Season Preview: Women’s Basketball boasts balance, depth for 2021-22 season

By Wes Mayberry

| 2021-22 Women's Basketball Schedule | 

ADA — Winners of four consecutive Ohio Athletic Conference regular-season titles from the 2014-15 to 2017-18 seasons, the Ohio Northern women's basketball team is looking to return to those heights in 2021-22.

Coming off a 2020-21 season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Polar Bears are excited to return to the court under second-year head coach Mark Huelsman to build off of their 7-8 record and OAC Tournament semifinal appearance in the spring.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to play a full season," Huelsman said. "We're happy to have fans back in the stands supporting us during games."

The Polar Bears' leading scorer and rebounder from last season, Second-Team All-OAC selection Sydney Ward, has graduated along with fellow 2020-21 starter Emily Brock. But Kate Iliff (Loraine/Steele), Lexi Jacobs (Wapakoneta) and Jaidyn Hale (Lima/Bath) return to the starting lineup as part of a solid senior class.

"Our seniors have worked really hard and have done a really good job of setting a good example to lead our group," Huelsman said.

Joining them is junior Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), who returns as a two-time All-OAC Honorable Mention honoree.

"Brynn has had a good start to her career, and we're hopeful that she continues to improve and has another good year," Huelsman said.

That quartet highlights a list of 12 letter winners returning from last year's roster, which boasted a balanced offensive attack with seven players averaging between five and eight points per game.

"We're going to have a balanced scoring attack, and we want to make it difficult for other teams to score points, which we've been able to do in the past," Huelsman said. "It's all about putting together a team effort at both ends of the floor."

Other key returners include seniors Alissa Stahler (Lima/Shawnee) and Annie Weckesser (Dayton/Chaminade-Julienne) and sophomore Kristen Luersman (Fort Jennings).

The Polar Bears have also welcomed the addition of seven freshmen to the roster.

"Our freshman class has been quick to learn," Huelsman said. "As they adjust to the speed of the game and level of intensity over the course of 40 minutes, it's a group that can have a very bright future here."

Here is a breakdown of the 2021-22 Ohio Northern women's basketball team, by position.

Guards

Serbin, Hale, Jacobs and Weckesser headline the Polar Bears' guard rotation for 2021-22.

Serbin, the 2019-20 OAC Freshman of the Year, was second on the team in scoring with 7.4 points per game and led the team in assists (31) and steals (25) and 3-pointers made (17) in playing all 15 games as a reserve last season. Her 1.7 steals per game ranked seventh in the OAC.

Hale and Jacobs combined to average 10.5 points per game a season ago.

Hale averaged 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while ranking second on the team in free-throw percentage (82.4%) and third in made 3-pointers (11) and steals (19) in playing all 15 games with 13 starts.

Jacobs, who started all 15 games last season, averaged 5.5 points per game and ranked third on the team in assists (25).

Weckesser played in all 15 games and made two starts a season ago, ranking second on the team in assists (28) and steals (22) and tying the third-best mark for free-throw percentage (75%).

Senior Molly Palecek (Wadsworth), junior Kate Newland (Lakeview/Allen East) and sophomore Kasey Knippen (Ottoville) provide depth at the guard position along with freshmen Abi Akamine (Lahaina, Hawaii/Lahainaluna), Jada Benjamin (Parma/Valley Forge), Layla Dials (Willard) and Abby Dickson (Germantown/Valley View).

Forwards

Iliff headlines the Polar Bears' forwards as a returning 15-game starter from last season when she ranked third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding with 6.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Luersman averaged 5.3 points and ranked third on the team in rebounding at 5.1 per game. She shot a team-high 88.9% from the free-throw line and ranked second on the team in field-goal percentage at 49.2%.

Sophomore Peyton Warnecke (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) and freshman Kelsey Siereveld (Liberty Township/Lakota East) round out ONU's forward rotation.

Centers

Stahler, sophomore Grace Dean (Avon/Lake) and freshmen Brooke Allen (Woodville/Woodmore) and Briana Outcalt (Morral/Ridgedale) comprise ONU's center group this season.

Stahler headlines the group after ranking fourth on the team in scoring with 6.2 points per game last season while shooting a team-high 51.4% from the floor and tying for third in free-throw percentage (75%). She averaged 4.1 rebounds per game and added a team-high 13 blocks.

Schedule

The Polar Bears open their 2021-22 season at home on Nov. 13 against Anderson (Ind.) before playing Delaware Valley (Pa.) and Lycoming (Pa.) in the Juniata (Pa.) Classic.

ONU's remaining non-conference schedule includes games against Ohio Wesleyan and No. 3 Trine (Ind.) and a pair of matches in the Bluffton Classic against St. Mary's (Ind.) and Geneva (Pa.) in what Huelsman expects to be a difficult slate.

"Anderson, Ohio Wesleyan and Trine will all finish at or toward the top of their leagues," he said.

The Polar Bears' OAC opener is Dec. 4 at Marietta.

The D3hoops.com Top 25 preseason poll includes two OAC teams — No. 8 John Carroll and No. 21 Baldwin Wallace — but those teams are just the top of what Huelsman described as a deep conference of talented teams.

"The conference is incredibly good, top to bottom," Huelsman said. "There are a lot of returning players, and you have to play well every night to have a chance to win."