Published: November 21, 2008 08:23 pm         

Rose-Hulman women's basketball strength will be inside play

TERRE HAUTE — Asked earlier this week about his starting lineup for tonight’s season opener against Baruch College in the Emory Invitational at Atlanta, Rose-Hulman women’s basketball coach Jon Prevo said he wasn’t sure yet.

This wasn’t some motivational ploy to stir up his players. He really didn’t know, although hopefully he’s got a better idea by today.

Tipoff is slated for 8 o’clock. The winner will face either Emory or North Carolina Wesleyan in the tournament’s championship game at 8 p.m. Saturday, while the loser will play in the consolation contest at 6 Saturday.

“They were an NCAA Division III tournament team [with a 21-7 record] last year,” Prevo said of Baruch’s Bearcats. “They were a strong team and they return three starters.

“From looking at their roster, they’ve got quite a few new players. I think they’re going to give us a little bit different look than what we typically see in our conference opponents. I think they’re going to be really athletic and quick. I think they’ll want to be really up-tempo. I think they’re going to vary their defenses with some full-court presses, some zone and some man.

“This will prove to be a good test, a good challenge, for our opening game this year. This will enable us to find out where we’re at at this stage in the season.”

Last season, Prevo’s Engineers compiled an 11-15 record and placed sixth out of nine teams in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) to earn their fifth consecutive appearance in a conference postseason tournament.

In the preseason coaches poll announced last month, they were picked to finish sixth in the HCAC again in 2008-09.

“I think we have a chance of finishing higher than that,” Prevo said. “It’ll come down to how we progress as a team on the offensive end and, with our youth and inexperience, how quickly we start to grow as a team. I think being picked in that position can sometimes be an advantage.”

Prevo also had no problem with the poll’s No. 1 selection — Anderson.

“Anderson is the returning defending champion and they have the returning Player of the Year [5-foot-10 senior forward Kayla Martin] and they have pretty much their starting five back,” he pointed out. “I think they’ll be extremely tough to beat.”

As for his own team, Prevo sees potential.

Rose’s roster features the return of eight letterwinners from last season’s squad. Sophomore Donna Marsh, a 6-foot center/forward, led the team in three statistical categories. Her efforts included 9.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, along with a school-record 58 blocked shots, to earn a spot on the league’s all-freshman team.

Liz Ridgway, a 5-11 forward, stands as the lone senior on this year’s squad. Ridgway shot 44.2 percent from the field and averaged 9.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest primarily as a reserve last season.

Shayna Banet, a 5-10 forward, and Bethany Brisco, a 5-7 guard, represent the junior class on the Engineers. Prevo said Brisco is cooping in Louisville, Ky., and won’t be available to play until after Thanksgiving.

Adding to the mix up front are 5-11 sophomores Theresa Henke and Rebecca Bowermaster, 5-7 sophomore Nicole Klass and 5-11 freshman Alisa Dickerson. Also vying for playing time in the backcourt are Banet, Klass, Dickerson and 5-10 sophomore Eli Baca.

So who’s going to start tonight? Five of the above-mentioned players, which doesn’t narrow it down very much.

“[Marsh] kinda hit the wall there as a freshman,” Prevo assessed. “And she kinda had the flu and a cold at the end of the year, so that slowed her down.

“Liz Ridgway has the most experience. She’ll be looked at to expand upon her game from her junior year to her senior year.

“Shayna, last year at the beginning, was one of our better players on the floor night in and night out. Then she went through some nagging injuries and it really took a toll on her because she lost some of her explosiveness. I think she’s going to be looked upon to pick up where she left off last year. And, by being one of my upperclassmen, her role will expand on the court and off.”

Prevo said one of the Engineers’ strengths will be their inside play.

“Our inside play is going to consist of a lot of individuals, not just one or two,” he added. “Another strength will be our rebounding. I also think we’re becoming a good defensive team at this stage of the year and I think we’ll continue to progress in that area.”

There are concerns as well.

“It’s still fairly early,” Prevo noted. “I’ve had my [four] fall athletes for 10 practices [through Wednesday]. So they’re still kinda getting used to things and everyone’s still getting used to each other, even though some are returning players.”

Rose-Hulman’s first home game will be Dec. 3 against Franklin.