Ripon College Days

Media Credit: Photo by Sal De Los Angeles Intensity. Senior Karalyn Dehn goes up for a shot during last year's NCAA tournament. Dehn is among the list of solid returners on the women's team. [Click to enlarge]

Head Coach of Women's Basketball Julie Johnson has led the Red Hawk team to victory for nearly fifteen years. This year, she's expecting no less.

Kicking off the official season with success, the Red Hawks have two wins under their belt against Benedictine and Aurora after the opening tournament at Wheaton last weekend.

"The audience should expect an exciting, hard-working, Midwest Conference Tournament-participating team," says Johnson of this year's team, which includes key players like senior guard and forward Anne Ackerman and junior guard Morgan Roberts.

Expectations are the focus of her players as well this season.

"The general audience should expect a lot from this year's team because we expect a lot out of ourselves," says Roberts. "They should expect to see great defense and a fast-paced game as well."

Adds Ackerman, "I am sure we will be more of a running team than in years past, due to our strong guard presence and our inside players being able to run with them. I am sure we will get out and push the ball looking for fast break opportunities."

Adding to this year's excitement are many new recruits.

Johnson notes incoming talent from first year guards Mona Delsman, who she calls "fundamentally sound and very athletic," and Kelsea Gallagher, who she says is "a terrific shooter."

In addition to new players there are key returners Johnson expects to perform well. In addition to Ackerman and Roberts, included on Johnson's list for "stand-out players" this season are senior forward Karalyn Dehn and junior guard Jo Ellen Buerger.

"The player that I think everyone expects to have a stand out season is Karalyn Dehn because she had a stand-out season last year and I don't see her dropping off from that performance," says Roberts of her teammate.

Even though the team has lost some important players they will not let that stop them.

"We lost two key players from last year's team...so we are going to have to step it up as an entire team and work together to be successful," says Ackerman.

And work together they'll have to during conference play this season.

"I would say all of our conference games will be very difficult this year since we have been the team to beat the last couple of years and I feel we are training especially hard for those games," she says.

Upcoming games against Monmouth and Grinnell will be valuable for conditioning.

"We train hard every day and for every game, but I think St. Norbert, Lake Forest, Beloit and Lawrence are our biggest challenges," says Johnson.

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