Wooster Ready to Turn the Corner in 2011-12

Behind core players Jessica Wingen, Suvi Puripattarapan, and Karley Walker, as well as six other returnees, and five incoming freshman, The College of Wooster women's basketball team will be looking to make a drastic improvement on its standing in the North Coast Athletic Conference during the 2011-12 season.

Now entering her second year as head coach, Ashley Reid is excited about a "positive aura" around the team that she believes will translate to a better product on the court.

"This is a young team," said Reid. "And I don't want to say they're naïve, but they're not worrying about who's on the schedule. They don't care who they have to play because they just want to go out there and do their best. The entire mentality of the team has changed from last season, and they're hungry to get out there and to be successful."

Perhaps the biggest key to the team's success will be Wingen, a junior center who is coming off her first all-conference season (honorable mention), and will be the go-to player in the post. Wingen set career highs in points (8.5 ppg) and rebounds (6.6 rpg), and led the league in blocks (1.8 bpg) a year ago, and should provide a legitimate double-double threat each time she takes the court this season.

"Jess is in great shape," added Reid. "She is taking her leadership role very seriously, and we're going to be looking for her to dominate inside."

One player that should complement Wingen nicely is sophomore point guard Puripattarapan, who has excellent speed and dribble penetration, allowing her to get to the basket and either score or dish to Wingen in the paint. Puripattarapan burst onto the scene last year with 5.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, while leading the Scots in steals (37).

Another key piece to the 2011 squad will be Walker, a sophomore guard who showed the ability to be a productive perimeter scorer last season. Walker averaged 9.3 points per game, including seven games with 12 or more, while ranking seventh in the NCAC with 36 3-pointers.

"Suvi and Karley are similar in that they're both combo guards that can play either position," said Reid. "I envision them both handling the ball a lot, and defensively, they're going to make it hard on opponents by applying ball pressure in the back court."

Also likely to play prominent roles this year are senior Samantha Sulzer, sophomore Ashley Lindemann, and senior Sarah Abboud.

Sulzer is a gritty forward who had a breakout year in 2010-11, setting new career highs in points (7.0 ppg) and rebounds (4.5 rpg). Her hustle and willingness to mix it up with bigger players in the paint has carved her out a key spot in the frontcourt rotation.

Lindemann, a guard who specializes in playing on-the-ball defense, has shown the ability to knock down open shots on the perimeter and slash to the hoop at times. Joining her in the backcourt is Abboud, who logged significant minutes as a freshman and sophomore, but missed last season, and can add experience and a viable 3-point threat right away.

"There are going to be peeks and valleys, but our job is to limit those valleys by playing consistent, fundamentally sound basketball," said Reid.

Below is a more detailed look at each position:

BACKCOURT

Puripattarapan played in all 25 games last year, starting 12, and showed she had the skill set to be a playmaker both offensively and defensively. This year, the ball will likely be in her hands even more, as she projects to take over the starting point guard permanently. Against Ohio Wesleyan University last season, Puripattarapan almost logged a triple-double with eight points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Also, during an eight-game stretch midway through the season, she racked up 23 steals. According to Reid, Puripattarapan is in even better shape this season and has improved her decision making.

Walker's 9.3 points per game last year ranked her 21st in the NCAC, but there is reason to believe her numbers will get better. She scored 10 or more points in six of her first eight games, and then trailed off a bit, before finishing the season by hitting double-digits in four of the team's final five games. With a little more consistency, Walker has the potential to be a top-10 scorer in the league. Her most dangerous skill may be the 3-pointer, as she knocked down at least one 3-ball in all but three games a season ago, and hit three or more six times.

Lindemann, who prefers slashing to the hoop, and Abboud, who is best behind the arc, will be called on often, but there are several others vying for minutes in the backcourt. Sophomores Maura Hall, Mallory Band, and Adrianna Young have all returned to add depth, and talented first-year Lauren Cornwell is expected to make an immediate impact in the rotation.

FRONTCOURT

There is no question that this will be Wingen's frontcourt. The six-foot center is one of the league's best players underneath the hoop and is expected to be the focal point of Wooster's offense. If last year was any indication, Wingen takes her game to another level in conference play, as her five highest scoring games of the season came against NCAC opponents. Most notably, she scored a career-high 22 points at Ohio Wesleyan, and she also recorded a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) against archrival Wittenberg University.

Sulzer was often used as a spark off the bench last year, but she did start seven conference games, mostly coming down the stretch, which could mean she will be used even more this season. In her last three games, she averaged 10 points and six rebounds, providing a look at what she can provide when given the minutes.

All of the other frontcourt players on the roster will be freshman. Danielle Spinden is the most likely candidate to get on the floor in the early goings of the season, but Allahya Sattaar El, Lindy Howard, and Rachel Bales could all be worked into the mix as well.