Judson women have high hopes
The Judson University women's basketball team has plenty of reason for optimism.
The Eagles, under the direction of third-year coach Kristi Cirone, return 4 starters from last year's team that went 10-20 overall.
That group includes senior Emily Ragsdale (6-1, forward, Ottawa, Ill.), junior Rebekah Tabb (6-0, forward, Lebanon, Mo.) and sophomores Diamond Courts (5-5, guard, Proviso East) and Kelli Ludwig (5-6, guard, Harlem).
Key newcomers to the group include freshmen Jayla Bartett (5-8, guard, Homewood-Flossmoor), Bethany Zornow (5-9, guard, Huntley) and Kayla Toussaint (5-7, guard, Johnsburg), as well as redshirt freshman Janay Wright (5-10, guard-forward, DeKalb).
Other locals on the roster include Elgin Community College transfers Sarah Nelson (5-10, guard-forward) and Jenny Chesney (6-0, F), along with freshmen Elizabeth Meschewski (5-9, guard, Westminster Christian) and Nikki Cook (5-9, forward, Jacobs).
"We're still a young team and we're still getting used to playing with each other," said Cirone.
Judson was off to a 2-2 start through midweek. The Eagles recently defeated Moody Bible Institute 71-53 in Chicago.
"We have a lot of talent on this team," said Cirone. "Now we have to come together."
Cirone said the Eagles will benefit from a strong post game as well as "very strong guard play."
"Our transition is going to be key for us," she said. "I think we can be a good transition team and get some easy baskets and have a little more up-tempo style."
Cirone noted the team is still very much a work in progress based on the majority of the roster being comprised of underclassmen.
"Three upperclassmen will get minutes and the rest are underclassmen," she said. "We have a lot of youth that needs to get game experience, plus you are putting together new players and some veterans and they need to come together and get used to playing together in our system. We're gaining experience. The only way you do that is by continuing to put them out there."
Cirone said her team once again will face some of the top teams around when Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play begins.
"Saint Xavier, Cardinal Stritch, Purdue-Calumet, Robert Morris and Indiana-South Bend have all been in the (NAIA) Top 25 or have received votes in the poll this year," she said. "Our conference top to bottom is pretty tough."
Through the first two games of the season, Ludwig was leading the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game, while Ragsdale was at 11.0 ppg. Courts and Tabb each were averaging 5.0 points. Ragsdale was the leading rebounder at 7.0 per game.
Judson has upcoming home games against Viterbo and Bethel, Ind., before hitting the road and playing in the Grace College tournament in Winona Lake, Ind., Nov. 21-22. In that tournament, Judson will encounter No. 1 St. Francis.