Hoopsters say hello to five newbies
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The Iowa women’s basketball team will be looking to continue its success from the previous two seasons. After claiming a share of the Big Ten Title in 2008, and tying for second in 2009, the outlook for the 2009-10 season has great potential.
What you should know
Despite losing five seniors, including two-time first team All-Big Ten guard Kristi Smith, third team All-Big Ten forward Wendy Ausdemore and honorable mention All-Big Ten Megan Skouby, the Hawkeyes have the potential for another successful season.
“We lost five seniors, so it’s going to be hard,” junior-to-be Kachine Alexander said. “We also gain five players, so we’ll be looking to them to make an immediate impact.”
Iowa signed three guards, Trisha Nesbitt, Jamie Printy, and Theairra Taylor, one forward, Gabby Machado, and one center, Morgan Johnson.
Whom you should know
Two of the key players still around are Alexander, who was a second-team All-Big Ten performer, and sophomore-to-be Kamille Wahlin, who earned a spot on the All-Big Ten freshman team last season.
“I think we have a lot to build on,” head coach Lisa Bluder said. “I think [Kachine Alexander] and Kamille [Wahlin] will be tremendous leaders in telling our freshmen what to do and teaching them how they need to be next year.”
In the absence of Smith, Wahlin will be relied on as the main ball-handler and point guard for the Hawkeyes.
“I’m going to be the point guard, so I’ll need to be more vocal,” Wahlin said. “I’ll be working on my ball handling, because I’ll have to carry the ball a lot.”
Main rival
Iowa’s main rival is the obligatory Iowa State matchup. With Nesbitt coming to Iowa City from Ames, it will only add to the heated rivalry. The Hawkeyes beat Iowa State in the 2008-09 season for the first time in five tries.
Iowa’s leading returners include:
• Junior-to-be guard Kachine Alexander, 10 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 3.8 apg.
• Sophomore-to-be guard Kamille Wahlin, 7.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, and 2.7 apg.
• Senior-to-be forward JoAnn Hamlin, 7.6 ppg and 6 rpg.
• Alexander and Wahlin are the only two returning players to have played in every game last year.
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