Hiram loses just one player from last year’s roster and will be led by the duo of senior All-NCAC guard Kelsey Durichko (Brunswick) and Tiffany Shields (Bedford Heights/Bedford). Durichko started all 26 games last season and finished fourth on the team in scoring at 6.8 points per game on 30.1 percent shooting (53-of-176). She was tied for the team-lead in rebounding at 6.5 rebounds per game and dished out a school single-season record 138 assists. She also had three blocked shots and a team-high 56 steals defensively. Following the season, she was tabbed as an honorable mention All-NCAC pick.
Shields is coming off of a solid junior season after leading the team in scoring with 14.2 ppg. while shooting 36.4 percent (137-of-376) from the floor. She was also amongst the team leaders in free-throw shooting (71.1 percent) and rebounding (4.7 rpg.). In addition, Shields tallied a team-best 18 blocked shots to go along with 32 steals defensively.
"Kelsey and Tiffany are the undisputed leaders of this team. They have worked extremely hard to elevate their competitiveness and their work ethic has had a tremendous impact their teammates. I am excited to see where this team will go with their leadership." stated Coach Preston.
"Kelsey is one of the top point guards in the NCAC and region. She makes it very difficult for defenses to stop her from getting where she wants to go. With that, she creates tremendous opportunities for herself and her teammates. She will have an opportunity to break some school records this season and I hope it works out that she does. Tiffany is a triple threat player. She can knock down the three point shot, pull-up off the dribble, or get to the hoop and finish at the free-throw line. She is a challenge for any defense to contain. I have high hopes for her this season; I really believe the sky is the limit for her this year."
Also returning in the backcourt for Hiram this season will be juniors Chelsea Kovach (Lakewood), Emily Smerchansky (Girard), Calysia Smyers (Akron/ Coventry) and Lindsay Buckner (Vienna/Mathews). Kovach was third on the team in scoring last season with 7.6 ppg. and was second in three-pointers made with 29. Smerchansky and Smyers had solid seasons coming off the bench providing depth at the guard position and averaged 4.6 and 4.4 ppg. respectively. Smyers also averaged 2.2 rpg. to go along with 29 assists and 22 steals. Buckner saw playing time in 25 games as a backup and averaged 1.9 ppg. on 14-of-46 shooting (30.4 percent).
In addition, expect to see sophomore guards Danielle Day (Newbury) and Marissa Thomas (Lorain/Amherst) to compete for increased playing time.
"We have high expectations for our perimeter players this season. This is the second year running an up-tempo offense. Every indication is that we will be more efficient and productive than a year ago. You cannot manufacture experience when it comes to learning and executing a new system. I am looking forward to Chelsea (Kovach) having another solid year. She is such a hard worker and wants to do things right every time. She has been a great influence to her teammates. I also expect Calysia Smyers to have a break-out year; she is a player that has been a productive player off the bench for us in the past. She has a lot of passion for the game and is extremely competitive. She has a great desire to win and I think she is ready to help her team in that capacity."
Hiram will also return a host of veterans up front at the forward positions led by junior Amy Geisman (Middleburg Heights/Midpark). Last season, Geisman started all but one game and led all forwards in scoring at 5.4 ppg. while averaging 4.3 rpg. She led the team in field goal percentage at 40.3 percent (60-of-149) and was also amongst the team leaders in free-throw percentage at 74.1 percent (20-of-27). In addition Geisman had nine assists, six blocks and 14 steals.
Joining Geisman will be fellow juniors Brenna Host (Seven Hills/Normandy) and Amanda Petrusky (Parma/Valley Forge). Host played in 25 games as a backup forward and averaged 3.1 ppg. and 2.6 rpg. She ended the season second on the team in blocked shots with 17. Petrusky saw playing time in 13 games and scored 12 points on four-of-nine shooting (44.4 percent) and four-of-eight (50.0 percent) at the free-throw line.
Sophomore Alexis Kemper (Centerville) should also battle for playing time in 2011-12. As a freshman, Kemper played in 22 games and scored 33 points while shooting 24.4 percent (11-of-45) from the field. She also averaged 1.0 rpg. to go along with two assists, a blocked shot and six steals.
"We have a great group of forwards who have gained playing experience over the past couple of seasons. I expect Amy (Geisman) to have another solid season and anticipate that Brenna Host will have an opportunity to leave her mark as well. Alexis (Kemper) gained some valuable playing time as a forward last season; however, her perimeter skills have really developed nicely so she will definitely see more playing time in that role."
Hiram will open the season on Tuesday, Nov. 15 when the Terriers travel to Marietta for a non-conference matchup against Marietta College. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Hiram will play its first home game on Saturday, Nov. 26 against Westminster (Pa.) College at 2 p.m. at Price Gym.
"There is no question that we want to have a big year this year. The conference race should be very exciting with many of the top teams losing key contributors. We feel confident that we can take a big step forward with our program this year. We were on the cusp last season and didn’t finish the way we would have liked. That feeling has resonated with these kids throughout the offseason and they are fired up to take the court!"
