RCTC women’s basketball preview
Head coach: Steve Hucke (7th year, 101-51 record).
Assistant coaches: Chris Stenzel, Mark Kellen, Rebecca Fitzgerald.
Last season: The Yellowjackets finished 26-4 overall and were ranked third in the nation. They won the Southern Division with an 11-1 record and went on to win the state championship.
Season outlook: RCTC is currently ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division III preseason poll so coach Steve Hucke is expecting a strong showing. "We are much deeper and quicker at all positions and have many players who can play multiple positions which gives a lot of versatility with line-ups and subbing," Hucke said. "Our size in the guard court will create some mismatches and with our improved outside shooting we will be able to utilize our post play more effectively. Defensively we will be able to stretch our defense more and defend in the open court better and look to pick up the tempo."
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RCTC is led by Anne Breland of Rochester. She averaged 19.0 points and 9.5 rebounds last year and won a number of awards including Academic All-American, all-division, all-state and all-region. Amanda Degnan averaged 14.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg last year and was honorable mention all-division and a member of the all-tournament team at the state tournament. Point guard Courtney Jones (5.2 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.1 steals) also returns.
Hucke figures Ridgewater, Anoka-Ramsey and Riverland will be teams to beat in the MCAC Southern Division. In the North: Mesabi Range, Northland, Itasca will be teams to beat.
Coach’s quote: "We feel that we will be able to contend for a divisional, state and regional championship," Hucke said. "But we also realize that we must stay focused on the day to day practices and next opponent and not get caught up in the hype. I feel that this may be the best all around team that we have had here. We are able to do some things that we have not been able to do in the past. Having Anne really brings attention to our program and the other players. She is such a great person that she really makes the players around her really appreciate what we have here is special."
ROSTER
Returning players (height, position, hometown)
Sophomores: Anne Breland (5-11, G, Lourdes); Amanda Degnan (6-0, F/P, St. Charles); Courtney Jones (5-7, PG, Kingsland).
Newcomers
Freshmen: Teresa Milczark (6-0, P , Cambridge-Isanti); Jordan Vavra (5-9, G/F, Cambridge-Isanti); Maria Gangelhoff (5-8, G, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s); Nikki Borkhuis, (5-11, F/P Watertown, S.D.); Kandace Bostick, (5-7, G, Burnsville); Lisa Kingsley (5-10, P/F, John Marshall); Jessica Ciesinski (5-5, G, Medford).
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Transfers: Sam Sikkink (5-9, G/F, John Marshall, transfer from Des Moines Area Community College); Chelsea Wand (5-10, F/P, Fillmore Central, transfer from St. Kate’s).
SCHEDULE
Nov. 12 — at Western Wisconsin Tech, 6 p.m.
Nov. 14-15 — at Madison Area Tech Tournament, TBA
Nov. 19— NIACC, 6 p.m.
Nov. 29-30 — at Gogebic Tournament (Ironwood, Mich.), TBA
Dec. 5 — at Itasca, 6 p.m.
Dec. 6 — at Northland, 1 p.m.
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Dec. 10 — at Wartburg JV, 6 p.m.
Dec. 12 — Rainy River, 6 p.m.
Dec. 13 — Hibbing, 1 p.m.
Dec. 19 — Milwaukee Area Tech., 5 p.m.
Dec. 20 — Western Wisconsin Tech, 5 p.m.
Dec. 29-30 — at Minneapolis Tournament, TBA
Jan. 7 — MSCTC-Fergus Falls, 6 p.m.
Jan. 10 — Anoka-Ramsey, 1 p.m.
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Jan. 14 — at Minnesota West, 6 p.m.
Jan. 17 — Minneapolis, 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 — Ridgewater, 1 p.m.
Jan. 28 — Riverland, 6 p.m.
Jan. 31 — at MSCTC-Fergus Falls, 1 p.m.
Fem. 4 — at Anoka-Ramsey, 6 p.m.
Feb. 7 — Minnesota West, 1 p.m.
Feb. 11 — at Minneapolis, 6 p.m.
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Feb. 18 — at Ridgewater, 6 p.m.
Feb. 21 — at Riverland, 1 p.m.
Feb. 27, March 1 — State Tournament at Willmar, TBA
March 6 or 7 — Region XIII A Tournament, MCAC South host, TBA
— Guy N. Limbeck
