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Queen Bees Look For Return to Nationals

Having accomplished a MCC Championship and a national tournament appearance in 2002, the Queen Bees basketball team begins preparation for defending their title. “We definitely will have a target on our back. Last year, I believe we surprised our opponents and created great momentum.” said third year coach Ted Eskildsen.

With the loss of only one starter, the Queen Bees will take advantage of their championship experience. A high pace of offense and a stingy defense are the keys to SAU's season. “We’ve committed to playing aggressive basketball. We want our tempo to dictate the direction of the game. With that said, we have a lot of work to do” remarked Eskildsen.

"There's not much you do to change a 28-8 team," Head Coach Ted Eskildsen said as he was asked about the upcoming season.  After a year in which the Queen Bees went 13-1 in the Midwest Classic Conference, won the conference tournament and advanced into the NAIA National Tournament, you can't ask for too much more.  All of this was accomplished with only one senior, Jen Steines. 

"I think the first thing is that you lose the leadership of Jen Steines and that's the major area of concern I have on the psychological side of the game," coach Eskildsen said. "Where will miss her the most is on the defensive end."  Steines would have been replaced by sophomore Jody Wulff, but Wulff decided this fall to transfer to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.  "That's going to be very, very difficult (to replace Wulff), what we are going to have to do is utilize the skills that we (Queen Bees) do have."  

And skills the Queen Bees do have?  Coach Eskildsen returns a vast array of talent, 13 players to be exact, four of which were starters.  Among the returnees are First Team All-Midwest Classic Conference Player's (known as the "Big 3"): senior Kate Tuttle (5-8, guard) and juniors Kelly Metz (6-0, forward) and Angie Schinstock (5-10, forward).  Metz, led the team in points averaged, 18.6, and grabbed a team second best, 7.8 rebounds per game, and will look to improve on last season.  Schinstock looks to dominate down low after her 15.7 points, and conference leading 8.9 rebounds per game.  Tuttle will bring her outside threat back to the hardwood for one last go around.  Tuttle average 14.1 points last season while shooting 30 percent from beyond the arc.

Also returning are the host of now sophomores that Eskildsen brought in a year ago.  Most of them now with a year under their belt at the varsity level will look to add their early experience to the squad.  Leading the group of sophomores are roommates Michelle Kurth (6-2, center) and Erin Hagge (5-9, guard). This duo combined for a 13.9 points per game average as well as bringing down 6.9 rebounds per game.  Also returning are juniors Trisha Carlisle (6-0, forward) and Brooke Vallejo (5-8, guard), sophomores Amy Van Dyke (5-10, guard), Maggie Hughes (5-7, guard), Kerri Alvine (5-6, guard), Kaitlin Newquist (5-7, guard), Megan Pierucci (5-9, forward) and Sarah Bentley (5-11, forward).

You would think with all this returning talent that a coach shouldn't have to do to much recruiting but Coach Eskildsen went out and brought in ten freshman players.  Highlighting that group is Ali Rorah (6-2, center).  Rorah who comes to St. Ambrose from Maquoketa, IA will look to make her impact right away.  

"She is the kind of player, versatile, who can give us a lot running the floor, inside the post position and outside...definitely a well rounded player," Coach Eskildsen said of his top recruit.

As well as Rorah, beginning their college basketball careers are Beth Wood (6-0, forward), Katie Clark (5-8, guard), Katie Strickland (5-10, forward), Jane Sottos (5-8, forward), Sarah Dentlinger (5-11, forward), Katherine Schaflein (5-8, guard), Jena Zientak (6-0, forward), Megan McLeod (6-0, forward), and Hanna Engle (5-8, guard).  This group of girls will look to hone their skills under the leadership of the rest of the team and will look to make a big impact early and often.

You won't see the word HOME too often in the Queen Bees non-conference schedule.  Actually, you will only see it four times.  The Queen Bees will face one of the toughest schedules yet as they have 16 road games before the open the conference season on Saturday, January 11 on the road against Mt. St. Clare.  Once again the Queen Bees will travel out to the always tough Hastings Tournament on November 14-16.  They have also added tournaments in LaCrosse, WI (November 29-30), Trinity International (December 6-7) and will travel all the way to Orlando, FL for the Warner Southern tournament.

"I like the fact that we're on the road.  I think the team bonding, the concept of accepting challenges, the whole idea of being away from home, you must get better, I like that," Coach Eslkildsen said about the upcoming schedule.

This Queen Bees will be a force to be reckoned with this season and look to repeat their National Championship run and make the trip back to Sioux City, IA on March 12-18.