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Rockhurst University Athletics

Larry Park

Women's Basketball

Newcomers give Hawks reason for optimism heading into new season

The Hawks will open the season under Coach Larry Park on Nov. 27 at Southern Indiana.
The 2020-21 basketball season will tip off next week for the Rockhurst women with a lot of unanswered questions. The biggest question is how many healthy players will coach Larry Park have on his bench for the season opener at Southern Indiana on Friday, Nov. 27.

Park returns eight players from last year's squad and greets six newcomers, including an impressive group of four freshmen. Park is counting on his freshmen making an impact right away.

"This looks like the best freshman class we've had since I've been here," Park said. "Keegan Sullivan is ranked the No. 33 freshman in the country. She is clearly the most talented kid we've ever had. She sees the floor well. She is really a strong kid."

Keegan Sullivan is a 5-10 guard who was recruited by numerous Division I programs as a senior at Saint Joseph High School in South Bend, Indiana. Her older sister, Daly, returns for her senior year after transferring to Rockhurst last year from Mount St. Mary's University.

Daly Sullivan averaged just under nine points a game as a shooting guard while playing 22 minutes per game. She was second on the team with 39 three-point field goals and was an 88.9 percent free-throw shooter.

"Daly is a totally different player now than she was last year," Park said. "She came here without having any zest for playing. She is enjoying herself now and has a bounce in her step."

The Hawks' point guard job will be split between junior Meghan Urbanski and freshman Ella Wedergren. Urbanski averaged 7.6 points last year while shooting 44.4 percent from the floor. Wedergren was a four-year starter at Nebraska's Omaha Westside High School.

"Ella is a good quality combo guard and a good shooter. She is the best shooter I've recruited coming out of high school," Park said.

Rockhurst's front line should be improved with the return of sophomores Molly Hummel and Lani Thompson, in addition to transfers Monika Faerber (5-10 junior forward) and Abby Girard (6-2 sophomore center). Faerber is a skilled undersized post player. Girard will miss the beginning of the season with an injury.

Hummel and Thompson combined for 184 points and 163 rebounds last year. Junior forward Reagan Dodd also returns as a strong presence in the paint. Freshmen Lindsey Ingwerson and Haley Wiskur, who are both 5-10, add height to the roster.

"Our front line is so much quicker and faster," Park said. "Molly Hummel has really blossomed and Lani Thompson will surprise people. Lindsey Ingwerson potentially is a very good player and Haley Wiskur has a chance to be a good player."

The backcourt will be deeper with the return of junior Hailey Dolphin, sophomore Jessina Rada and sophomore Lauren Garrison.

"I anticipate we will go inside a little more this year," Park said. "We have a lot of good shooters from the perimeter. I think we will be all right, but we just aren't real tall. We think we are more athletic."

The Hawks will play a 22-game conference schedule this year. Six of the games are scheduled before the holiday break. Rockhurst hosts William Jewell in its home opener on Dec. 3.

2020-21 GLVC Women' Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
 
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Players Mentioned

Reagan Dodd

#32 Reagan Dodd

F
5' 11"
Sophomore
Hailey Dolphin

#35 Hailey Dolphin

G
5' 7"
Sophomore
Lauren Garrison

#25 Lauren Garrison

G
5' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
Jessina Rada

#30 Jessina Rada

G
5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
Meghan Urbanski

#2 Meghan Urbanski

G
5' 7"
Sophomore
Lani Thompson

#40 Lani Thompson

F
6' 0"
Freshman
Daly Sullivan

#22 Daly Sullivan

G
5' 8"
Junior
Molly Hummel

#11 Molly Hummel

F
6' 0"
Freshman
Monika Faerber

#41 Monika Faerber

F
5' 10"
Junior
Abby Girard

#34 Abby Girard

C
6' 2"
Sophomore
Haley Wiskur

#10 Haley Wiskur

G
5' 10"
Freshman
Lindsey Ingwerson

#31 Lindsey Ingwerson

F
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Reagan Dodd

#32 Reagan Dodd

5' 11"
Sophomore
F
Hailey Dolphin

#35 Hailey Dolphin

5' 7"
Sophomore
G
Lauren Garrison

#25 Lauren Garrison

5' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
G
Jessina Rada

#30 Jessina Rada

5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
G
Meghan Urbanski

#2 Meghan Urbanski

5' 7"
Sophomore
G
Lani Thompson

#40 Lani Thompson

6' 0"
Freshman
F
Daly Sullivan

#22 Daly Sullivan

5' 8"
Junior
G
Molly Hummel

#11 Molly Hummel

6' 0"
Freshman
F
Monika Faerber

#41 Monika Faerber

5' 10"
Junior
F
Abby Girard

#34 Abby Girard

6' 2"
Sophomore
C
Haley Wiskur

#10 Haley Wiskur

5' 10"
Freshman
G
Lindsey Ingwerson

#31 Lindsey Ingwerson

5' 10"
Freshman
F