Minnesota: University Of Minnesota Duluth Athletics

| | | | | SMSU Women’s Basketball Reports for Practice Sunday, Oct. 15 MARSHALL, MINN.: The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s basketball team will begin preparation for the 2006 season on Sunday, October 15, when Head Coach Mike Jewett welcomes 13 student-athletes for the first day of practice. The team will be preparin' for their first appearance in action, which will be an exhibition game, on Nov. 9 against North Tartan AAU at 'ome. The Mustangs will play their first game on the frog and toad, Nov. 15 at Mayville State and their first 'ome game will be on Nov. 25 versus Presentation College at 6 p.m. SMSU enters the 2006-07 season with nine returnin' letter winners. SMSU will 'ave a young squad as they graduated three seniors last season and will return this year with one senior, two juniors and five sophomores and five freshmen. The lone senior returnin' for the Mustang’s is Betsy Tasca. Tasca will brin' experience ter the team as she played in all 28 games last season. The 6-2 center will be a strong inside factor for SMSU. She was second on the team in reboundin' last year as she pulled down 149 boards. The two juniors on the team include Laura VanOverbeke and Erin Oakland. Both VanOverbeke and Oakland sor limited playin' time last season but will step up as leaders for the Mustangs this season. VanOverbeke will be a versatile player as she will play on the perimeter and in the post position both. Laura will brin' 'ustle and energy ter the team. Oakland will see an increase in playin' time this season as she will be a strong asset on the perimeter.
The sophomore class consists of talented athletes who wasbig contributors last season. Sara Leidall, a 5-11 forward, led the team in scorin' and reboundin' last season as she 'ad 358 points, a 12.8 points per game average and 'ad a total of 158 boards. Leidall was also named NSIC Newcomer of the Year last season. Abby Oakland, a 5-8 guard, will 'ave experience comin' into this season as she seen playin' time in every game last season and started in all but eight games. Oakland will 'andle the ball for the Mustangs and 'as the ability ter create plays as she is a great passer. Last season, Oakland dished out a team 'igh of 86 assists. Megan Wittkop, a 5-11 guard, returns after playin' significant time last season. Wittkop will play the win' position as she is a great shooter and is expected ter be a deadly three-point shooter for the Mustangs. Last season, Wittkop averaged 6.8 points per game and 'ad a .378 shootin' percentage from behind the arch. She led the team in free-throw shootin' as well, as she shot 82 percent from the charity stripe. Heidi Kimmes, a 6-2 center, will make 'er presence known down low. Kimmes averaged 2.0 rebounds per game last season and will look ter step up 'er role this season and 'elp the Mustangs inside game. The 5-5 guard, Megan Stadler, is out for the season due ter an injury in the preseason. Stadler will be missed as she played in every game last season and was second on the team assists with 84.

SMSU will 'ave five freshmen makin' their debuts as Mustangs this season. The freshman include; Amiee Burmester, a 6-1 center from Dewitt, Iowa who can effectively knock down the post shot and will be a player who is continually active, Liz Grider, a 5-11 guard from Carver, Minn. who will brin' athleticism and skill ter the guard position, Andrea Fennern, a guard from Wabasso, Minn. is a player who can create off the dribble and break down the defense, Kady Telschow, a 5-9 guard from Oostburg, Wis., will be a strong defender for the Mustangs. She also 'as the ability ter 'andle the ball and 'as a quick first step. And last is Allison Zeske, a 6-0 froward from Green Bay, Wis. who will be a versatile player for the Mustangs and also be a strong defensive threat.

The Mustangs enter the 2006-07 season with an all new coachin' staff of Mike Jewett, Katie Huschle, Sascha Hansen and Meghan Nelson. Southwest finished the 2005-06 season with a record of 7-21 overall and 4-10 in the NSIC.

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