ECC women have experience, depth
One thing the Elgin Community College won't lack this season is experience and depth.
Coach Jerry McLaughlin, now in his ninth season as the Spartans' coach, returns four starters to the ECC lineup as well as a roster of 13, a welcome change to the 7-8 players ECC had last year when it went 8-20.
"We'll be able to press and run a little more with the numbers we have," said McLaughlin, whose team was off to a 3-0 start before falling to Harper Wednesday. "We've got four starters back and that makes a big difference."
Leading that group of returning starters are Larkin products Lauren Gabler and Sophie Sterricker. Gabler, a 5-foot-8 guard, was the Region IV player of the week last week. She scored a career-high 30 points in the Spartans' win over Wright College. She averaged 13.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last year when she was named to the all-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference first team.
Sterricker, a 5-10 forward, was an honorable mention all-conference selection a year ago when she averaged 10.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Also back is point guard Brittany Armato, a St. Charles East product who averaged 9.3 points and 4.7 assists per game last year. She was also an honorable mention all-conference pick.
"Lauren and Brittany are off to a great start," McLaughlin said.
The other returning starter, 5-10 forward Krissy Kunavich of Streamwood, averaged 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season.
Also back for the Spartans is 5-9 guard Kelly Tuggle of Bartlett.
Freshmen McLaughlin will be looking to for contributions this season include 5-0 guard Kayla Jackson (Elgin), 5-8 guard Kim Hotovy (Streamwood), 5-5 guard Joanne Jastrowski (Dundee-Crown), 5-10 forward Jessica Harris (Larkin), 5-7 forward Darlynn Sivilay (Larkin), 5-8 forward Rosie Garza (Burlington Central), 6-0 center Tracy Ferguson and 6-2 center Hannah Griffin (Plainfield Central).
"We have some good freshmen that came in," McLaughlin said. "Jessica Harris will help us, but she's just coming off volleyball season so it might take her some time to get into basketball shape."
McLaughlin believes his team can contend for the ISCC title.
"Our goal is to win the conference championship and get a home game in the region tournament," he said. "We only had 10 home games last year and this year 10 of our first 14 are at home so that should help us.
"This team is very coachable and working hard and as a coach that's what you want."