2009-10 Cobber Women's Basketball Season Preview

2009-10 Season Preview

MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/17/09)-- The Concordia women’s basketball team enjoyed a very successful season in 2008-09. The Cobbers went 19-9 finished in second place in the MIAC during the regular season, played in the conference tournament championship game and earned their 16th overall trip to the NCAA Tournament. Concordia seventh-year head coach Jessica Rahman is hoping the experience gained from last year will translate into a coming of age for her deep junior class in 2009-10.

Concordia only lost one player from last year’s national tournament team. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the player was Jenna Freudenberg – the 2009 MIAC Most Valuable Player. Freudenberg led the team in scoring and assists and was second on the team in rebounding. She was also the emotional leader on and off the court and helped the Cobbers in critical situations throughout the season.

The 2009-10 Cobber team will have to find a new leader in pressure situations and someone that can be counted on to pick up Freudenberg’s point production. The leading candidate to fill the leadership role is senior Sara Sorbo (Adams, N.D.). Sorbo has been a three-year starter and is a “lead by example” player. Last year she finished third on the team in scoring with a 9.3 points per game average, led the team in steals and was named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable mention Team. Her work ethic and non-stop hustle on the court will serve the Cobbers well during the entire season. Sorbo had a difficult off-season as she was diagnosed with cancer in the spring and spent the entire summer going through treatment in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic. Sorbo’s ultimate battling attitude helped her through the ordeal and she is ready to take on the challenge of playing her senior season as a cancer survivor.

Sorbo is one of only two seniors on the team. Fellow guard Anna Matetich (Hibbing, Minn.) will be counted on to pick up some of the scoring left by Freudenberg’s graduation. Matetich has the outside shooting touch to put up big numbers and has been a constant contributor in her first three seasons. Matetich is no stranger to putting up big point totals. Last year she had 19 points against MIAC top tier team St. Thomas on Dec. 3.

The junior class had a pair of players earn conference postseason honors last year. Guard Maggie Bauernfeind (Rosemount, Minn.) was named the league’s Sixth Player of the Year. She led the team in 3-point baskets and averaged 9.1 points last season. Her ability to knock down the long-range jumper at key times will take the pressure off the rest of the CC offense as they look to find their new identity at the beginning of the season. Backcourt teammate Lindsey Schultz (Hitterdal, Minn.) was named to the MIAC All-Defensive Team. She is the team’s shut-down defender and her defensive pressure can take any opponent out of their offensive rhythm. Schultz will be asked to put up bigger numbers on the offensive end of the court. She has the ability to be one of the team’s top scorers as she averaged 7.1 points per game last year and is coming off an 18-point performance in the team’s NCAA Tournament first round game.

Another junior could be next in line as one of the premiere Cobber play making guards. Erica Nord (Wolverton, Minn.) will likely take over Freudenberg’s duties as the team’s point guard. Her quickness and passing ability make her tough to defend 1 v. 1 in the open court. She was tied for third on the team in 3-point baskets in 2009 and had a career-high 23 points against St. Mary’s on Jan. 11. Despite her 5-7 frame, she has the knack for getting inside and grabbing clutch rebounds. Last year she was fourth on the team in rebounds and finished the year by collecting at least six rebounds in four consecutive games.

The Cobbers will open the season on Nov. 20 when they play St. Scholastica in the UW-Stevens Point Tournament. A game against Division II cross-town rival MSU Moorhead the following week should give Rahman a good indication of this year’s team identity and will prepare them for the conference opener against St. Thomas on Dec. 2. If Concordia can come of age in the early part of the season and find a consistent scoring threat during pressure situations then another banner year could be in the making.

2009-10 MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll

St. Paul, Minn. – The 2009-10 MIAC Women's Basketball season begins for the 12 conference teams with expectations of a successful year and hopes for a MIAC Playoff berth and a potential conference title. The next three months will separate the field and prove which teams have what it takes to contend with the best in the MIAC. It should be an exciting journey, let's take a glance at how the teams look coming into the season...

St. Thomas claimed the top spot in the 2009-10 MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, barely edging last season's league champion's Saint Benedict. The Tommies received eight first place votes while the Blazers got four. Concordia, Gustavus, Macalester, and St. Catherine round out the top six in the poll. Six of the 12 MIAC teams will make the end of the year playoffs.

Non-conference contests begin on Sunday, November 15 and the first conference games will take place on Wednesday, December 2.

2009-10 MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (1 for first, 2 for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of lowest point total to highest with first place votes shown in parentheses.
1. St. Thomas (8)
2. Saint Benedict (4)
3. Concordia

4. Gustavus
5. Macalester

6. St. Catherine

7. Hamline

8. Bethel

9. Carleton

10. Saint Mary's

11. St. Olaf

12. Augsburg



	Senior guard Sara Sorbo will be looking to help the Cobbers repeat their NCAA Tournament appearance campaign of last season.
	Coming of Age!
	Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: November 17, 2009
	2009-10 Cobber Women's Basketball Schedule 2009-10 Cobber Women's Basketball Roster 2008-09 Cobber Women's Basketball Statistics
	2009-10 Season Preview MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/17/09)-- The Concordia women’s basketball team enjoyed a very successful season in 2008-09. The Cobbers went 19-9 finished in second place in the MIAC during the regular season, played in the conference tournament championship game and earned their 16th overall trip to the NCAA Tournament. Concordia seventh-year head coach Jessica Rahman is hoping the experience gained from last year will translate into a coming of age for her deep junior class in 2009-10. Concordia only lost one player from last year’s national tournament team. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the player was Jenna Freudenberg – the 2009 MIAC Most Valuable Player. Freudenberg led the team in scoring and assists and was second on the team in rebounding. She was also the emotional leader on and off the court and helped the Cobbers in critical situations throughout the season. The 2009-10 Cobber team will have to find a new leader in pressure situations and someone that can be counted on to pick up Freudenberg’s point production. The leading candidate to fill the leadership role is senior Sara Sorbo (Adams, N.D.). Sorbo has been a three-year starter and is a “lead by example” player. Last year she finished third on the team in scoring with a 9.3 points per game average, led the team in steals and was named to the MIAC All-Conference Honorable mention Team. Her work ethic and non-stop hustle on the court will serve the Cobbers well during the entire season. Sorbo had a difficult off-season as she was diagnosed with cancer in the spring and spent the entire summer going through treatment in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic. Sorbo’s ultimate battling attitude helped her through the ordeal and she is ready to take on the challenge of playing her senior season as a cancer survivor. Sorbo is one of only two seniors on the team. Fellow guard Anna Matetich (Hibbing, Minn.) will be counted on to pick up some of the scoring left by Freudenberg’s graduation. Matetich has the outside shooting touch to put up big numbers and has been a constant contributor in her first three seasons. Matetich is no stranger to putting up big point totals. Last year she had 19 points against MIAC top tier team St. Thomas on Dec. 3. The junior class had a pair of players earn conference postseason honors last year. Guard Maggie Bauernfeind (Rosemount, Minn.) was named the league’s Sixth Player of the Year. She led the team in 3-point baskets and averaged 9.1 points last season. Her ability to knock down the long-range jumper at key times will take the pressure off the rest of the CC offense as they look to find their new identity at the beginning of the season. Backcourt teammate Lindsey Schultz (Hitterdal, Minn.) was named to the MIAC All-Defensive Team. She is the team’s shut-down defender and her defensive pressure can take any opponent out of their offensive rhythm. Schultz will be asked to put up bigger numbers on the offensive end of the court. She has the ability to be one of the team’s top scorers as she averaged 7.1 points per game last year and is coming off an 18-point performance in the team’s NCAA Tournament first round game. Another junior could be next in line as one of the premiere Cobber play making guards. Erica Nord (Wolverton, Minn.) will likely take over Freudenberg’s duties as the team’s point guard. Her quickness and passing ability make her tough to defend 1 v. 1 in the open court. She was tied for third on the team in 3-point baskets in 2009 and had a career-high 23 points against St. Mary’s on Jan. 11. Despite her 5-7 frame, she has the knack for getting inside and grabbing clutch rebounds. Last year she was fourth on the team in rebounds and finished the year by collecting at least six rebounds in four consecutive games. The Cobbers will open the season on Nov. 20 when they play St. Scholastica in the UW-Stevens Point Tournament. A game against Division II cross-town rival MSU Moorhead the following week should give Rahman a good indication of this year’s team identity and will prepare them for the conference opener against St. Thomas on Dec. 2. If Concordia can come of age in the early part of the season and find a consistent scoring threat during pressure situations then another banner year could be in the making. 2009-10 MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll St. Paul, Minn. – The 2009-10 MIAC Women's Basketball season begins for the 12 conference teams with expectations of a successful year and hopes for a MIAC Playoff berth and a potential conference title. The next three months will separate the field and prove which teams have what it takes to contend with the best in the MIAC. It should be an exciting journey, let's take a glance at how the teams look coming into the season... St. Thomas claimed the top spot in the 2009-10 MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, barely edging last season's league champion's Saint Benedict. The Tommies received eight first place votes while the Blazers got four. Concordia, Gustavus, Macalester, and St. Catherine round out the top six in the poll. Six of the 12 MIAC teams will make the end of the year playoffs. Non-conference contests begin on Sunday, November 15 and the first conference games will take place on Wednesday, December 2. 2009-10 MIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll Coaches voted for every team in the conference except their own team. Points were assigned for each vote (1 for first, 2 for second, etc.) Teams are ranked in order of lowest point total to highest with first place votes shown in parentheses. 1. St. Thomas (8) 2. Saint Benedict (4) 3. Concordia 4. Gustavus 5. Macalester 6. St. Catherine 7. Hamline 8. Bethel 9. Carleton 10. Saint Mary's 11. St. Olaf 12. Augsburg