Cedarville College
Yellow Jackets
1997-98 Women's Basketball
Season Outlook
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| Senior captain Summer Bennington |
The Cedarville College women's basketball program is ready once again to make its presence felt in the Mid-Ohio Conference. The Lady Jackets are counting on returning to the form that helped produce three NCCAA National Tournament appearances and a 20-win season in the first six years of head coach Kathy Freese's tenure.
"We have gone back to the basics with an emphasis on the fundamentals," explained Freese. "Our players have returned with a positive attitude. They've come back with a better work ethic and in shape. The start to this season has been extremely optimistic."
The Lady Jackets have been blessed with talent although it's young. Nine of the twelve players are either sophomores or freshmen.
The lone senior is captain Summer Bennington. The 5-foot-11 forward returns for her third season in the program after averaging 9.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last year.
The only juniors are 5-3 guard Heather French and 5-7 guard Gillian Gombis. French's discipline and leadership skills at the point guard position will be a key to the success of the team. Gombis, who has played in all 66 games the previous two years, also brings much needed experience to the club.
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| Heather French |
The sophomore class of 5-6 guard Charity Cole, 5-4 guard Loree Beth Fraley, 5-7 forward Tara Swaney, and 6-foot center Jodi Quint saw significant action as rookies. They will be asked to step to the forefront this season in primary roles.
Five freshmen, who, for the most part, have come from winning high school experiences, have been brought in to help revive the program. The list includes 5-6 guard Amanda Porter, 5-9 guard Stephanie Schanher, 6-foot center Julie Nourse, 6-foot forward Jennifer Jones, and 5-10 center Cassandra Goralski.
"I'm pleased with where we are headed," Freese said. "We're looking forward to having greater depth, being a better shooting team, yet focusing on defense. If we can demonstrate some patience and take better care of the basketball, then I'm confident we'll have a winning season."
Freese has again assembled another tough schedule that includes 28 games, nine of which come against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA polls. The home portion consists of 13 dates and features the Cedarville Invitational with perennial NAIA powers Central State and Georgetown KY. The Lady Jackets will also travel to NCAA Division I Liberty University, compete at the NCAA Division II Davis & Elkins Classic, and then tackle the always demanding Mid-Ohio Conference schedule.
