Friday, November 26, 1999
NKU women endure high turnover
Tuchfarber, Cottrell lend stability
BY JOHN P. WISE
Enquirer contributor
New faces must make immediate contributions in order to keep the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball program from doing an about-face this year.
Six seniors are gone from last year's Final Four team that won a school-best 30 games, and only two regular starters return. They're not just any two starters, however.
Sophomore forward Michelle Cottrell (18 points, 9 rebounds) made the Great Lakes Valley Conference's first team and was the league's Freshman of the Year.
Junior guard Michele Tuchfarber led the nation in 3-point shooting accuracy by making more than half of her 102 attempts. She averaged 14.6 points per game and will be the captain this season.
The inside-outside tandem will keep opposing defenses honest, which is exactly what coach Nancy Winstel likes.
“We like to get into our halfcourt offense and run a lot of sets,” Winstel said.
An interior-perimeter combination could force opponents, like Union College Saturday at Regents Hall, to spread their defenses and be unable to double-team. With Cottrell on the block and Tuchfarber lurking beyond the arc, Winstel likes her odds.
“Michelle and Michele will definitely be the anchors of this team,” Winstel said. “Michelle Cottrell scores for us inside, and Michele Tuchfarber is a real good perimeter shooter.”
The other players aren't without experience, though. Junior Jessica Jenson started 11 games last season in place of then-injured and now-graduated star center Shannon Smith. She often wrapped up the top opposing interior player in last season's late run. Jenson averaged 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds and will start at forward this year.
A pair of transfers also have college experience. Heather Livingstone played at Division II Winona State and Julie Cowens played at NAIA Urbana last year. Six other new names appear on the team's roster, including four freshmen and two walk-ons.
“(The new players) started out slowly, but they're getting the hang of everything,” Cottrell said.
“They've heard us talk about last season so much, so they're eager to get the season started,” Tuchfarber said. “They really want to experience the same type of success we've had here.”
Livingstone, who finished three spots behind Tuchfarber in Division II 3-point shooting, will contend for the starting point guard spot with sophomore Suzie Smith.
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