobcats.
The hope is that another successful season will culminate in a berth in the Women's National Invitation Tournament in March, the Jacks' only postseason option until they are eligible for the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09.
"This year, we have a full D-I schedule," senior guard Heather Sieler said. "That will put us eligible for the WNIT, which is something we're all looking forward to."
Seniors Sieler and forward Christina Gilbert are the only two players left from SDSU's 2003 Division II national title team.
"They've both been with us for a period of time that has covered a lot of wins - exciting wins - and tough losses," Johnston said. "It's really fun as a coach knowing you're going to have two people like that helping lead your team to hopefully some amazing things."
But the bulk of the Jackrabbit squad is made up of underclass players that Johnston considers some of the finest talent in SDSU history, which is sorely needed after losing all-time leading scorer Shannon Schlagel and three other critical, stellar role players to graduation.
With 6-foot-2 Gilbert hobbled with an injury for the first exhibition with Minnesota-Crookston last week, true freshman Jennifer Warkenthien (6-foot) and sophomore Sarah Meckley (6-foot) started in the post. Meckley had 16 points in that game, while 6-2 sophomore Courtney Grimsrud showed dramatic improvement with a 24-point, 12-rebound performance.
True freshmen Natalie Carda (6-2) and Stacie Oistad (6-foot) also got an extended look in the paint. Johnston also got his first chance to evaluate freshman guards Ashlea Muckenhirn 5'8 and Morgan Meier (5-10).
"It's easy to get into a rut just having a lot of returners," Johnston said. "When you have a lot of new faces, you really have to sit back and question what you're doing as a coach and make sure you're really teaching and really evaluate what you're doing as a program."
Vogel and Sieler help counterbalance that youth, giving SDSU its strength in the backcourt. Vogel (5-11) averaged 15 points and 5.8 rebounds a game last year, and four-year starter Sieler (5-6) scored 7.8 a game and led the Jacks in assists and steals.
Sophomore Andrea Verdegan (5-9) also proved valuable minutes as a versatile guard last year, averaging 6.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while shifting between the point and shooting guard spots.
Without having to play many lower-level teams - only two games are non-Division I - Johnston feels his team can maintain its focus on a trying to earn a WNIT berth a little easier.
"It's a big incentive," Vogel said. "We don't just want to make the WNIT, but we want to do well in it."
Reach Chris Solari at 977-3923.
High Hopes
SDSU women playing for berth in WNIT after 21-7 success last year
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 11/10/05
BROOKINGS - South Dakota State's women's team isn't trying to figure out how to match its initial foray into Division I basketball.
The Jackrabbits want to build on last year's success and turn it into a postseason berth.
"Anyone can do something once, but it's the good teams that can come back and do it consistently," said junior Megan Vogel, the team's top returning scorer and one of the Jacks' few familiar faces. "That's what we have to make sure we accomplish this year."
SDSU posted its fourth straight 20-win season, going 21-7 and getting wins over big-named schools like Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma State. The Jackrabbits also defeated NCAA Tournament qualifier Middle Tennessee State and were impressive in close losses at traditional powers USC and Purdue, finishing 8-7 against Division I opponents.
"Division I is different than what we've been doing in the past," Coach Aaron Johnston said. "You don't really get a feeling for that until you see it first-hand."
This year, South Dakotans will also get the chance to see it, as SDSU will host eight D-I teams at Frost Arena, including Alabama and Middle Tennessee State. They also welcome back the Hoffman twins from Mitchell with their Texas State Bobcats.
The hope is that another successful season will culminate in a berth in the Women's National Invitation Tournament in March, the Jacks' only postseason option until they are eligible for the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09.
"This year, we have a full D-I schedule," senior guard Heather Sieler said. "That will put us eligible for the WNIT, which is something we're all looking forward to."
Seniors Sieler and forward Christina Gilbert are the only two players left from SDSU's 2003 Division II national title team.
"They've both been with us for a period of time that has covered a lot of wins - exciting wins - and tough losses," Johnston said. "It's really fun as a coach knowing you're going to have two people like that helping lead your team to hopefully some amazing things."
But the bulk of the Jackrabbit squad is made up of underclass players that Johnston considers some of the finest talent in SDSU history, which is sorely needed after losing all-time leading scorer Shannon Schlagel and three other critical, stellar role players to graduation.
With 6-foot-2 Gilbert hobbled with an injury for the first exhibition with Minnesota-Crookston last week, true freshman Jennifer Warkenthien (6-foot) and sophomore Sarah Meckley (6-foot) started in the post. Meckley had 16 points in that game, while 6-2 sophomore Courtney Grimsrud showed dramatic improvement with a 24-point, 12-rebound performance.
True freshmen Natalie Carda (6-2) and Stacie Oistad (6-foot) also got an extended look in the paint. Johnston also got his first chance to evaluate freshman guards Ashlea Muckenhirn 5'8 and Morgan Meier (5-10).
"It's easy to get into a rut just having a lot of returners," Johnston said. "When you have a lot of new faces, you really have to sit back and question what you're doing as a coach and make sure you're really teaching and really evaluate what you're doing as a program."
Vogel and Sieler help counterbalance that youth, giving SDSU its strength in the backcourt. Vogel (5-11) averaged 15 points and 5.8 rebounds a game last year, and four-year starter Sieler (5-6) scored 7.8 a game and led the Jacks in assists and steals.
Sophomore Andrea Verdegan (5-9) also proved valuable minutes as a versatile guard last year, averaging 6.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while shifting between the point and shooting guard spots.
Without having to play many lower-level teams - only two games are non-Division I - Johnston feels his team can maintain its focus on a trying to earn a WNIT berth a little easier.
"It's a big incentive," Vogel said. "We don't just want to make the WNIT, but we want to do well in it."
Reach Chris Solari at 977-3923.