Women's Basketball: Tigers nationally ranked after winning 13 straight
By: Michael Appelgate
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports
After a few road bumps to talented teams early in the season, the Tigers have bounced back with a 13-game winning streak. The team currently sits at are currently 17-3 overall and are 10-1 in conference play.
According to head coach Kris Huffman, the success of the team can be traced to what she and her coaching staff have preached all year long.
"[We have] stressed defense and rebounding," Huffman said. "I like our progress in those areas. This is one of the hardest working teams I've ever coached."
Huffman spoke of her team in high regard, acknowledging the way they have fought back from the losses in the beginning of the year and have now broken back into the national ranking at No. 22 in NCAA Div. III women's basketball. Currently in NCAA Div. III, DePauw ranks first with a 16.6 rebound margin, fifth with a 20.2 scoring margin and sixth in turnovers per game at 14.3.
Leading the charge is sophomore forward Katie Aldrich, averaging 10.3 points per game, with senior forward Emily Marshall hauling down 9.6 rebounds per game. With excellent play by Aldrich and Marshall, the Tigers have outscored their opponents by an average of 26.8 points.
"We are better offensively and we never know who's going to step up, but we've always had someone," Huffman said.
Also emerging as a prominent player has been freshman point guard Kate Walker, who is averaging 2.9 assists per game. Walker has earned respect from Huffman for her ability to adjust quickly to the competitiveness of college basketball.
"At the beginning it was really hard, there was a huge weight that was thrust at me," Walker said. "I have progressed some but I have a lot of work to do."
Walker stresses the need for the team to maintain their focus in the coming weeks and Huffman shares that sentiment.
"There's a certain focus going on, they've been good teammates and they're on a mission," Huffman said.
The Tiger's next home game is a rematch against Centre Saturday at 1 p.m.
Regarding the upcoming match-up, Huffman said the women of Centre "most likely have this game circled on their calendar."
According to head coach Kris Huffman, the success of the team can be traced to what she and her coaching staff have preached all year long.
"[We have] stressed defense and rebounding," Huffman said. "I like our progress in those areas. This is one of the hardest working teams I've ever coached."
Huffman spoke of her team in high regard, acknowledging the way they have fought back from the losses in the beginning of the year and have now broken back into the national ranking at No. 22 in NCAA Div. III women's basketball. Currently in NCAA Div. III, DePauw ranks first with a 16.6 rebound margin, fifth with a 20.2 scoring margin and sixth in turnovers per game at 14.3.
Leading the charge is sophomore forward Katie Aldrich, averaging 10.3 points per game, with senior forward Emily Marshall hauling down 9.6 rebounds per game. With excellent play by Aldrich and Marshall, the Tigers have outscored their opponents by an average of 26.8 points.
"We are better offensively and we never know who's going to step up, but we've always had someone," Huffman said.
Also emerging as a prominent player has been freshman point guard Kate Walker, who is averaging 2.9 assists per game. Walker has earned respect from Huffman for her ability to adjust quickly to the competitiveness of college basketball.
"At the beginning it was really hard, there was a huge weight that was thrust at me," Walker said. "I have progressed some but I have a lot of work to do."
Walker stresses the need for the team to maintain their focus in the coming weeks and Huffman shares that sentiment.
"There's a certain focus going on, they've been good teammates and they're on a mission," Huffman said.
The Tiger's next home game is a rematch against Centre Saturday at 1 p.m.
Regarding the upcoming match-up, Huffman said the women of Centre "most likely have this game circled on their calendar."
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