Women’s Basketball Finds ‘New Identity’

Zach Newcomer

After a 13-13 last season, Manchester University women’s basketball team looks to improve this season behind veteran Head Coach Josh Dzurick.

Dzurick encourages this year’s team to make its own statement. “Last year’s team had a lot of talent, but we can’t live in their shadow,” he said. “Each year is different and we need to buy into our new identity.”

The Black and Gold return two of their top three scorers with senior guards Katie Arterburn of Indianapolis and Justine Kruger of Francisville, Indiana. Arterburn tallied 10.6 points per game, with 61 makes behind the arc and Kruger scored 7.7 points per game while collecting 3.6 rebounds per contest. 

Arterburn had a busy off-season dealing with a torn ACL and working through rehab to ready for the season opener. “She tore it in the conference tournament last season,” Dzurick said. “She worked in the off-season and is now full-go in practice. She put a lot into her rehab and is back in full rhythm.” 

A big first-year class looks to help and gain experience alongside three seniors and one junior. “The freshman are hardworking. It doesn’t matter their talent level, they all work well together,” Dzurick said. “Even the returners are learning.”

Senior guard Kelcey Daugherty of Greenwood, Indiana, hopes to reign as the floor general this season in the wake of the 2015 graduate and now Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Jocelyn Hamilton. Daugherty scored 2.0 points per game and nailed 37.5 percent behind the arc. She has spent most of her practice learning from Hamilton and working on her passing skills, hoping to improve on her 23 assists last season. 

Sophomore 5-11 forward Samantha Bolen from Greenwood, Indiana, returns as the team’s third-leading scorer. As a first-year, she averaged 3.8 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and netted 42.5 percent of her shots. 

The annual Main View Tipoff Classic starts today, Nov. 20, as Manchester invites Berea College (Kentucky), Carroll University (Wisconsin) and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. The Black and Gold open against Carroll with a 7 p.m. tipoff. Their next game is a 3 p.m. tipoff Saturday, Nov. 21, against Wisconsin-Whitewater.