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 Defending MCC Champs Have Different Look In 04-05

The Saint Ambrose Queen Bees have won a conference tournament in two of the past three years, but to make it three out of four, they'll have to find a different way to win this season.  The team suffered two major losses to graduation this past year.  2004 MCC player of the year Angie Schinstock graduated along with her 2,000 career points, 3rd in school history, and 1,000 career rebounds.  Kelli Metz also leaves, and takes her 1,900 career points with her, which is good enough for fifth in school history.

"It will be impossible to replace those two players, so we'll have to be a different team.  The first thing we'll have to decide on is what our tempo will be offensively," says head coach Ted Eskildsen, who begins his fifth season at the helm.

No matter what the tempo is, one thing is for sure.  Sophomore Forward Jennifer Goetz will be a key part of the team's offense, as St. Ambrose's leading returning scorer with 10.8 points per game.  She also added 7.6 rebounds every night, as well as leading the team in assists with 3.2 per contest.  Coach Eskildsen points out, "The ball has to go through Jennifer because of her ability to score and pass.  She's the best all-around basketball player that I've ever coached."

One person that will help decide the tempo will be Sophomore point guard Cathy Mangun, who returns after a solid first year campaign.  She proved to be a good all-around player averaging 4.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals a game.  "Cathy will be our floor leader.  She is quick, strong, and a very intelligent player," says coach Eskildsen.

The Queen Bees have just two Seniors to lead the team this year.  Center Michelle Kurth was named Senior captain and will play a major role in that leadership.  Guard Kerri Alvine also returns for her Senior season.

One familiar face is back with the team this year as Junior Guard Jodi Wulff, who after a one year hiatus at Southern Illinois, returns for another stint with the Queen Bees.  She played a major role on the 2001-02 championship team, and coach Eskildsen hopes she can help bring that kind of success back to the program.  "Jodi immediately makes us an improved team.  She is a great athlete with a lot of skills.  We're very happy that she's decided to return to St. Ambrose."

With a young team such as St. Ambrose, who has 6 Juniors, 6 Sophomores, and 4 Freshmen, it isn't usually a case of where you begin, but how you finish, and for Coach Eskildsen and his team that could be a difference like night and day.  "We'll get better every time we step on the floor.  That's our constant goal because of the self-discipline and teamwork it takes to improve on a daily basis."