Strong returning group to lead Knights this season

Nov. 06, 2009

WAVERLY – Out of all of the goals and potential for the 2009-10 season, Wartburg College head women’s basketball coach Bob Amsberry is aiming at one thing in particular.

“We need to take the next step,” he said. “Last season’s finish in the Iowa Conference and making it to the postseason tournament championship game continued a progression we’ve been developing. Now, it’s the biggest challenge … trying to reach levels that the program hasn’t seen since 2001 and 2002 which consists of contending for the conference title and being in the hunt for more postseason play on a regular basis.

“We have the returning experience and depth needed to take that next step,” he added. “It’s time for us to rise to the challenge.”

Wartburg’s biggest strength going into the year will be on the perimeter. A loaded guard slot featuring returning second team all-Iowa Conference honoree Samantha Harrington and three-year point starter Hollee Silvey leads the way. Harrington, a native of Nashua, took a blowtorch to the program’s single-season three-point basket record, hitting 71 a year ago. She also worked her way into a tie for the single-game record when she canned seven against St. Ambrose last December. She is the top returning scorer from 2008-09 where she averaged 13.3 points per game. Silvey, who has started 20-or-more games in each of her previous three seasons, shared the team steals lead with Harrington (43) and dished out a team-high 71 assists. They have two capable back-ups behind them in sophomore Ashley Rogers of Altoona and junior Gabi Miller of Ida Grove. Rogers played in 23 games as a freshman, and Miller has seen playing time in each of her two previous seasons. Freshman Abi Weidemann of Iowa Falls may also work her way into the mix.

“This is a big key,” Amsberry said of his guard area. “Hollee and Sam have a good understanding of our system. The experience they bring is critical to our program taking the next step.”

In the forward area, returning starters Leah Riley of West Union and sophomore Leslie Wilson of Austin, Minn., lead a talented cast and are two of the Knights top defenders. Riley canned 22 three-point baskets last season, while Wilson lead the team in steals and was second on the team in rebounds and assists as a freshman. Junior Abbey Hempen of Clarksville and sophomore Stephanie Reiter of LaPorte City provide solid depth to the forward positions and are both solid perimeter threats. Hempen was right behind Harrington’s remarkable numbers from outside the arc, hitting 55 attempts. She also shares in the single-game trey record. Reiter was also adept from outside the arc, hitting 22 three-pointers.

“We lack some size in the forward slots, but our athleticism and ability to stretch defenses should pose problems for our opponents,” Amsberry said. “We will also try to force the tempo more this year, which should counter our size deficiencies.”

Inside the paint, Amsberry’s crew features juniors Katie Zittergruen of Van Horne and Larin Carlson of Woodstock, Ill., and sophomores Kelsey Teubel of Mount Vernon and Emily Timmermans of Vinton. While Wartburg’s head coach admits that replacing graduated first team all-conference honoree Sharese Van Sloten will be tough, he does like the returning group.

“We will miss what Shar brought to the team last year,” he said. “However, each of the players back did see playing time and all four have improved greatly in the off-season, so they should be able to fill that area pretty well. We will be more diverse in our post game with four solid players that each has different strengths.”

Zittergruen played in all 27 games last season. She averaged better than six points and three rebounds a contest. Carlson, Teubel and Timmermans each played in 10-or-moree games.

“We have experience and depth in every position,” Amsberry said of his returning players. “We will definitely rely on those two strengths as we prepare for another tough conference and non-conference schedule ahead of us.”