Armed with an experienced roster dominated by seniors and a coach stressing defense first, the Franklin College women’s basketball team is primed to have a season to remember.
Never in recent memory have the Grizzlies had seven seniors ready to carry the load with an eye toward capturing not only the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season championship, but a berth in the NCAA Division III national playoffs.
The Grizzlies, under third-year coach Dana Haggenjos, finished third in the conference last season behind Bluffton and Rose-Hulman, closing with a 19-8 record overall and 14-4 in the league.
The team reached the semifinals of the conference tournament before falling to Rose-Hulman.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“It was a little bittersweet,” Haggenjos said. “We knew we had the ability to continue on, but hats off to the quality teams in our conference. With the kind of leadership we have now, we’re ready to go.”
Haggenjos, who graduated from DePauw, has always had the mindset of defense first.
“That’s been our bread and butter at the forefront of our program,” she said. “That’s what I want us to stand for.
“I tell everyone up front when we’re recruiting them that it’s defense that will keep you in a game. I tell them, I don’t care if you score 20 points, if you can’t play defense, you’re not going to play.”
Even with the graduation of first-team all-conference center Katie Brewer (11.3 ppg), the returning starters, all seniors, have the utmost confidence that they can more than make up the difference.
Senior guard and four-year starter Lauren DeSutter runs the offense and leads by example. DeSutter led the team in scoring last season, averaging 11.9 points per game, led the team in assists and was named to the All-HCAC second team.
“We want to go out with a bang and win conference this season because it is our last year as seniors,” DeSutter said.
In the conference’s preseason poll of coaches, Franklin was picked to finish fourth behind Rose-Hulman, Bluffton and Transylvania.
According to DeSutter, the poll means nothing to the Grizzlies.
“We don’t really pay that much attention to them,” she said. “We do think we should be ranked much higher than we are, especially with the kind of experience we have coming back.”
Also returning to the starting lineup are seniors Kayle Comer, a 3-point specialist; and 5-foot-10 inch Emily Alfrey, who will man the middle. Those two are undoubtedly the vocal leaders of the team.
“I would say I’m not afraid to say something to my teammates,” Comer said. “If it brings us all together, I’m OK with that. We have good chemistry on this team, and our seniors are showing the way to our newcomers, especially the freshmen.”
Franklin, too, is the beneficiary of the transfer of 5-foot-6 senior guard Blayr Poston, the leading scorer (12.2 ppg) last season at Anderson University. Also returning are senior guards Mandy Fisher and Sarah Taylor, and senior backup center Amber May.
“Emily and Poston are versatile players who add the kind of offensive component we’ll need,” Haggenjos said. “It’s a long season.”
The Grizzlies kick off the season with a home game against Elmhurst on Tuesday.
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Coach: Dana Haggenjos
Last year: 19-8 overall, 14-4 HCAC; lost to Rose-Hulman in HCAC tournament semifinal
Who’s back: Lauren DeSutter, senior G (11.9 ppg, 42 steals, 61 assists, 81.7% FT, 35.2% 3-pt FG); Kayle Comer, senior G (9.3 ppg, 24 steals, 47 assists, 33.3% 3-pt FG); Sarah Taylor, senior G (3.7 ppg, 29 steals, 16 assists); Emily Alfrey, senior F (6.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 44 steals, 49 assists).
Who’s gone: Katie Brewer, C (11.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 51 blocks).
New kid on the block: Blayr Poston, senior G (12.ppg, 5.0 rpg, 75% FT at Anderson University).
Outlook: Franklin returns three starters from last season’s 19-win campaign. DeSutter led Franklin in scoring during the 2015-16 season, averaging 11.9 points, while Comer added 9.3 points. Big things are also expected from Alfrey, who averaged 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds last winter while starting all 27 games. Including the addition of Poston, Franklin has seven seniors on the roster to provide leadership for a large roster that has 10 freshmen, including former Edinburgh standout Mariah Weddle.
Haggenjos says: “Everyone in the program, with the exception of our freshmen, under my tutelage understands what the expectations are. Last year was better than my first year and I expect this season will show more improvements. We are a defense-first team. That’s been at the forefront since I arrived and that’s what I want our program to stand for. With our senior leadership, we have good chemistry. This is a selfless group that will compete each and every night.”
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Date;Opponent;Time
Nov. 15;Elmhurst;6 p.m.
Nov. 18;vs. Carroll at Hope Tournament;5:30 p.m.
Nov. 19;vs. Hope or Finlandia at Hope Tournament;TBA
Nov. 22;at DePauw;8 p.m.
Nov. 27;Olivet;3 p.m.
Dec. 3;at Defiance;2 p.m.
Dec. 7;at Rose-Hulman;7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10;Earlham; 1 p.m.
Dec. 17;at Bluffton;2 p.m.
Dec. 28;Trine;3 p.m.
Jan. 4;Manchester;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 7;Mt. St. Joseph;1 p.m.
Jan. 11;Transylvania;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 14;at Anderson;1 p.m.
Jan. 18;at Hanover;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21;Bluffton;4 p.m.
Jan. 25;at Manchester;7:30 p.m.
Jan. 28;at Earlham;4 p.m.
Feb. 1;Rose-Hulman;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4;Defiance;2 p.m.
Feb. 8;Hanover;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 11;at Mt. St. Joseph;4 p.m.
Feb. 15;at Transylvania;7:30 p.m.
Feb. 18;Anderson;1 p.m.
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