Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Media Guides 2013-14 MVC Women's Basketball Media Guide | Page 28

Preview/review

2013-14 Missouri Valley Conference Preview
Bradley returns two starters from last year’s
squad, including five of its top seven scorers,
and will enter year two under the direction
of head coach Michael Brooks. Headlining
the returning group are senior guards Kelsey
Budd and Catie O’Leary, who averaged
10.0 points and 9.8 points, respectively,
in 2012-13. O’Leary was also Bradley’s top
rebounder (6.7/game) last season and is
one of the league’s most efficient free throw
shooters. Junior Michelle Young (7.7 ppg, 56
steals), who came on strong in the second
half of last season, will also be expected to
play a more significant role for the Braves
in 2013-14.
The guard-heavy Braves return nearly
60-percent of the team’s scoring, as Bradley
led the Valley with 71.3 points per game in
2012-13. Seniors Kelly Frings (5.7 ppg, 5.8
rpg) and Alyson Spinas-Valainis (3.6 ppg, 2,6
rpg) and sophomore Jenny Smith (6.4 ppg,
4.0 rpg) make up the Braves’ frontcourt, and
will be an important part of BU’s success.

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points per game last season, while knocking
down 72 three-pointers, and also led Indiana
State with a .857 free throw percentage.
Mahan ranked in the league’s top-10 in four
statistical categories, including points (13.0,
10th), rebounds (7.9, 6th), blocks (1.0, 5th)
and field-goal percentage (.503, 2nd).

u BRADLEY

The Sycamores also return sophomore
forward Marina Laramie, a member of the
Valley’s all-freshman team a season ago,
who averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Juniors Jessica Valley (4.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg),
Natasha Zurek (3.8 ppg, 58 assists) and
Travecia Franklin (2.8 ppg, 49 assists) and
sophomore Kasey Johnson (3.6 ppg, 58 assists) also add depth to the Sycamore roster.
Drake’s Kyndal Clark ranked in the league’s top-10 in scoring, assists, steals, free-throw percentage, three-pointers
made and assist/turnover ratio last season.

u LOYOLA

Loyola enters its first season as a member
of the Valley after finishing 2012-13 with a
record of 17-15 (10-6 Horizon, 3rd) in its
final season in the Horizon League. Sheryl
Swoopes, a four-time WNBA champion,
NCAA champion and three-time Olympic
gold medalist, was named the new head
u DRAKE
coach of the Ramblers in April and is hoping to make waves in the Valley standings
One year removed from having one of the
in her first season as a head coach. Loyola
youngest teams in the conference with just
returns four starters and will be led by the
one senior on the roster, Drake head coach
one-two punch of junior forward Simone Law
Jennie Baranczyk has nine players back with
u ILLINOIS STATE
and sophomore guard Taylor Johnson. Law,
significant playing experience. The Bulldogs
a first team all-Horizon League selection a
return four starters and will be led by one of The Redbirds bring back two starters and
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