2010-11 Women's Basketball Preview

Posted: Oct 27, 2010

October 27, 2010
By: Erin Oberly, sports information assistant

The Bluffton University women's basketball team is gearing up to tip off its 2010-11 campaign. With Head Coach Chad Shutler at the helm, the Beavers look to combine both experience and depth when they hit the hardwood this winter. After an 8-16 overall and 5-11 HCAC finish last season, the Beavers will seek out consistency and balance with a core group of returners leading the way. Shutler, who is entering his sixth season with Bluffton, notes, "Two years ago we saw much success and last year we became injury-riddled, so this season we look to be healthy, able to utilize our experienced players who have seen time on court and know what has to be done to move forward." For the second consecutive year, the Beavers led the HCAC in free-throw percentage in 2009-10 and were also fourth in the league in steals per game. The Beavers, with a balance of returning experience and new talent, will look to improve on their recent successes.

Leading the charge for the Beavers is 2009-10 First Team All-Heartland Conference honoree Kim Miller (Delphos/St. John's) as she returns for her final campaign with the Beavers. The senior, who averaged 14.4 points per game last year, is a three-time captain and starter and will look to provide leadership on and off the court. Juniors Brittany Stegmaier, Beth Yoder (Marshallville/Smithville), Rachel Daman (Defiance/Tinora), and Kirstie Runion (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Christian), will be expected to make significant contributions this year. Stegmaier averaged 9.0 points per game last season and returns as the team's top shooter behind the arc with a .349 three-point field goal percentage. Runion was second on the team in assists and steals last season, while Daman and Yoder will reprise their roles as all around contributors. Shutler notes that with this experienced lineup, he expects his returners to "take care of the ball and utilize their quickness," allowing for better decision making and capitalizing on key plays.

Also looking to contribute and compete for time will be juniors Brittany Lewis (Springfield/Shawnee), Emily Shellabarger (St. Marys/Memorial), Alicia Amis (Woodstock/Mechanicsburg) and Mandi Leemaster (Fremont/Old Fort). "With 10 returners, we have experienced a lot of success - we know what it's like to win," says Shutler of his 2010-11 squad. Alongside the returning core, Bluffton will welcome in 10 newcomers to their roster, who Shutler expects will "catch up to the pace of the game and push for time."

The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference will be no different than in years past as Bluffton will utilize its quickness and speed to contend in another competitive conference schedule. While Franklin College, Hanover College, and Transylvania University were picked for the top tier of the HCAC in the pre-season coaches' poll, Bluffton will rely on a veteran squad to make a statement that it belongs in the upper echelon of the conference this season. The Beavers will open up their season when they host the Bluffton Tip-Off Tournament in Founders Hall on November 19 and 20. Bluffton has its first HCAC contest at Mount St. Joseph on December 1 before welcoming Transylvania on December 4 in a women's and men's basketball doubleheader.

-BEAVERS-