The women’s basketball team is looking to build the program back up to one of the top teams in the Midwest Conference as it has been in the past. The transformation is headed by Marcus Heidorf, a first-year Lawrence coach from Alverno College where he served as assistant coach.
The Vikings have a goal to improve their record from last year’s of 4-19. However, this will be no easy task as the roster currently contains only eight members. Don’t let the number of players fool you; as junior Laura Aerts commented, “You can expect to see eight undersized girls going into every game fighting with everything they have.”
Aerts, the second best 3-point percentage shooter from last year, is one of the few members returning from last season. When asked how the team is going to succeed, she responded, “Everyone is going to have to step up. We lost quite a few girls, so all eight of us are going to have to step up and play the role the team needs us to play.”
Also returning from last year is Erin Henzi, a senior, who led the Vikings in the all important free-throw percentage of just above 82. There are only two other players from last year’s roster: sophomores Katie Condon and Katie Van Es who will also have to play important roles on the team.
Henzi commented, “Our biggest strength this year is going to be our heart. Our team has few returning players, so we’ll be inexperienced. However, we know that as long as we’re diving for every loose ball and playing the best we possibly can, we can make up for our inexperience.”
The Vikings open the season with a non-conference contest against Macalester on Nov. 15 at 2:00pm at Alexander Gymnasium. Fan support always helps, so go to Alex and support the Vikes.
Women’s basketball preview
