Oilers Looking For 3rd Straight GLIAC South Title

The University of Findlay women's basketball program has steadily been improving during the tenure of head coach Kate Cummings.  Last season, the Oilers captured their second straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division title and advanced to the league tournament for the second year in a row.  With everyone returning, expectations are high in Findlay for another successful season.

"We are planning on playing a faster style this season because we believe we have the depth to do so," said Cummings.  "We know what it takes to win a divisional title and reach the conference tournament, but we want to get back to the NCAA Tournament.  We believe this team has the capability to do that and they also have the sense of readiness to achieve their goals."

At point guard, red-shirt sophomore Ashley Andrews and sophomore Saira House return, but both had their seasons cut short last year due to injury.

Andrews was injured last year during the preseason and sat out the entire year.  As a freshman during the 2009-10 campaign, Andrews averaged 4.1 points, 2.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game.

"We are glad to have Ashley and her passing ability back," said Cummings.  "She uses ball screens well and can find our centers in traffic."

House played in 20 games and made ten starts last year before her injury.  She averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game.

"Saira is a lockdown defender and we are excited about her ability to make our pressure defenses even better," said Cummings.

Freshman Kristin Klausing, the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Division IV Player of the Year last season, will also look for playing time at the point guard position.

"We have good depth at the point guard position," said Cummings.  "All three guards have speed, great passing ability and excellent court vision."

At the off-guard, the Oilers will welcome back senior Clare Aubry, who earned second team all-conference honors last year after transferring from the University of Toledo.

Aubry averaged a team-high 15.0 points per game last year for the Oilers and connected on a team best 58 three pointers.  She also tallied 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while scoring in double figures 23 times on the year.

"Clare is one of the hardest working players in the program and demonstrates daily what it means to be tough," said Cummings.  "She is going to play a key role in our success this year and we look for her to continue knocking down open shots."

Junior Kendra Elam and sophomore Karli Beasley also return to the position as both garnered playing time last season.

"Kendra and Karli each gained some valuable playing experience last season, which will help them this year," said Cummings.

Elam made 15 starts last year for the Oilers and averaged 4.2 points per game while Beasley averaged 1.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

"We are returning a proven scorer and sharpshooter at this position, which is a great luxury," said Cummings.  "We can also rotate some of our point guards to this position to give us the ability to provide more defensive pressure."

At the forward position, the Oilers have a number of able bodies to mix-and-match for different situations.  The group as a whole is very talented and will be led by senior Laura Bardall, who was named first team all-conference last year after being named second team all-league during her first two years in the program.

Bardall, who currently ranks eighth all-time at Findlay with 1,262 career points, averaged 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a junior.  She also scored in double figures 23 times in the year and had ten or more rebounds in eight contests.

"Laura has had a tremendous career thus far and has absolutely earned every bit of her success," said Cummings.  "She has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor and is one of the most fundamental defensive players to ever play in a Findlay jersey."

Junior Kayla Brown also returns for the Oilers after averaging 13.1 points per game during her sophomore season.  Brown also pulled down 4.3 rebounds per contest and shot 86.3 percent from the free throw line.

"Kayla is the glue that holds our team together," said Cummings.  "Her value on the floor is immeasurable and will not be highlighted in her stat line, but without her on the court the success of the team falls short."

Sophomore Kaleigh Kenny and freshman Lacey Kessler will also see the floor quite a bit and are both multidimensional players who can use their length and athleticism to force problems for other teams.

"Kaleigh can really shoot the ball and her size allows her to guard multiple positions," said Cummings.

As a freshman, Kenny averaged 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while Kessler comes to the Oilers program after an all-Ohio senior season at Riverdale High School.

"We have some very talented forwards and on paper, this group appears to be the strength of our team," said Cummings.  "All of them can play multiple positions and guard multiple positions, which gives us some flexibility with our game plans."

At the center position, the Oilers will rely on three players who have all seen action during their careers with the Oilers.

Senior Kaitlyn Nelson returns after averaging 5.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.  She also tallied 1.3 blocks per game and shot 52.6 percent from the floor.

"Kaitlyn has a lot of experience and does a great job of communicating on the floor," said Cummings.  "Our new style of play should allow her to maximize her abilities during her senior season."

Junior Tai Dotson and red-shirt freshman Carlay Stahl also return to the position and will see minutes during the season.

"Tai possess great athletic ability and is learning how to use her gifts around the basket," said Cummings.  "Carlay meanwhile has tremendous potential and great scoring ability."

Dotson is coming off of a sophomore year in which she averaged 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while Stahl, who played in only six games before sitting out the rest of the season with an injury, returns after averaging 7.7 points per game on 75.0 percent shooting.

"Our centers each have unique talents that will give our opponents different looks," said Cummings.  "These players will also have more of an opportunity to face the basket this year and create off the dribble."

Overall, the Oilers appear to have a great blend of talent and experience as they set out to capture their third straight GLIAC South Division title.  The team will also be looking to make another trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament, which they achieved during the 2009-10 campaign.