With eight of their top nine scorers returning to the roster in 2014-15, the Wittenberg Tigers have high hopes for continued upward momentum after posting records of 14-11 overall and 9-7 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) a year ago.

First things first, however, and that will be to figure out how to replace Amber Rice, who led the Tigers in scoring, rebounding, steals and three-pointers en route to first-team All-NCAC honors a year ago. That task has been made more challenging by a rash of injuries that will limit Head Coach Sarah Jurewicz’s options in 2014-15.

A strong senior class is a good place to start, with Enri Small (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls), Heather Schroeder (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora), Katelyn Haralamos (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) and Darbie Zirkle (St. Paris, Ohio/Graham) all ready to provide leadership. Small was an all-conference selection in 2013 before injuries limited her to averages of 9.7 points and 3.4 points in nine games in 2013-14, while Haralamos has earned a pair of all-conference nods in her career. She is the team’s top returning scorer at 10.1 points per game.

Small will log big minutes on the perimeter, where she will be joined by Schroeder, who enjoyed a breakout season last year, averaging 9.9 points and 3.8 rebounds and leading the team in assists with 51. Zirkle, who contributed 6.1 points off the bench, and sophomore Riley McDonald (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) are also in the backcourt mix. McDonald was the Tigers’ lead point guard as a freshman, contributing a modest 2.8 points per game but taking excellent care of the basketball to finish with just 36 turnovers against 39 assists while averaging more than 24 minutes of action.

Sophomore forward Michelle Brunswick (Middletown, Ohio/Madison) returns as well after another successful women’s soccer campaign for the Tigers. After playing mostly on the perimeter in 2013-14, Brunswick and Haralamos will both see most of their playing time in the frontcourt due to a rotation that has been thinned by a season-ending injury to junior Taylore Bundy (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) and career-ending injuries to Carli Swartz and Karen Daniel-Hamberg. The only true post player on the roster is 6-2 center Ali Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas), who led Wittenberg with 29 blocked shots a year ago.

Junior Teddi Tankersley (Enon, Ohio/Greenon) and a trio of talented freshmen in wings Bobbie Clayton (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) and Becca Ziska (Brook Park, Ohio/Berea-Midpark) and forward Haley Dannemiller (Cleves, Ohio/Mother of Mercy) will provide much-needed depth. Junior guards Mady Fogle (Plain City, Ohio/Fairbanks) and Paige Stimmel (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) and sophomore wing Kathryn Pisano (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) are also vying for playing time.

Written By: Ryan Maurer

2014 At A Glance

Letterwinners Returning (8)
Enri Small, Katelyn Haralamos, Heather Schroeder, Darbie Zirkle, Taylore Bundy, Riley McDonald, Michelle Brunswick, Ali Miller

Letterwinners Lost (4)
Amber Rice, Kiley McCollough, Jess Banas, Carli Swartz

Starters Returning (4)
Katelyn Haralamos, Heather Schroeder, Taylore Bundy, Riley McDonald

Starters Lost (1)
Amber Rice