2009-2010 Preview
The MSOE women's basket ball team is coming off a .500 season, finishing with a 13-13 overall record, and a 10-8 record in the Northern Athletic Conference. The Raiders' record was the best turnaround of any NCAA Division III team in the nation. Head Coach Jessica Ott was honored for the team's turnaround and was voted the NAC Coach of the Year. With no one graduating and the addition of key freshman to the squad, look for MSOE to improve on their finish from a year ago.
Leading the way for the Raiders is Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) freshman of the year Carol Cayo. Cayo, a 6'0" center, was eighth in the nation averaging 3.5 blocks per game. Cayo's 11.3 rebounds per game also ranked her 25th in the nation, among the best on the boards. For the season, Cayo averaged 13.4 points per game, 2.3 steals per game and averaged 45.6% from the field and 73.6% from the charity stripe. She also led the team in steals with 61 on the year.
Co Captains Jackie Bertram (Schofield, Wis./Newman Catholic) and Kelly Costello (Westchester, Ill./Immaculate Conception) bring leadership to the Raider squad. The 6'1" forward Bertram averaged 5.19 rebounds per game and almost one block shot per game to go with her 10.26 points per game average. Costello will play either guard or forward. In 26 games, Costello averaged 8.11 points per game for MSOE.
Coach Jessica Ott, in her ninth year as head coach, will rely on Bertram and Costello to guide the team to the next level. "I look for Kelly (Costello)and Jackie (Bertram) to be leaders on the floor," said Ott. "Both elevated their game last year and this year should be no different. They need to take their game to another level and set the tone for our squad. Kelly made many big shots last year when we needed them. Jackie proved to be a dominant force inside."
Sophomores Megan Syverson (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) and Marguerite Wellstein (Oak Creek, Wis. / Oak Creek) are part of the Raider youth movement who saw plenty of playing time in 2008-09. Syverson, a 5'10" forward, started in 24 games and averaged 12.62 points per game. Syverson was an outside threat for the Raiders, leading the team with 33 three-point field goals, (31.13%) while leading the team in free throws and free throw percentage with 100% and 75.18%, respectively. Wellstein also started in every game she played last year, averaging 6.69 points per game and leading the team with 2.77 assists per game.
"I expect our very talented sophomore class of Cayo, Kathleen Collingbourne (East Dundee, Ill. / Dundee-Crown), Wellstein, Jamie Janczak (Germantown, Wis. / Germantown), Syversen, and Elise Pinkerton (Wapella, Ill. / Clinton) to push each other in practice and games," said Ott. "Teams are going to focus a lot of energy on Cayo. That is where this team has a lot of different weapons and on any given night someone is ready to step up."
Dana Guthrie (St. Louis, Mo./ Hazelwood West), who was a two-year starter at the guard position, returns for her senior season. Ott said, "We are excited that Dana has rejoined the team. She will add depth to our guard position."Ott continued, "We have 93% of our scoring returning with the addition of a few new and old faces," said Ott. "We are excited that there are three first year players Mary Roath (Fox Lake, Ill./Grant Community), Heather Miller (Johnsburg, Ill. / Johnsburg) and Cate Scholfield (Wausau, Wis. / Wausau West. They are versatile and athletic players who can play many positions. I am excited to see what they can bring to our team." Ott said, "We don't need to solely rely on just one or two players to make big plays. I have seen big plays from all of our players. That is exciting! This team is ready to go and is fired up."
MSOE will open their season with Eureka (11/21) and Lake Forest (11/23) at home before travelling to Colorado for the Colorado College Thanksgiving Tournament on Nov. 28-29. When the Raiders return home, they jump into the NAC schedule, starting with Aurora on Dec. 2 and ending with Alverno on Feb. 17. For the Raiders to make the NAC eight-team playoff that starts in late Feb. they need to place at least in the top four of the NAC South Division.
MSOE Raiders vs. Alverno on Feb. 17, 2010
