2009-10 Women's Basketball Season Preview
Raiders Look to Build on the Sucess of the 2008-09 Season

One of the top programs in the NAIA year after year, the Northwestern College women’s basketball team achieved great success during the 2008-09 season. With five new starters and just five letter winners returning, the Red Raiders once again competed at a high level at both the conference and national level. Northwestern finished second in the tEampremier women’s basketball conference in the NAIA with a 15-3 record and was one of five league teams that qualified for the 2009 national tournament. Seeded second, Coach Earl Woudstra’s squad won its first three games, knocking off one of the number one seeds, Davenport (Mich.) in the process, and reached their third Final Four in the last four years. Awaiting the Raiders in the national semifinals was a familiar foe, Morningside, who knocked off NWC 63-58 en route to the national championship. Northwestern finished the season with a 26-9 record and two players, Becca Hurley and Randa Hulstein, earned All-American honors. “We had great team chemistry last season,” commented Woudstra. “Our younger players gained confidence early on and learned to blend their skills together. They were very unselfish and had different players step up throughout the year.” With all five of their top scorers and eight letter winners returning, the Raiders seem poised to make another run at the GPAC and NAIA titles this year.

Earl Woudstra returns for his 16th season as the Raiders’ head coach. During his tenure, coach Woudstra is the all-time winningest coach in the program’s history with a 337-133 overall record, winning nearly 72% of his games. He has guided the Raiders to four straight national tournaments, eight in all, including two national championships (2001, 2008). Overall, Northwestern ranks 21st all-time in the NAIA with 617 wins and a winning percentage of 59% since 1970-71.

Two players, Randa Hulstein and Andrea Wedel, return for their final season with the Red Raiders. Hulstein, a 6-1 post player from Sioux Center, Iowa, earned honorable Randamention All-American and first team all-GPAC honors last year after averaging 14.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. She registered 15 double-doubles and is shooting over 58% from the field in her career. “Randa developed into one of the premier players in the NAIA. She is a tenacious rebounder who improved her ability to score with her back to the basket.” Wedel, a 5-10 forward from Yale, S.D., averaged five points and 2.7 rebounds off the bench last season. “Andrea has been one of the more consistent players over the course of her career,” commented Woudstra. “She is an athletic player who is a threat along the perimeter as well as taking it to the basket.”

A trio of talented juniors return to the Raider line-up as well. Becca Hurley (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) led the conference and ranked eighth in the NAIA as she scored 19.9 points per game. She earned first team NAIA All-American and all-GPAC honors and also led the Raiders with 83 three-pointers. Hurley also pulled down six rebounds per game and dished out a team-best 111 assists on the season. “Becca has a great feel for the game,” commented Woudstra. “She is a good shooter but can also score off the dribble and get a teammate in position to score.” Kristin Neth, a 5-10 Hurleyforward from Scotland, S.D., started every game last season where she averaged eight points, 5.6 rebounds and nearly three assists per game. “Kristin is an outstanding team member who possesses good all-around skills,” commented Woudstra. “She is a very good rebounder and defender.” Allison Hulst, a 5-9 forward from Cassville, Wis., was a key reserve last season and averaged nearly two points and 2.3 rebounds per game. “Allison is a good athlete and an excellent offensive rebounder.”

Three sophomores come back after making significant contributions during their freshmen season. Kami Kuhlmann (Charter Oak, Iowa) earned honorable mention all-GPAC honors after averaging 13.5 points and 3.2 rebounds last season. She shot 37% from beyond the arc (50/136) and played her best basketball at the national tournament last season. “Kami played at a high level all year and did not back down from any challenge,” commented Woudstra. “She is becoming one of our best defenders and provides a spark offensively with her three-point shooting.” Val Kleinjan, a 5-8 guard from Bruce, S.D., ranked second on the team with 62 three-pointers and shot a team-best 41% from beyond the arc. She started in every game and averaged 8.7 points per game. “Val is one of our best shooters and does an excellent job of valuing the basketball,” commented Woudstra. Katie Nieuwsma, a 5-8 sophomore point guard from Oskaloosa, Iowa, played in every game last season and averaged 4.3 points and dished out 68 assists. “Katie is an unselfish player who sees the court very well.” Mel Babcock, a 6-0 post player from Alton, Iowa, will vie for playing time in the post after playing on the junior varsity last year.

Joining the team this year will be a pair of 5-11 freshmen, Kendra DeJong (Hospers, Iowa) and Thea Engen (Lamberton, Minn.). Both players are coming off outstanding high school careers and could make a significant impact on the floor this season.

One of the challenges that the Raiders face is a very difficult conference schedule with five teams ranked in the NAIA D-II preseason poll. “Our conference schedule is very difficult but it also prepares us well for postseason play,” commented Woudstra.  Another hurdle the Raiders will have to overcome is the expectations coming off such a successful season last year and returning most of the players. “Every season, we start over at the beginning,” said Woudstra. “It is a new season and nothing in the past really matters. We need to be patient as each player learns their respective role and learns to play with one another. Our goal will be to play the best basketball at the end of the season.”

Basketball Homepage