Galesburg, IL - The Prairie Fire set nine new team records last season employing an all-out up-tempo, pressing, and long-range shooting style of play.
Emily Cline, in her fifth season as head coach, expects the team to be much improved in all aspects of what she refers to as “Fireball.”
“We have a year of experience under our belts. We did lose some key players to graduation, but I think we have the players and leaders to step in and fill in the gaps that graduation left,” Cline said.
Two of the players Cline will lean on are her two seniors, Kristin McDonald (Chicago, IL, Regina Dominican) and Sara Johnson (Grinnell, Iowa, Grinnell).
McDonald averaged eight points per game and led the team in steals. She appeared in all 23 games, including 18 starts. Johnson averaged 7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 80 percent from the foul line in 23 games, 20 of them starting assignments.
“Our seniors will be a huge part of what we do on both ends of the court,” said Cline. “Both seniors have a tremendous work ethic and leadership ability. They are also very experienced, having played a lot of minutes every year they’ve been at Knox.”
The team also returns juniors Grace Theisen (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest) and Chantal Heckman (Chicago, IL, Latin). Theisen averaged 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and led the team in blocked shots in 22 games, three of them starts. Heckman started one of the 20 games she played in last season and averaged 3.6 points.
“Grace will be the anchor in the post, and we will need her to score inside and from the arc this season,” Cline said. “We’ll also rely on Grace to rebound on both ends of the court.”
Heckman is a guard who Cline said has the potential to be a great shooter. “We will look for her to be a bigger offensive threat this season.”
The sophomores are led by Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North), the leading returning scorer from last season. She averaged 8.2 points and her 25 3-point baskets ranked third on the team. Marver, who appeared in all 23 games and started 12, will be a big part of what Knox does offensively.
“Jodi has unlimited potential so we will look for her to be an even bigger contributor this season,” Cline said. “Jodi sets the tone for our team with her unmatched work ethic and love of the game.”
Among the other sophomore guards are Becky Duffy (Chicago, IL, Northside Prep), Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County), and Krystal Pitts (Round Lake Beach, IL, Round Lake).
Duffy averaged 6.9 points, led the team with 93 free throw attempts, and was second in steals and assists. “Becky had a solid first year, and she will be ready to contribute more offensively and defensively this season. Becky is a great athlete, and I look for her to be an even bigger asset,” Cline said.
Price played in all 23 games last season and averaged 5.3 points. She was fourth on the squad with 21 3-point baskets. “(Price) is a tremendous shooter who will contribute a lot to our team this season with her shooting ability and her ability to get to the basket,” Cline said.
Pitts played in 17 games during the 2011-2012 season. A guard, Cline said Pitts is a very good athlete who can get to the basket and is a scrappy defender. “Krystal’s shooting range is also improved, so we look for her to contribute more offensively as well.”
Adding depth in the post is sophomore forward Katie White (Peoria, IL, Notre Dame). She averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 21 games played. White will be counted on to be a solid rebounder on both ends of the court.
The five newcomers this season are guards Jessica Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg), Mickey Rodriguez (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg), Alycia Webster (Allen Park, MI, Melvindale), Aryiana Smith (New Lenox, IL, Lincoln-Way Central), and Nadia Tapfumaneyi (Harare, Zimbabwe, SOS-Hermann Gmeiner).
Howard and Rodriguez, both sophomores, played an up-tempo style at Galesburg High School very similar to the system Knox runs. “Jessica and Mickey are both unbelievable shooters who will stretch defenses and open up driving opportunities for the rest of the team,” Cline said. “Both will also add depth at the wing positions."
Cline said Howard has a year of college basketball under her belt after transferring to Knox, and she’s expected to contribute immediately. Rodriguez is an effective spot-up shooter who has the potential to stretch the defense and be a valuable perimeter threat.
Cline said Webster is a tremendous athlete who has the potential to be a very good player in the Prairie Fire’s style of play. “Alycia already has the ability to get to the hoop and has the potential to be a great rebounder on both ends of the floor.”
Cline described Smith as a “workhorse” who, along with Tapfumaneyi, will add depth at the wing and post positions.
Knox averaged 83.5 points per game last season, a new school record and the second-highest point total in NCAA Division III women’s basketball. The other records the team set during the 2011-12 season were most points in a game (114), 3-point baskets in a game (16 twice), free throws attempted in a game (49), free throws made in a game (38), total points in a season (1,921), 3-point baskets in a season (208), free throws attempted in a season (732), and free throws made in a season (489).
Besides scoring average, the Prairie Fire ranked in the top 10 nationally in 3-point field goals made per game (third with 9.0), turnover margin (sixth with 8.17), and steals per game (seventh with 15.4).
"We have high hopes for the second season of Fireball," Cline said. "We look to score even more points while creating chaos on the defensive end of the floor with our trapping style defense. It should be a fun and exciting year of Fireball."
The Prairie Fire opens the season on November 15 at home against Eureka College at 5:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Web beginning at 5:20 p.m. at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/knox.portal#
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