University of Northern Iowa Athletics
WBB Season Preview: Meet the Freshmen
11/1/2016 3:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
After losing four seniors to graduation last season, UNI women's basketball fans already knew the 2016-17 squad would be a young one. But with five freshmen on the team loaded with talent, the Panthers will look to not miss a beat.
Head coach Tanya Warren stressed at media day that she knows there will be a learning curve with such a young team, but that the future is bright for Panther basketball.
"I am excited to watch this team form its identity," Warren said. "In the midst of that though, I think it is important that we are all very patient. We are going to go through some turbulence and there will be times this season where the ride will get bumpy."
"It is all part of the process and it is uncomfortable, but not unusual. We can't speed up experience, but we have great faith that with the right prospective, the ride will eventually smooth out."
Between the five freshmen there are countless all-state selections, player of the year nods, all-conference honors and high school records with all five ready to make their name as a Panther as well.
Mariah Criswell, Rose Simon-Ressler and Heidi Hillyard redshirted in 2015-16, and although they don't have game experience, they have been a part of the program, the conditioning, the practices and the atmosphere for a year.
Criswell, a transplant from Winterset, Iowa, will see minutes at point guard this season, but could also play off the ball when needed. Warren has remarked how well Criswell can shoot the three and her "uncanny ability to get off shots that you aren't sure how she got off."
Her sharp shooting was evident at Winterset High School where she earned USA Today All-America second-team on the way to breaking seven school records. Criswell finished her high school career with 1,524 points, 280 assists, 223 steal and 314 rebounds, proving that she can be used in a variety of ways as a Panther.
Simon-Ressler was a star at Western Dubuque alongside true freshman Megan Maahs, earning Co-Player of the Year honors with her friend on and off the court. The Epworth, Iowa, native was a two-time INA All-State selection, leading her team to back-to-back state championship game appearances and setting a school record for field goal percentage.
Looking for minutes this season in the post will be Hillyard, who chose to come to UNI after lettering four years at Mediapolis High School. Hillyard holds the school record in career and season rebounds, earning five all-state selections. Warren describes Hillyard as having a "high motor" when she is in the game, something UNI could use in 2016-17.
"Heidi has done an incredible job," Warren said. "I really like the way Heidi plays the game both offensively and defensively. She can shoot the three and is very good off the bounce at the high-post area, but what makes Heidi good is her ability to get you extra possessions."
UNI also brought in two talented true freshmen this season in Maahs and Abby Gerrits. Gerrits lettered in basketball at Pewaukee High School in Pewaukee, Wis. while Maahs played alongside Simon-Ressler at Western Dubuque.
Gerrits was highly successful while at Pewaukee, becoming the first women's basketball player at Pewaukee to be named unanimous first-team all-conference all four years. She was the Woodland Conference Player of the Year as a senior and a sophomore, becoming the all-time leading scorer in school history.
Maahs round out UNI's freshman class, brining versatility to the team at the post position. Warren commented at media on how the team will be looked upon to have different roles throughout the season, one of which Maahs is ready to fill.
"Megan is extremely gifted offensively," Warren said. "She is very skilled and can score with her back to the basket with either hand. She has very good footwork and can face up, shoot the three and she runs very well."
At Western Dubuque, the 6-1 forward earned all-state honors from IGCA, INA and the Des Moines Register on the way to securing school records in career rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and blocked shots. She also holds the single-game record in rebounds with 21.
UNI will begin the season with an exhibition against Maryville on Monday, Nov. 7 in the McLeod Center. Tickets are $1 at the door with the game also being aired live on ESPN3.
With 29 games on the docket this season, including 14 regular season home matches, UNI fans have a lot to be excited about with the upcoming season. Needless to say, the women's basketball coaching staff is eager to see what this team can do.
"I don't know if we will win two games, 22 games or somewhere in between, but I do know this," Warren said. "I know that this team will play with a great amount of heart. I know that we will leave everything on the floor and we will play with a great amount of energy. This team will get better and better throughout the course of the season, and that in itself is really exciting."
