By Bryan Bloodworth
NORMAL – There’s no way to go, but up for Illinois State’s women’s basketball team after last year’s 2-28 season and third-year coach Barb Smith believes she has the team to get the job done.
“I feel like our team is more committed to getting better and I feel like all of them are coming together,” said Smith during the team’s annual media day Tuesday at Redbird Arena. “I am very excited about this basketball team. Practices have been going very well. There have been more kids in the gym this spring, summer and fall since I’ve been here.”
The Redbirds return just five players from last year’s team, including Normal West High School graduate and senior Lexie Taylor who sat out last season after transferring from Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio.
The other returnees are 5-foot-10 senior Sue Crump, 6-foot senior forward Colleene Smith, 5-7 junior guard Taylor Stewart, 6-4 junior center Kalyn Gebhardt. Crump and Stewart are returning starters and played in all 30 games. Smith saw action in 29 games and Gebhardt played in nine.
Crump averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds, while Stewart averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds. Smith checks in with 3.5 points and 5.8 rebounding averages from a year ago.
“My goal this year is to just work hard and do everything I can for this team,” said Crump. “I know that I’ve been here for four years and I’ve been here the longest. I know that I’m filling up that leadership role, so I’m just trying to do that the best I can to lead this team to a great season.”
The six newcomers include four freshmen, a junior transfer and a walk-on. The freshmen are 6-foot forward Millie Stevens, who hails from Surrey, England; 5-9 guard Katrina Beck; 5-8 guard Viria Livingston and 5-3 Shakeela Fowler.
“There is absolutely no question that we are going to be one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in our league, but this team has the capability of really becoming good,” said Barb Smith.
Fowler, who will be the point guard, said the newcomers are looking forward to getting the Redbirds headed back on the winning track.
“Me and all the newcomers, and all the returners as well, are all ready to build this up,” added Fowler. “We’re not focusing on last year. That’s a totally different year. We’re focused on this year. We have great things coming ahead of us.”
Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected]
