North Dakota State University head women's basketball coach Carolyn DeHoff enters her fourth season in Fargo with a definite focus. Fargo will get its first look at NDSU tonight at 5:30 p.m. against the University of Sioux Falls.
Coming off a 13-16 season including a 9-9 fifth place finish in The Summit League in 2011, DeHoff and the Bison are looking to get back to what they do well and excel.
"Looking back at the success we had our first year, the challenges we faced our second year, the roller coaster ride last season; we have had success and have also faced adversity," said DeHoff, who has compiled a 45-42 record in three previous seasons at NDSU including a 32-22 record in league play.
"We know we are the most successful when we defend well and shoot a high percentage from the free throw line. These are two areas that we have complete control over."
The Bison did allow 65.4 points per game in 2011, but that was up nearly five points on the average from 2010.
NDSU shot only 69 percent from the foul line last season after shooting an impressive 74.3 percent in 2010.
"Defense is a mindset. Defending well requires preparation on and off the court every day in order to maximize our strengths against our opponent's weaknesses," said DeHoff.
"Free throw shooting is repetition and narrowing our focus on one thing and that is the target. We expect to strive for excellence and to do that we must pay attention to the little things."
DeHoff and the coaching staff will lean on five returning letterwinners including solid group of three starters to help bring along eight newcomers into the program.
A pair of seniors come to the forefront in leading the Bison in Katie Birkel (Lincoln, Neb.) and Abby Plucker. The fiesty 5-foot-8 Birkel was going to move from the point to the off-guard position before a knee injury sidelined her for the season in late October. She has started 87 consecutive games for NDSU and reached 1,000 points last February. Birkel averaged 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last year. She was a Summit League preseason second team selection.
Plucker, a 5-foot-11 forward from Parker, S.D., comes off an impressive junior year that saw her earn first team all-league honors. Averaging 16 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, she became the first Bison player since Darci Steere in 1994 to accomplish that feat. Plucker was an alternate to the 2011 USA Basketball Pan American Games team.
A trio of juniors, 6-5 Janae Burich (Roseville, Minn.) 5-11 Hannah Linz (Watkins, Minn.) and 5-10 Dani DeGagne (Brandon, Manitoba), also return with a great deal of experience. Burich, who averaged 12.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, ranked 14th nationally in blocked shots (2.7 bpg). She tied the school single-game record with seven blocks last season. Linz provided the Bison with more than an emotional lift with her inspirational battle with cancer. She played in all 29 games including four starts. Linz returns stronger this season. DeGagne, who averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, fought through personal adversity and emerged as a scoring threat including a career and game-high 24 points in the win at South Dakota State.
Also returning are Miki Stephenson, a 6-2 sophomore center from Moorhead, Minn., saw action in 25 games last season for the Bison and 5-11 forward Ali Browning (Iowa City, Iowa) sat out her freshman year as a redshirt last season recovering from a knee injury.
"The experience that Abby (Plucker), Katie (Birkel), Janae (Burich), Dani (DeGagne) and Hannah (Linz) have will be invaluable to this group," said DeHoff.
"With the addition of eight new players it will be important for the experience of these five players to set the tone immediately. The rookies are a passionate group that love the game and want to contribute immediately to the success of our team."
A pair of Paris Junior College transfers, 5-8 guard Britney Gaines (Mesquite, Texas/Poteet H.S.) and 6-1 center Catavia Jones (St. Paul, Minn./Central H.S.)join the program bringing collegiate experience and a little flair to the court. NDSU volleyball setter, 5-11 forward Jennifer Lopez (Glyndon, Minn./Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton H.S.) is switching courts in December.
A talented group of freshmen, 5-9 guard Danielle Muri (Billings, Mont./West H.S.); 5-9 Kahla Becken (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial H.S.); 6-foot forward Liz Keena (Hastings, Minn./Hastings H.S.); 5-9 guard Jamie Van Kirk (Sutton, Neb./Sutton H.S.), and 5-11 foward Alisa Brown (Sioux Falls, S.D./O'Gorman H.S.) are expected to have an immediate impact.
"The rookies will bring intense competition in practice which will drive Abby, Katie, Janae, Dani and Hannah to be better players. They have had a taste of success and want to build consistency with that success and see how far we can go," said DeHoff.
"They are different in their style of play, leadership, and experience but complement one another well. They are our core and we look to have our rookies and sophomores develop the depth needed to compete and win in the Summit League."
Four NCAA tournament teams, five that advanced to the WNIT and two others that played in the Women's Basketball Invitational last season highlight the 2011-12 schedule.
North Dakota State opens the regular season with NCAA Sweet Sixteen participant Green Bay on Friday, Nov. 11, and follows up against Creighton on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Blue Jays were in the WNIT last year.
Green Bay, Northern Iowa, Kansas State and South Dakota State all advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2011, while Nevada, Duquesne, Northwestern, Creighton and Oral Roberts competed in the WNIT. IPFW and South Dakota participated in the Women's Basketball Invitational.
"We certainly don't shy away from playing a competitive schedule. If you look at last season's non-league strength of schedule we finished 96th out of 343," said DeHoff, who enters her fourth year with a career record of 45-42.
"This year will be no different. Our players want to be the best they are capable of becoming and realize to do that they must compete against the best opponents."
NDSU opens the Summit League schedule on the road at IUPUI on Nov. 30 and at Western Illinois on Dec. 2. The league home opener is scheduled for Dec. 29, against IPFW, and Dec. 31 against Oakland.
"We will rely heavily on our depth to gain experience through our non-conference and be ready for the rigors of conference play," said DeHoff.
