Galesburg, IL -The Prairie Fire women’s basketball team is kicking the pace at which it plays the game into high gear.
Fourth-year Coach Emily Cline has installed a run and gun system that will employ heavy full-court pressure, a lot of 3-point shooting, and frequent substitutions.
“I think the system fits us because of our athleticism and depth. We’re going to play a lot of kids,” Cline said. “We’ve always pressed, so that was a natural transition, but now we’re playing more up-tempo than ever.”
The Fire returns two of its top three scorers from a year ago in senior forwards Krystyna Williams (Evanston, IL, Evanston Township) and Kelly Ricketts (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg). Williams averaged 10.6 points and 7 rebounds (seventh in the Midwest Conference) per game while Ricketts scored 9.3 points and grabbed 4.7 rebounds per outing.
Cline thinks both will do well playing in the new system. “They should still be our leading scorers,” she said. “We’ll hopefully be able to get the ball inside because everybody will be concerned about us shooting the 3-pointer. There are a lot of offensive rebounds to be had as well.”
Three guards that played in all 23 games for Knox last season are also back.
Junior Sara Johnson (Grinnell, Iowa, Grinnell) averaged 7.1 points and was second on the team in both assists and steals. Junior Kristin McDonald (Chicago, IL, Regina Dominican) added 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Senior Abby Owens (Grinnell, IA, Grinnell) averaged 5.5 points per contest and led the Prairie Fire with 22 baskets from 3-point range.
Senior guard Lynn Mueller (Woodridge, IL, Downers Grove South) will be back on the floor after an injury sidelined her four games into the 2010-11 season. She averaged 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
The other returning players for the Prairie Fire are sophomore guards Chantal Heckman (Chicago, IL, Latin) and Nina Mack (Algonquin, IL, Cary Grove), senior guard Steph Nunez (Mokena, IL, Lincoln-Way East), and sophomore forward Grace Theisen (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest).
Knox welcomes eight first-year players to the program this season. Cline is pleased with their progress.
“I think they’re holding their own. They are doing a great job, they’ve got a great work ethic, and they’re going to be good players for us. Hopefully they can adjust to college basketball quickly.”
Even though teams know the Prairie Fire will play a different system this season, Cline hopes her team will still be somewhat of an unknown to opponents. “I’m hoping we can sneak up on some people. Knowing and preparing are hopefully two different things.”
Also new to the team this season is full-time assistant coach Nicole Kroot. She’s served as both an assistant and head women’s basketball coach and played college basketball at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.
“It’s very nice to have an experienced assistant,” Cline said of Kroot. “She brings passion and energy and I’m really thrilled to have her.”
Cline acknowledged that it’ll take some time for the team to get a good handle on the new playing style.
“The learning curve is huge for all of us, me included, and the system is not something you’re going to be very successful with right away. It takes a commitment, so we’re probably right where we should be with this new to everyone.”
