Experience, depth giveS ACU chance at post-season run
10/22/2009 3:24:17 PM | Women's Basketball
ABILENE - It's hard to hide the excitement in the air as 2009-10 basketball season approaches for the ACU women's team. And why not?
ACU returns eight players from a squad that won 18 games and reached the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament last season. The experience and leadership that six seniors bring to the hardwood are cause for excitement.
ACU head coach Shawna Lavender – entering her seventh full season at the helm – said the experience of her senior group will be the biggest factor in whatever success the Wildcats enjoy in 2009-10. The players that will play key roles in this season each played huge roles last year when ACU went 9-3 down the stretch of the season to earn the program's first NCAA tournament berth since 2004-05.
“This group has put a lot of pressure on themselves to get back to the regional tournament,” Lavender said. “However, we have stressed focusing on the here and now and everyone has done a great job of doing that in early practices. They have been through a learning process and each of them understands what it takes to reach our goals.”
With a seasoned group returning to the floor the Wildcats will look for their first back-to-back trips to the regional tournament since 1997-98 and 1998-99. And they'll be among the favorites to finish in the top four of the Lone Star Conference South Division and earn a trip to the LSC Post-Season Tournament for a fourth straight season.
“Building on our success is important, but we have to be focused every day in off-season workouts and practices, and that's what we're constantly reminding them,” Lavender said. “This team has tasted success and is working not to lose sight of how we got there and what it takes to get back.”
Leading the Wildcats will be returning starter and point guard Kat Kundmueller, who led the team and conference in assists and was the Wildcats leader in steals. Kundmueller directed an ACU offense that was much better at handling the basketball last season, turning the ball over 502 times (17.3 turnovers per game) compared to 554 times in 2007-08 (19.1 per game). Kundmueller also led the LSC in assist-to-turnover ratio, averaging 2.2 assists per turnover last season.
Alongside Kundmueller is forward Jamie Meyer, who has appeared in all 87 Wildcat games during her three seasons. The sharp-shooting senior averaged 14 points and a shot a cool 42 percent from behind the 3-point line.
“Jamie has grown so much since her freshmen year at ACU,” Lavender said. “She understands her role as a leader and her play in the second half of last season helped her confidence. She's matured and will be a key in helping us get through the conference.”
Jamie, along with sister Jody Meyer will try to fill the low post void left by all-region center Audrey Maxwell-Lively. Lavender said Jody Meyer has spent the off-season working on her low-post game, and she will be counted on to give the Wildcats a presence down low.
Also providing help in the middle for the Wildcats will be Courtney Laing, who played a key role off the bench last season. Laing averaged 4.2 points for the Wildcats, and Lavender said Laing will have to play a larger role for the Wildcats in 2009-10.
Also returning will be guard / forward Kelsey Darby-Holson, who has been spent the off-season recovering from an automobile accident. Darby-Holson – who married former ACU men's basketball standout Cam Holson over the summer – averaged 8.6 points per game last season and was a solid defender.
Junior guard Autumn Whitaker – one of the top perimeter defenders in the LSC – also returns and will compete for a starting spot. Whitaker played in all 29 games in 2008-09 with four starts, and she averaged 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. Another junior guard – Joanne Harner – will also compete for a starting spot for the Wildcats.
Lavender is also excited about her incoming freshmen, a class highlighted by guard Cecilee Perez of Gregory-Portland High School. Center Emily Miller of Fort Worth (Southwest Christian HS) should also see playing time for the Wildcats.
