Veteran group to lead Lady Tiger basketball team
A year removed from having no sophomores on the roster, the Cowley College women's basketball team will have a different, more veteran look as they enter the 2021 season.
Cowley returns seven sophomores that helped the Lady Tigers finish last season with a record of 20-12. Cowley will look to build off its 14th straight 20-win season when they open the shortened season with two non-conference games prior to opening conference play.
"We are hoping the sophomores have improved and will give us leadership and direction," Cowley head coach Todd Clark said.
Breaking the school record for three-pointers made in a season and finishing second nationally with 123 three-pointers, Seanna Boltz was named a Second Team All-Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division selection during the 2019-2020 season.
"When you have shooters like Sienna they are identified early, so we have got to be able to get her open looks," Clark said.
Boltz finished a promising freshman season by averaging nearly 15 points per game, while Kalyne Daniels (12.1 points), Shontrice Austin 10.3 points), and Jayden Marlnee (9.3 points) also performed well.
"We expect them all to improve and extend their range to where they can shoot from anywhere on the floor," Clark said.
Milena Fromming, who averaged 7.9 points and 2.4 assists while starting 22 games as a freshman, joins Torri Vang (7.2 points) and Teagan Brouwer (4.2 points, 5.0 rebounds) as other returning players on the team.
Martyna Kowalska, a 6'0 freshman, who was a member of the Polish national U-20 team, highlights a strong recruiting class.
"She could be a really nice player for us if she continues to develop," Clark said. "This freshman group has not been tested yet, so it's tough to tell how they will do."
A pair of Ponca City High School teammates join the mix in Ryley Beard and Baylee Fincher. Beard was the top three-point shooter in Oklahoma Class 6A as a sophomore and an All-Region selection her senior year, while Fincher originally signed with NCAA Division II West Texas A&M before recently transferring to Cowley. Fincher averaged 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals per contest as she was named a First Team North Oklahoma All-VYPE selection while also earning Honorable Mention All-State accolades.
Other freshmen on the roster are Brittney Byers from South Haven, KS, Julia Michalik from Poland, Kailee Choice from Tulsa, OK, Karolina Juresiute from Lithuania, Juliet Spangler from Ryan, OK, Miyah Larson from Australia, Shamahra Henderson from Denver, CO, Gaby Martinez from Manhattan, KS, and Lucy Lally from Basehor, KS.
"We think we have more shooters around Sienna this year, they just have to be consistent," Clark said. "We have several players we can throw at an opponent on an any given night."
With Cowley set to open the season Wednesday, January 20 at Northern Oklahoma College, Clark likes the business-like approach his team has taken during uncertain circumstances surrounding the season.
"I have no clue what we are getting into this season," Clark said. "We will need our kids to compete day in and day out when things get tough. I think the team that can stay healthy and develop quickly through the trials and tribulations will be the one that prevails."