Ferris State game notes

Rarely can a team be summed up in a single word, however one word fits the bill for the 2011-12 Lewis women's basketball team: young.
 
The starting lineup that took the floor in Lewis' exhibition contests at UW-Milwaukee had a combined 44 career starts. Junior guard Labrenthia Murdock (Round Lake, Ill./Round Lake) held 41 of those starts.
 
Head coach Lisa Carlsen knows that a young team means glimpses of promise combined with occasional mistakes. The key will be managing those up and downs.
 
“Our focus has to be on getting better each day,” Carlsen said. “We're going to have to stay in teach mode and improve in each facet of the game.”
 
The squad features six freshmen and three sophomores. The returners do have the benefit of experiencing last season's thrilling run to the 2010-11 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship.
 
“This team can take a lot from last year even if some of the returners weren't on the floor much,” Carlsen said. “They understand the emotions of making that type of run and there is no way you can teach or coach that experience.”
 
Headlining Lewis' returners are Murdock, junior Sam Rinehart (Marion, Iowa/Marion) and senior forward Devon Carbaugh (Sterling, Ill./Sterling). Murdock was at her best in some of the most important games of the season last year. She scored a career-high 23 points with five boards, three steals and two blocks in the Flyers' GLVC Tournament opening round victory over Missouri S&T.
 
“Labrenthia wants to lead this team,” Carlsen said. “She wants to be that go-to player and if she can work on being consistent those are labels the team will have no problem putting on her.”
 
Lewis' only other junior is Rinehart. She recorded 11 points and five rebounds in the GLVC Championship game against Indianapolis.
 
“Sam works her tail off and has the ability to be our best offensive rebounder,” Carlsen said. “We'll need her to be consistent as well and solid on both ends.”
 
Carbaugh is a fifth year senior and will hold down the paint for the Flyers. However a preseason injury has her out for the first part of the 2011-12 campaign.
 
“Dev is our rock,” Carlsen said. “She has the respect of the entire team because of how hard she works. When she speaks, her teammates listen.”
 
When Carbaugh is on the court she'll be joined in the front court by redshirt sophomore forward Lauren Mead (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda). The 6-2 Wauconda, Ill. native was used in a reserve role last season, seeing action in 22-of-31 games.
 
“Lauren is going to be a big part of what we try to do,” Carlsen said. “She's been playing behind upperclassmen and now it is her time to fill that void.”
 
Sophomore Alexus Grayer (Washington, Ill./Washington) saw time as a spot up shooter off the bench last season. In 2011-12 she will have an entirely new role at forward.
 
“People might be surprised the impact Lexi is going to have this year,” Carlsen said. “She is someone who can score in bunches and as her confidence grows she could be a big factor in our success.”
 
Guard Madeline Kish (Oak Forest, Ill./Sandburg) joins Grayer in the starting lineup. Kish, like Grayer, was mainly used as a 3-point threat last season. Kish will start at the two guard in 2011-12.
 
“Kish is the most pure shooter on the team,” Carlsen said. “She is someone who needs to step up for us and put points on the board when we need it.”
 
For the first time in four seasons Lewis will start a new point guard. Freshman Jamie Johnson (South Holland, Ill./Marian Catholic) will start at the point for the Flyers. She dished out five assists in 26 minutes against UW-Milwaukee in an exhibition.
 
“I'm surprised with the leadership role Jamie has taken on already and how vocal she's been.  I knew she could do it, but it's great to see so early,” Carlsen said. “She is very good at putting the ball in people's hands where they can be successful.”
 
Johnson will be running an offense that looks very little like what Flyer fans saw last season. Look for Lewis to push the ball and try to score in transition.
 
“We know we will be undersized pretty much every night but we will take advantage of our speed by keeping the floor spread,” Carlsen said. “We will have to be aggressive on the defensive and we can't allow teams to sit in the half court and pound the ball in the paint.”
 
The additions of speed and athleticism to the 2011-12 roster Carlsen refers to comes by way of the Flyer freshmen. Nikki Nellen (New Berlin, Wis./Pius XI) will backup Johnson at point guard. Kristen Itschner is a 5-9 athletic guard from Peoria Notre Dame High School. Freshman Jess Reinhart (Normal, Ill./Bloomington Central Catholic) is a 5-10 forward from Normal, Ill. She compiled a four-year record of 118-8 at Bloomington Central Catholic High School.

“This freshman class has the chance to really be good," Carlsen said. "I love what I've seen to this point. They will get an opportunity to obtain valuable game experience and hopefully grow each time out.”
 
The young Flyers will need to grow quickly as the 2011-12 slate features seven teams who were ranked or earned votes in the Preseason Top 25 Poll. One of those teams is Northeastern State (Okla.), who the Flyers will see when they travel to Hawaii for a tournament on Nov. 24 and 25.
 
Lewis opens the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Ferris State.