WAVERLY, Iowa-- All five starters return from last year's Iowa Conference Championship team under Wartburg women's basketball 11^th-year head coach, Bob Amsberry. The program has also made two consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Knights debuted at No. 8 in the d3hoops.com and No. 14 in the WBCA preseason Top 25 polls.



"We're not in a position to take anything for granted," he said at winter sports media day. "I do believe we are talented enough to beat anyone in the country. We want to be in a position to be in the postseason and have a chance to make another run.

"We return a lot, in fact, our whole rotation returns," Amsberry said. "We are senior loaded and we'll rely on those seven seniors that will all get time this year. We will rely on that group to continue to build on what we've done. They will continue to teach the new players our culture and values," he added.

Those seniors include: Katie and Kristie Sommer (Cedar Rapids), Abbie Haupert (Collins), Aryn Jones (Marion), Megan and Miranda Murphy (Alleman), and Morgan Neuendorf (Plainfield).

"The experience we've gotten over last several years, they are really confident, because of what we've been through," said Amsberry. "There are areas we can improve in and this team can still get a lot better. I thought we got exposed in the national tournament by a really good Chicago team last year. Just because we have talent doesn't't necessarily mean that we're going to be a good team. We have to maximize that talent."

One of the seniors that makes the team 'go' is Katie Sommer, who was selected as a preseason First-team All-American by d3hoops.com. She led the team in points, rebounds, free throws, three-point field goal percentage, steals, and broke her own single season school record in assists.

"Katie does a little bit of everything and that honor is well deserved," said Amsberry. "Our team knows we need each other (to be successful.) If she doesn't her sister out there making threes, Miranda taking pressure off, Aryn as in inside presence, than Katie is not as good. The great thing is, our balance offensively really helps her. We had five players in double figures last year. A big part of that was Katie and how she's able to distribute as she does."

Miranda was second with 13.2 PPG and 5.3 rebounds/game. Kristie had 11.5 PPG, Morgan was at 10.5 and Aryn averaged 10.0.

Katie (969), Kristie (818), Miranda (752) and Morgan (702) could all potentially reach the 1,000 career point mark this season. "To have all those kids in one class is the perfect storm," said Amsberry. "The other part is, we aren't going to rely on just one player; we will share the ball and play together and to everyone's strength. As long as everyone plays their roles and not get out of system, then we'll have a shot at all four finishing in 1,000 points."

On the career leader front, Kristie needs 38 treys to hold that record, and Katie needs 70 assists to earn that mark. Jones is already among the top ten in blocks and Katie in free throws made.

Jones and Neuendorf recently completed their final fall seasons in volleyball and soccer, respectively. Volleyball qualified for the NCAA Tournament in her final three seasons and soccer made two appearances in the past four years. Amsberry sees this extensive postseason experience transferring to basketball.

"The careers Aryn and Morgan have had in the other sports only helps us," he said. "Anytime you can have kids compete in that environment transfers to the next sport."
"If you've never been in NCAA tourney, you don't know what it's like when you get there," he continued. "For our kids to be there twice in an academic year certainly helps us, as they won't get caught up in all the distraction that could be. It's a different environment."

The duo will return to the basketball lineup when they are "physically, mentally, and emotionally ready," said Amsberry.

"We won't see them in the season opener, but maybe Thanksgiving weekend," he said. "As coach, you can go two ways: we need you back right now or, step back and give them what they need, which has been my approach every year. They're both great players and critical for our team. Our depth in every position is really good and we're comfortable if it takes them a little bit of time."

The program also welcomes 12 freshmen to its roster.

"This freshmen class is really good. As things shake out and get everybody back from fall sports, we'll see how they fit in. I'm confident rolling some freshmen out there, the question is, do we need to? We've got so many returners, and the newcomers are hungry, talented, willing to learn. Our practices are better because they challenge us every day. Some are good enough and do we have room for them right now which is a great feeling. We know that if we get in foul trouble, we have a lot of kids we can go to. As a coach, that's a really good feeling, not only for this year, but in the future."

The Knights will host Iowa Wesleyan Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. for the season opener.