UW River Falls Falcon Women’s Basketball 2009-2010 Team Preview
Posted by Falcons Fan on November 17, 2009
2009-2010 Team Picture
Today we will preview the UW River Falls Falcon Women’s Basketball 2009-2010 season.
First let’s look at the Falcon leadership. We all know about the Coaches leadership, how about the players?
The 2009-10 roster boasts strong leadership. This year’s team captains are seniors Jenna Hanson and Kelli Hilt. They will leverage their experience from being captains last year.
Coach Holbrook had this to say. “We return both great leaders and great players. Solid leadership is of such high value. I expect our 2009-2010 team captains to work with our coaching staff to further grow in the areas of mental toughness, and healthy team dynamics in an effort to further build and solidify our winning mentality. It will be important that we stay committed to the factors that position us for success. Our youth will have a tremendous opportunity to be mentored by this year’s captains leadership and accountability. Our team captains also happen to be two returning starters from last season. Their effectiveness as leaders is complimented by their ability to lead and produce on the floor. In a year which we expect to rise in the WIAC standings their experience on and off the floor will be crucial. Their combined offensive and defensive ability will also provide confidence in other positions on the court.”
Now lets look at the positions.
First, the Frontcourt.
This years Frontcourt includes the following players.
No Name Pos. Hgt. Yr. Hometown/Last Team
20 Brittany Gregorich F 5-9 Fr. Altoona
22 Taylor House F 5-11 So. Maple Grove, MN
34 Lindsey Olson F 6-0 Fr. Plainview, MN/Plainview-Elgin-Millville HS
35 Maranda Dohrn F 6-0 So. Lake City, MN
40 Alise Holst F 5-8 So. Plainview, MN/Plainview-Elgin-Millville HS
44 Tracie Gillund F 6-0 Fr. Blaine, MN
As a whole this group is young, talented and “TUFF” tough.
Few would dispute the impact last years trio of freshmen House, Dohrn and Holst had on the success of last year’s squad. Rebounding was this groups trademark Dohrn #3 (7.7 rpg) and Holst #5 (7.2 rpg) ranked in the top five in the WIAC in rebounding. House finished the season with 5 rebounds per game. As the team’s top returning rebounders, the Falcons will rely on them to continue to build on their past production. Coach Holbrook sees no reason to think the forwards will do otherwise.
“Sometimes you see young players going through their careers and they really take a jump. I think all three of them still have room to keep getting better, so I am looking for that big jump,” said Holbrook. “They are tremendous rebounders. We’re really going to be looking for great production from them on the glass. Sometimes you see kids who are great defensive rebounders, but they all rebound at both ends of the floor.” Holbrook added “ I expect all of them to expand there offensive game this season. Maranda is tough around the basket, she was our “defensive player of the year” last year. Alise has unbelievable athleticism and is great at slashing to the hoop. Taylor has all the skills she just needs to stay out of foul trouble and be in good defensive position. She can score with anyone.” Holst was 2nd on the team in scoring with 10 ppg and House was third with 8.5 ppg.
The freshmen Brittany Gregorich, Lindsey Olson and Tracie Gillund bring depth, height and complimentary skills to our returners. “We expect all three of these players to make an impact on our season,” said Coach Holbrook, “as freshmen we never really know until the games are played. We are excited to see how they adapt to the college game. Olson and Gillund are strong players that will help our inside game. Both are big and strong blue collar players that have nice touch around the basket. Brittany is a lot like Alise, she can play all over the court for us and she’ll be an impact player on both ends of the floor.”
“Look for Alise and Brittany playing in the backcourt too,” add Holbrook.
This group of six players will provide the Falcons with something it struggled with last year – the ability to rotate their forwards on the court. The versatility should be especially beneficial as the season wears on.
Now for the Backcourt.
No Name Pos. Hgt. Yr. Hometown/Last Team
14 Katie Theisen G 5-6 Sr. Andover, MN
21 Tess Lardie G 5-8 Jr. Eagan, MN
23 Tiffany Gregorich G 5-5 So. Altoona
24 Jenna Hanson G 5-6 Sr. Altoona
25 Lauren Pellowski G 5-6 Jr. St. Paul, MN/Tartan HS
31 Nikki Guhr G 5-7 Fr. Muskego
33 Kelli Hilt G 5-6 Sr. Lakeville, MN/North HS
42 Melissa Carmody G 5-7 Fr. Barneveld
Like the frontcourt, the backcourt also has many players returning from last year’s squad. That game-day experience is crucial to the Falcons in the new season. This group has experience, three Seniors and two Juniors and young and talented Freshmen and Sophomores.
This group is lead by the senior captains Hanson and Hilt as well as fellow senior Katie Theisen. With their versatility, they will be looked upon to be major contributors in many areas, including protecting the ball, defensive pressure and scoring.
“Jenna, Kelli and Katie bring a lot of experience and competitiveness to our team” Holbrook said, “ I expect them to lead our team this year. They are quick and smart players. It is always good to have a core of seniors to lead your team”.
Hanson and Hilt were both in the top five for the Falcons in rebounding, scoring, assists and steals last year. Theisen adds quickness and defensive pressure off the bench. When she’s in rhythm on offense her shooting range is endless.
The juniors are Tess Lardie and Lauren Pellowski. Pellowski brings toughness to the guards and Lardie athletic ability to challenge anyone. Both of them will be expected to contribute on both ends of the floor. It’s exciting to see them really come into their own as juniors so far this preseason.
“Lauren and Tess both contribute to our defensive pressure and perimeter offense. They are key experienced reserves who have showed the ability to play multiple positions throughout the season,” said Holbrook “ I expect both to up their game this year and make a difference. Both are on the verge of breaking out and really being key players for us in many areas of the game.”
The only returning sophomore guard is Tiffany Gregorich. Tiffany, the “offensive player of the year” last season, led the team in scoring, assists, steals, and 3-point shooting. She was voted to the WIAC All Conference Honorable Mention team last season as a freshman.
“She is one of the most competitive people I know and she brings that every day to the court,” Holbrook said. “She is also a very fundamentally solid player. When Tiffany is in the game, the entire game changes, I don’t know many players who have that kind of dramatic impact where you immediately know they’re in the game. She’s definitely one of those impact players.”
Rounding out the Backcourt are two smooth freshmen. Nikki Guhr and Mel Carmody both come from very successful high school programs. That winning tradition and attitude shows through in them. Guhr can run like the wind and Carmody brings solid decision making to the court along with her athletic ability.
“Nikki is as fast as anyone on this team,” said Holbrook. “She should really be able to get us some opportunities in transition, and she’s going to help us defend as well, she should sneak out some great opportunities on transition alone. I think she will be awesome in our pressing game with her speed and anticipation defensively.”
“Mel comes to us with a very fundamental skill set. I’ve been really impressed with her work in the preseason,” said Holbrook. “She’s another really good defender and scorer. She’s got a quick release and tremendous accuracy as a shooter. The mental aspect of the game is strength for Mel, she asks great questions and really wants to understand the game better. Her decision making and instincts as a freshman are very good. She’s going to be a player for us early this year.”
“We just want to see how all our freshmen react in playing at the next level” added Holbrook. “I think they’re ready for the challenge, but the WIAC can be a rude awakening for young players sometimes.”
What does the Coach think about this season with expectations being higher?
“We definitely have an attitude of ‘We just want to win.’ We want to win every game.” Holbrook said. “It’s about wanting to get the ball. Good things happen when we have the ball. If we rebound and defend the way I would like to see us, we will be fine. It’s flat out about wanting to win and working every single day to make that happen.”
For Holbrook, the season will be about continuing to build the program and trying to keep the momentum from last year continuing to roll. “It is tough to make a jump in the WIAC standings, especially to break into that top 4. I can’t wait to see how our players perform with real live game action. Can our seniors lead us? Do our returning players make a big jump in their play on a daily basis? Are our sophomores going to improve and be consistent? How will our freshmen react to the live action? Will we be a smart team? Can we stay injury free?,” Holbrook said. “You never know what’s going to happen .”
The waiting is over. Tip off is on Tuesday November 17 at the Karges Center starting at 7:00 verses Crown College. Later this week the Falcons travel Thursday November 19 to New Ulm MN to take on Martin Luther College and Saturday November 21 they travel to La Crosse WI to take on Viterbo.
