HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Nancy Winstel is not fazed by preseason polls. After 21 seasons as the women’s basketball head coach at Northern Kentucky University, Winstel realizes October predictions mean nothing when March arrives.
But Winstel does not mind being the underdog. In fact, sometimes it helps being a bit underestimated. And she certainly will not hesitate to use the 2004-05 Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll as a motivational tool.
The GLVC coaches picked NKU to finish fourth in the preseason poll. That’s somewhat understandable, given the fact the Norse are coming off a 17-11 campaign and must replace two starters.
Winstel, however, has plenty of returning talent and a solid group of newcomers. She also has the GLVC preseason poll to provide any needed motivation her players might need this season.
“I think some people believe we are down this season, and there are a lot of outstanding teams in our conference,” Winstel said. “Hopefully, our players will take that as a challenge. I know this is the hardest-working group I have ever coached, and this is going to be an interesting season.”
NKU finished 12-8 in the GLVC last season and placed sixth in the standings. The Norse lost to the University of Indianapolis in the first round of the GLVC Tournament, but earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight year.
NKU met top-seeded Quincy University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, and the eighth-seeded Norse led most of the game. Quincy, however, rallied and escaped with a 51-49 victory over NKU.
“Most people did not expect us to be in that game, but our players responded well. Quincy just made big plays at the end to win it,” Winstel said. “We return some important players from that team, and we want to build on that experience from a year ago.”
The top returnee for NKU is senior forward Connie Myers, who averaged a team-leading 14.4 points per game last season. Myers also connected on 46.4 percent of her shots from the field and averaged 7.3 rpg.
Myers scored in double figures 21 times as a junior, and Winstel is looking for more of the same this season.
“Connie really became an outstanding player last season, and she is one of the strongest post players in the country,” Winstel said. “She has very good moves inside, and Connie is a consistent scoring threat and one of our leaders.”
Also returning is 6-foot-1 sophomore Karmen Graham, who averaged 6.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg. Graham displayed a deft outside shooting touch and made 57.9 percent of her attempts from three-point range.
“Karmen works extremely hard, and she has a great deal of talent,” Winstel said. “We expect her to be a solid player this season. Her rebounding and defense will be a key.”
Brittany Winner, a 5-10 transfer from Elon (N.C.) University, will help the frontcourt. Winner played in 29 games for Elon last season and averaged 18 minutes per contest. She averaged 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
“Brittany can play the wing or the post, and she is our most versatile player,” Winstel said. “There is no doubt she is going to help us because she is strong, she can shoot and run the floor.”
Sophomore wing Karyn Creager averaged 6.5 ppg last season and could emerge as one of the GLVC’s top outside shooters. Creager made 87.1 percent of her free throws as a freshman and was 18-for-45 from three-point range.
“Karyn had some very good moments as a freshman,” Winstel said. “She constantly works at improving her game, and she is going to help us a great deal.”
Angela Healy, a 6-1 freshman center, will add depth to the frontcourt. Winstel said the freshman has a great deal of potential.
“She was a great catch for us, and once she gets acclimated to the college game, Angela will be a solid post player,” Winstel said.
In the backcourt, there is depth, experience and talent. NKU returns starting guards Elizabeth Burrows and Nikki Perkins, plus the Norse welcome back letterwinners Betsey Clark and Sarah Woods.
Burrows led NKU with 120 assists last season and averaged 6.2 ppg. She is entering her third year as the team’s starting point guard and helped NKU advance to the NCAA Division II national championship game as a sophomore.
Perkins averaged 9.6 ppg last season and made a team-leading 49 three-point field goals. Also returning is Clark, who saw action in 20 games a year ago. Woods averaged 2.0 ppg and is another returning letterwinner.
“We have a lot of experience and talent at guard, and I expect that position to be a strength for this team,” Winstel said. “Elizabeth Burrows has played on three NCAA Tournament teams, and she does a great job of getting us into our offense.
“Nikki Perkins can really shoot the ball from the outside, and I think now that she has been in our system for a whole season, she is really going to have a great senior year. Betsey Clark and Sarah Woods are improved players, and they add experience on the perimeter.”
Freshman guard Nicole Chiodi arrives with impressive credentials. Chiodi, one of Kentucky’s top prep players last season at Newport Central Catholic High School, averaged 18.5 points per game as a senior en route to being named second team all-state.
A 6-foot guard, Chiodi finished her career as Newport Central Catholic’s all-time scoring leader with 2,124 points. She also made 106 three-point field goals during her four-year varsity career at Newport Central Catholic and finished as the school’s all-time leader with 486 assists and 429 steals.
“Nicole is athletic and very tall, and I think she is going to compete for playing time as a freshman,” Winstel said. “She will play the wing this year, but eventually she will get time at point guard. Nicole is a fine basketball player who can score and pass, and she can help us.”
Freshman guard Keri Finnell, a standout player at Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati two seasons ago, could also make an impact.
“Keri has great speed, and she is very good off the dribble,” Winstel said. “I see her playing on the wing for us this season.”
The Norse will meet the 2000 NKU national championship team Nov. 13 in an exhibition game. NKU opens its regular-season schedule Nov. 16 against Georgetown (Ky.) College in Regents Hall.
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Brittany Winner |