BEARS HUNGRY TO BE BACK ON TOP

For most teams a 23-11 record, a second place conference finish, and an appearance in the championship game of the conference tournament would be indicative of a very successful season.  For Shawnee State University, however, any season ending without a trip to the NAIA National Tournament is a disappointment.  The 2004 – 2005 season was just that for the Bears as their string of 11 straight National Tournament appearances came to an end.  “This team is on a mission,” said Shawnee State coach Robin Hagen Smith.  “We’re going back to the National Tournament.” 

Coach Smith looks to a group of five seniors, one sophomore, and a recruiting class of five freshmen to accomplish that goal.  “We’ve got great senior leadership,” said Smith.  “But, a lot of our success will depend upon how well and how quickly our freshmen pick up the system.”   

The freshman class is composed of Tonya McKenzie, Karen Diehl, Kelly Wagner, Becky Babione, and Andrea Rudmann.  McKenzie, a 5’5” guard, averaged 16.3 points per game as a senior at Portsmouth High School.  Diehl is a 5’11” forward from Chillicothe.  She averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds a game as senior and was named the District 14 Player of the Year.  Wagner, a 5’9” freshman guard, was the District 7 Player of the Year and earned 3^rd Team All-Ohio recognition.  Babione is a 6’0” forward.  She holds St. Joseph High School records for most points in a game (34), most points in a season (445), and most points in a career (1,311).  She twice earned All-Ohio recognition.  Rudmann, a 5’10” forward earned All-Ohio honors as a junior and senior. 

Five All-American Mideast Conference performers return to the Bears’ line-up in 2005 – 2006.  Tara Walker averaged 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season.  She tallied 17 double-doubles on the season including a stretch of 12 straight to close out the season.  Shannon Thomas, a three-time All-AMC honoree, averaged 12.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season.  Mandy Deal was named honorable mention All-AMC as she averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 assists per game.  Fifth year senior Heather Schilling returns from a year off after shoulder surgery.  Schilling, a 3^rd Team All-American in 2002, has averaged 15.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over the course of her career.  Also returning to the team is senior Anna Ramey and freshman Shannon Leasure.  Ramey has played in 99 games over the last three years and has averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebound per game.  Leasure earned All-AMC Freshman team honors last season as she averaged 6.2 points per game.   

“I really like the attitude and togetherness the team has exhibited thus far.  We are going to be aggressive on defense and offense.  I’d like to run a bit more this year and try to beat our opponents up and down the floor.  It all starts with our defense, and I like what I’m seeing there so far.” 

Click for 2004 - 2005 Outlook.