2008-2009 Season in Review
Women's Basketball has first .500 season
Head Coach Jessica Ott turned around a 1-24 team from last year to a team that was 13-13 overall and made the NAC playoffs for the first time. For her effort, the conference coaches honored her as the 2008-09 NAC Coach of the Year. The team broke the school record for most wins in a season and garnered its first .500 record. The team accumulated a 10-8 conference record and placed third in the NAC South Division
Six-foot freshman forward Carol Cayo (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills HS) was named the Northern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year. Not only was she on the All Rookie team, but she was a second team All-NAC selection. For the season, Cayo averaged double-double figures: 13.4 points per game and 11.3 rebounds. She finished the year eighth in the nation in blocks (3.5) and 25th in the nation, averaging 11.3 rebounds per game.
Megan Syverson (Waukesha, Wis./ Waukesha West) joins Cayo on the All Rookie team. The 5-10 freshman guard averaged 12.6 points per game. Another freshman receiving accolades was Marguerite Wellstein, who was chosen to the NAC All Sportsmanship team. The team will graduate one, but returns all starters from this successful squad.
2008-2009 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
The MSOE Raider's women's basketball team will have youth; energy and enthusiasm on their side as this team lose two starters from last year's team and return two letter winners, as they get ready for a tough Northern Athletics Conference run. All three returnees are second year players that will have to step up and lead the team this season.
Kelly Costello (Westchester, Ill./Immaculate Conception) will see action at guard as she returns as the team's leading rebounder, averaging 5.1 rebounds per game. Costello was fourth on the team in points, averaging 4.8 per game. 
Jackie Bertram (Schofield, Wis./ Newman Catholic) returns for her sophomore year at the power forward position, adding a physical presence around the hoop for the Raiders. Bertram was first on the team in block shots (28) and free throw percentage (.767). She was second on the team in rebounds per game (5.0), minutes played (30.2) and fifth in scoring with 141 points.
"Our returners have gained invaluable playing experience last year as freshmen," said head coach Jess Ott. "It will be important for the upperclassmen to continue gaining confidence and working hard to reach our goals."
Freshmen play a vital role on the team's success this year as the program brings in seven new players to add depth to the Raider roster. Ott said, "These freshmen will be counted on to contribute in a big way. This may be one of our best recruiting classes." |
Carol Cayo (Lake Mills,Wis./Lake Mills) a 6' center, brings a defensive edge to the team. In her senior season, she broke the Lake Mills High School record for career blocks and owns the single season mark. Cayo was a first team all-conference selection and as the team captain, led her team to a regional championship.
Megan Syverson (Waukesha, Wis./ Waukesha West), is a player that could see action at either guard or forward. In 2007, she was an all-conference honorable mention selection.
Freshman Kathleen Collingbourne (Dundee, Ill./Dundee-Crown), Marguerite Wellstein (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek), Jamie Janczak (Germantown, Wis./Germantown), Gabby Hendrix (Milwaukee, Wis./ Milwaukee School of Languages) and Elise Pinkerton (Wapella, Ill./Clinton) are expected to see valuable playing time in their first collegiate season. Collingbourne is a 5'6" guard that can play the point and was All-Area in 2007-08, while the 5'4 shooting guard Wellstein, is a solid guard competing for playing time. At 5'7, Janczak was an all-conference guard in 07-08. Hendrix, a 5'10" forward, was the 2006 Player of the year in the blue division of her conference and in 2007, was an All-Area honorable mention selection.
"We are young, with little to no collegiate playing experience this team is enthusiastic and hungry to compete in the NAC," said Ott. "We will be tested early on with a tough non-conference schedule."
The Raiders opens their season with the first six games on the road before facing Rockford in front of a homecoming crowd on December 7.
To reach the NCAA tournament, MSOE must battle through the 13-teams in the NAC, which is never an easy task. This season marks the first year the NAC goes to a North and South division format with MSOE joining other South division members Alverno Aurora, Benedictine, Concordia-Chicago, Dominican and Wisconsin Lutheran. The North division consists of Edgewood, Rockford, Marian, Maranatha Baptist, Concordia-Wisconsin and Lakeland.
