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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - When Nancy Winstel was informed the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll had her Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team picked second in the East Division, the Norse head coach rolled her eyes and simply laughed. “With the graduation losses we had, I’m stunned we are picked second, in one way,” Winstel said, “but on the other hand, several teams in our division had a lot of good seniors, too, so maybe it isn’t that big of a surprise. “The fact they voted us second is a tribute to our program, because sometimes they feel like you don’t sell NKU short. Last year, we really thought we could go to the Elite Eight and we ended up losing in the first round. So you never know.” A season that began with so many expectations ended suddenly - and in shocking fashion - for NKU last March in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Norse dropped a 70-69 decision to Ferris State in that opening-round game that produced a nightmarish ending. NKU had taken a 69-68 lead and appeared to have won the game when Ferris State missed a rushed shot in the final seconds. A loose ball, however, somehow found its way into the hands of a Ferris State player who converted a layup as the buzzer sounded to end NKU’s season with a 21-8 record. Five seniors must be replaced from that squad, including 1,000-point scorers Karmen Graham and Karyn Creager. Also missing is All-GLVC and All-Region performer Brittany Winner (11.3 points per game), post player Katie Butler and guard Betsey Clark. NKU does return three starters, including a pair of post players who earned All-GLVC honors. The Norse also brought in an impressive group of newcomers who should provide immediate help this season. Senior center Angela Healy averaged 11.3 ppg and a team-leading 6.9 rebounds last season. A tremendous passer in the post, the 6-foot-1 Healy is expected to be one of the top players in the GLVC. Also returning is junior post player Cassie Brannen, who led the GLVC in field-goal percentage (.589) and set an NKU record by blocking 71 shots. The 6-1 Brannen also rejected a school-record 12 shots in one game last season. “I would like to think I may have the best two post players in the conference with Angela and Cassie,” Winstel said. “That’s a nice 1-2 punch inside, and with Nicole Chiodi returning for her third year as our starting point guard, that’s our big three we will rely on this season.” Chiodi averaged 6.9 ppg and dished out a team-leading 98 assists. She also averaged 4.6 rebounds and added 25 steals as a junior. Winstel expects a great deal from Chiodi and Healy, the team’s only seniors.
"For the past three years, Nicole and Angela were the followers because we had such strong leadership. Now, they see themselves in the role of leaders for this team, and they are really embracing the opportunity,” Winstel said. “Nicole has worked very hard this summer on all aspects of her game. "You can tell Nicole and Angela both have this extreme focus because they are seniors. They also understand our program, how we do things, and I’m glad to have those two as our leaders.” The Norse also welcome back Karen Brackman, Danyelle Echoles and Rachel Lantry, a trio of letterwinners who could play major roles this season. Brackman, an athletic 5-9 wing player, saw action in 23 games and averaged 3.0 ppg. Echoles, a 5-6 shooting guard, played in 18 games and shot 52.4 percent from the field. Lantry, a 5-10 sophomore shooting guard, saw limited playing time in 17 games. “I think Karen Brackman is poised to step in and help us at the wing position, because we lost some very good players,” Winstel said. “Danyelle Echoles and Rachel Lantry will also see significant playing time at that position. All three of those players are going to help us this season.” A newcomer who figures to make an immediate impact is 5-10 guard Jessie Slack, a Division I transfer from East Carolina. Slack averaged 6.7 ppg last season as East Carolina won the Conference USA championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. “Jessie is a tremendous addition to our team because of her versatility and experience,” Winstel said. “She can play either the two or three position, and we think she is really going to step in and do a great job.” Three freshmen - point guard Diondra Holliday, post player Kendra Caldwell and guard Rita Stefán - could also contribute this season. Holliday, a graduate of Clark Montessori in Cincinnati, averaged 18.1 points per game as a senior. She was named Southwest Ohio Public League Player of the Year three times and finished as Clark Montessori’s all-time leading scorer with 1,365 career points. “We have some young players, but I like our athleticism and the way they are working,” Winstel said. “Diondra is a very quick guard who can score, and Rita is a good athlete who is very good at going to the basket. Kendra is learning our system, and we think she is going to help us inside.” Bellarmine is picked by the coaches to win the GLVC East, followed by NKU and Kentucky Wesleyan in the top three of the poll. Defending regional champion Drury is the choice to win the GLVC West. NKU plays an exhibition game at Cincinnati on Nov. 1, and the Norse begin the regular season Nov. 15 with a home game against Brescia. The NKU basketball teams will say farewell to Regents Hall on Feb. 16, when Indianapolis visits for a GLVC doubleheader. The Norse will move into their new on-campus home, The Bank of Kentucky Center, beginning in 2008-09.
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