University of Northern Iowa Athletics
WBB Season Preview: Meet the Sophomores
11/2/2016 1:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Out of the 13 student-athletes on the 2016-17 UNI women's basketball roster, nine are underclassmen. But four of those underclassmen return to the court this year with valuable playing experience in 2015-16.
UNI returns Ellie Herzberg, Mikaela Morgan, Taylor Hagen and Dariann Garrison-Nickerson this season. All four saw action last season, bringing a veteran attitude to the 13-woman roster.
Herzberg, a redshirt sophomore out of Manson, Iowa, will make her comeback this season after missing most of 2015-16 with an injury. Needless to say, the Panther coaching staff is eager to see the former track star return to the McLeod Center this year.
"Usually when someone is coming off an ACL they lose a step, but Ellie has not lost a step," head coach Tanya Warren said. "She is still extremely fast, especially with a ball in her hand. She defends well and has done a good job of taking it to the rim. We are looking forward to having her back with her contributions to this team."
Herzberg's speed was evident at Manson Northwest Webster when she was a state champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes while averaging 25.6 points on the court. She converted her speed onto the court full time her freshman season at UNI, starting in 22 games while averaging 7.0 points and 3.9 rebounds to land herself on the MVC All-Freshman squad.
Warren and the staff will also be looking to Morgan this season, who played in 33 games as a true freshman last year. Mikaela, who's older brother Jeremy Morgan was chosen as the Preseason MVC Player of the Year on the men's side, is looking to make the same impact as her sibling.
"We are looking for her to have a break out season," Warren said. "She really does remind me a lot of Jeremy. I said to her that we don't have the luxury to wait until your senior year. We need her now. She is capable of doing that for us. She embraces that and is looking forward to having that role this year."
The Morgan's come from a basketball family with their mother Cris playing at Drake and father Michael at Iowa. The Coralville, Iowa, native came to UNI after her successful stint at Iowa City West where she earned all-conference, all-region and all-district. She averaged 13.6 minutes last season as a Panther, scoring 2.9 points per game and brining in 1.8 rebounds.
UNI has two sophomore that are vying for time in the post/forward position this year in Hagen and Garrison-Nickerson.
Garrison-Nickerson played in four games as a freshman in 2015-16 and was awarded a scholarship in the spring of last year after walking on to the team. The Des Moines, Iowa, native has proved she can be versatile on the court after being named the Des Moines East Female Athlete of the Year in high school. She was a four-year letter winner, earning all-conference, all-district and all-metro.
Hagen earned playing time in 24 games last season and this season will be called upon to put points up in the paint. She averaged 5.2 minutes and 1.3 points per game in 2015-16 while also being named to the MVC Honor Roll to not only start her career on the court right but in the classroom.
Hagen spent her prep days at Blooming Prairie High School in Blooming Prairie, Minn., securing school records in career points and rebounds. She holds three of the top-five season records for points and two for rebounds, earning Team MVP nods as a junior and senior. She nearly averaged a double-double her senior year with 16.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, earning Player of the Year honors from Owatonna Peoples Press.
The four sophomores and the Panthers will begin their 2016-17 campaign with an exhibition game against Maryville on Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center. Tickets are $1 at the door. For more information or to purchase single-game or season tickets, call the UNI ticket off at 319-273-4849 or visit the UNITix website.
