Season preview: Mundelein

Mundelein

Coach: Brian Evans (13th season)

Last season: 13-18, 3-9 NSC Lake

Key losses: F Olivia Dunigan, G Megan Hanas, G Kate Wallen, G Maegan Schultz

Returning players: Sr. C Rachael Millner, Sr. G Taylor Davis, Sr. F Amanda Davis, Sr. G Molly Rosenow, Jr. G Becca Woit

Newcomers: Fr. PG Jessica Schultz, Fr. F Natalie Busscher. Jr. F Connie Dimick, Jr. PG Emily Panitch, Jr. G/F Kiana Suhling, Jr. G Nikki Zaprzalka

Season opener: Grayslake North at Mundelein Thanksgiving tournament, 7:30 p.m. Monday

Outlook: The Mustangs experienced a rare losing season in 2010-11, despite getting an all-area campaign out of four-year starting forward Olivia Dunigan, whom coach Brian Evans said decided not to play college basketball. The Mustangs return four seniors in twin guards Amanda and Taylor Davis, three-year varsity post Rachael Millner and guard Molly Rosenow, as well as junior guard Becca Woit. The Davis sisters have also been on varsity since they were sophomores. Amanda can score the basketball. "I think we'll be better than last year because we've got some kids back with experience, and I think we'll shoot the ball better than we did last year," Evans said. "I think our weak point will be, as always, our lack of size. But hopefully we're going to make up for it by being able to score a little more than we did last year. I think last year teams knew that if Olivia didn't score 15 points a game, it was a done deal. I think this year we got scoring from a lot of different areas." Evans is carrying a pair of freshmen in point guard Jessica Schultz, whose sister Maegan played for the team last season, and 5-foot-11 Natalie Busscher, whose sister Brittany was a star volleyball player for the Mustangs the last two falls. Another newcomer, junior point guard Emily Panitch, is the sister of former all-area guard Samantha Panitch. "We're short, but at least we're slow," Evans joked.