Millikin Women's Basketball Ready to Open Season

            DECATUR, Illinois—Millikin Women's Basketball Head Coach Lori Kerans has an experienced team heading into the 2017-18 season. The Big Blue return four starters from last season and have a roster that features six seniors and nine juniors.
          Kerans is excited by the competitiveness and veteran nature of her team, but the opportunities that come with an experienced team are tempered slightly by changes the Big Blue are making defensively this season. Heading into this season Coach Kerans and her staff targeted improved defense and rebounding as keys to turning the corner with this year's team. Kerans is happy with the progress the Big Blue made offensively last season, but believes reducing the number of points the opponents put on the board is a key to success this season. Millikin will increase the defensive pressure on the perimeter looking to make the opposition uncomfortable when handing the basketball.
          Seniors Emily Schultz (Groveland, Morton H.S.), Devin Curry (Watseka, H.S.) and Lauren Moses (Newman, Hume Shiloh H.S) lead the Millikin returning starters. Schultz earned All-Conference Second Team Honors last season averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game. Curry led all NCAA Division III players in free throw percent last year making 94.6 percent of her attempts. She averaged 15 points per game. Moses returns for Millikin after averaging seven points and eight rebounds per game in 2016-17. Junior Yanni Saddler (Macomb, H.S.) returns after averaging 15.8 points per contest last season. Junior Cassie Somers (Forrest, Prairie Central H.S.) and Haley Toohill (Wapella, Clinton H.S.) are battling for the fifth starting spot.
          The experience continues for the Big Blue off the bench. Kerans will be looking for contributions from seniors Sierra Birdsell (Lisle, H.S.), Sarah Bailey (Moweaqua, Central A&M H.S.), and junior Faith Smith (Lincoln, H.S.). Newcomers Jordan Hildebrand (Mendon, Mendon Unity H.S.) and Megan Tool (Clinton, H.S.) will be expected to make immediate impacts for the Big Blue this year as well.
          Millikin opens the season on Nov. 17 at Greenville University. The Big Blue's first home game is on Tuesday, Nov. 21 against MacMurray College at 7 p.m.

2017 Millikin Women's Basketball Roster

2017 Millikin Women's Basketball Magazine

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Players Mentioned

#32 Sarah Bailey: G/F; 5' 8"; Senior

#44 Sierra Birdsell: F/C; 5' 8"; Senior

#25 Devin Curry: G; 5' 7"; Senior

#22 Lauren Moses: F/C; 6' 1"; Senior

#3 Yanni Saddler: G/F; 5' 5"; Junior

#30 Emily Schultz: G/F; 5' 7"; Senior

#34 Faith Smith: G/F; 5' 8"; Junior

#4 Cassie Somers: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#10 Haley Toohill: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#23 Jordan Hildebrand: F/C; 6' 0"; Freshman

#5 Megan Tool: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#32 Sarah Bailey
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G/F

#44 Sierra Birdsell
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F/C

#25 Devin Curry
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

#22 Lauren Moses
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F/C

#3 Yanni Saddler
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G/F

#30 Emily Schultz
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G/F

#34 Faith Smith
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G/F

#4 Cassie Somers
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#10 Haley Toohill
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#23 Jordan Hildebrand
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F/C

#5 Megan Tool
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F