Judson women have confidence

After finishing below .500 last season, the Judson University women’s basketball team is looking to improve and Eagles’ coach Jim Cook believes his team has the confidence to do so.

“The big difference this year so far has been is the players believe in themselves more and they are starting to get more confidence also with things there doing,” said Cook, now in his seventh season at the helm. “They practice with a different attitude. Every day it’s a different challenge for them.”

The Eagles, who were 12-18 last season and 3-9 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, will return 9 of their players from last season; including NCCAA all-region guards Shaniqua Roberts (5-foot-6) and Kim Peek (5-7), who both notched 20-point games for the Eagles last season. Roberts and Peek were also named to the all-CCAC team last season. Roberts also collected 74 steals on the season last year, moving her into eighth place in the Judson single-season list.

Forward Daisy Jara (6-1), a Huntley graduate, also returns for the Eagles this season. Jara blocked 46 shots last season, moving her into eighth place in the single-season records in that category. Jara has blocked a career 67 shots for Judson, which is good for sixth place.

Cook is glad to have the experience but knows there is still work to be done, and his team did a lot of that work in the offseason.

“It helps to have players that play in your system for a year or two but there is still room for improvement,” said Cook. “They were asked to focus on three main moves to make themselves more effective on the offensive end of the court.”

Cook will also look to 5-11 sophomores Hailey Cnota of Jacobs and Hillary Johnson of Huntley to contribute.

Two new freshmen also join the Eagles this year, guard Lenna Galanis (5-8) and forward Emily Ragsdale (6-1), and they will also bring some things to the table.

“They will bring more rebounding and scoring,” said Cook.

Cook has confidence in his squad that they will work hard all year round, and that hard work will pay off. He hopes it can last all year so the Eagles can finish strong.

“(I’m confident about) our work effect,” said Cook. “(My concern is) being able to substation the pace all year.”