1999-2000 St. Olaf Women's Basketball
1998-99: 19-6, 18-4 MIAC (third place)

College College Information
School: St. Olaf College
Founded: 1874
Location: Northfield
Enrollment: 3,000
President: Mark U. Edwards Jr.
Athletic Director: Cindy Book
Team Name: Oles
Colors: Black and Old Gold

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Head Coach Pat Buresh

Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Pat Buresh
Alma Mater: Valley City State College
Starting: 12th season
Record at St. Olaf: 131-146
All-time record/years: 181-222/17 years
Coach Buresh's phone: (507) 646-3258
Assistants: Gary Schnobrich, Judy Stromayer
 

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Sports Information
S.I.D: Scott King
Office Phone: (507) 646-3834
Home Phone:
Fax: (507) 646-3033
Email Address:  kings@stolaf.edu
Website: http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/
 

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 1998-99 game by game results
19-6 overall, 18-4 MIAC, 3rd Place
1998-99 Results
Northwestern (W, 73-71)
Macalester (W, 64-43)
Saint Benedict (L, 71-77)
St. Catherine (W, 110-50)
Luther (L, 66-81)
UW-Whitewater (L, 49-61)
St. Thomas (L, 47-62)
Saint Mary's (W, 74-62)
Gustavus (W, 95-72)
Bethel (W, 69-59)
Concordia (L, 74-104)
Augsburg (W, 86-55)
Hamline (W, 68-53)
Carleton (W, 84-62)
Macalester (W, 76-48)
Saint Benedict (L, 59-73)
St. Catherine (W, 77-60)
Saint Mary's (W, 68-66)
Gustavus (W, 84-78)
Bethel (W, 70-59)
Concordia (W, 73-68)
Hamline (W, 61-59)
Carleton (W, 75-63)
St. Thomas (W, 56-55)
Augsburg (W,84-78)
 
 

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1999-2000 Schedule
Nov. 29: at Northwestern, 5 p.m.
Dec. 4: at Macalester, 1 p.m.
Dec. 8: Saint Benedict, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 11: at St. Catherine, 3 p.m.
Dec. 29: at Luther, 7 p.m.
Dec. 30: UW-Eau Claire (at Luther Tournament), 5 p.m.
Jan. 3: St. Thomas, 7:30
Jan. 5: at Saint Mary's, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8: at Gustavus, 3 p.m.
Jan. 10: Bethel, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 12: Concordia, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 15: at Augsburg, 3 p.m.
Jan. 17: at Hamline, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: at Carleton, 6 p.m.
Jan. 22: Macalester, 1 p.m.
Jan. 26: at Saint Benedict, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 29: St. Catherine, 3 p.m.
Feb. 2: Saint Mary's, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5: Gustavus, 3 p.m.
Feb. 9: at Bethel, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12: at Concordia, 1 p.m.
Feb. 16: Hamline, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19: Carleton, 7 p.m.
Feb. 23: at St. Thomas, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 26: Augsburg, 3 p.m.

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Brief Player & Team Information
Last year 19-6 overall, 18-4 MIAC, 3rd Place
Starters Returning: 1
Letterwinners Returning: 6

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Top Returning Players
Carrie Cooley (So., G)
Alicia Harrison (Sr., F)
Elisa Hatlevig (Jr., C)
Amanda Renneke (So., G/F)
Nicole Trnka (So., G)
Angie Williams (Sr., G)
Liz Woodrow (So., F)
 

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Key Newcomers
Mayme Cupkie (Fr., C)
Lisa Eidenschink (Fr., C)

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Key Player Losses
Cara Battles (transfer)
Erin Collins (All-MIAC)
Jana Ferguson
Lara Giebelstein
Steph Hemmingson
Ann Schultz (honorable-mention All-MIAC)
Natalie Siefer (All-MIAC)
Maija Sulerud (studying abroad)

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Season Outlook/Notes:
by School's SID Scott King

       NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- Plenty of new faces will dot the St. Olaf College women's basketball roster when the Oles open their season Nov. 29 with a nonconference game against Northwestern of Roseville.

        Gone from the team are six graduated seniors, including All-MIAC performers Natalie Siefer (12.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Erin Collins -- last year's MIAC leader in assists (4.5 apg) and three-point shooting (41-of-117, 35%) -- and honorable-mention selection Ann Schultz. In addition, Maija Sulerud (studying abroad) and Cara Battles (transfer) will not return.

        To say St. Olaf fans will thoroughly need to browse through their game program is an understatement.

        "Obviously this is a rebuilding year for us," said St. Olaf head coach Pat Buresh, who led the Oles to a 19-6 record last year. "My biggest concern is our youth. Pick a team in the MIAC that lost as many people as we did. Now we have to start all over. But I know our expectations are different than what other people may be thinking about us."

        The Oles' rebuilding process will start with tri-captains Alicia Harrison (Sr., 5-11 forward, Wichita, Kan.), Elisa Hatlevig (Jr. 5-11 post, Rushford, Minn.) and Angie Williams (Sr., 5-7 guard, Shoreview, Minn.). Harrison is the Oles' only returning starter.

        "Alicia and Elisa are both post players who will have to score more for us," Buresh said. "Both are very tough, physical players whose roles will change this year.

        "Angie has always been a role player, and her responsibilities will be increased this year, too. She's a good leader and a great three-point shooter. She has always stepped in when somebody plays zone against us and been able to make some shots."

        The Oles also welcome back the return of several other key returnees, all sophomores. They include 5-10 guard Nicole Trnka (Morristown, Minn.),  5-6 point guard Carrie Cooley (Villard, Minn.), 5-9 forward Liz  Woodrow (Aitkin, Minn.) and 5-8 wing Amanda Renneke (Northfield, Minn.).

        Buresh said it is especially important for Trnka and Woodrow to step up their play.

        "Nicole and Liz are going to have to become consistent scorers," said Buresh, who has a 131-146 record entering her 12th year at St. Olaf. "Nicole did a lot of nice things as a first-year player last year. She runs the floor well, can hit the three and is a super intense player. I like the way she plays.

        "And Liz is a real fun player to watch. She's a pretty good one-on-one player, and she is our best free-throw shooter. We'll have her attacking the basket."

        A pair of first-year players figure to earn time in the Oles' playing rotation. Buresh is high on 5-11 post Lisa Eidenschink (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) and 6-2 post Mayme Cupkie (Owatonna, Minn.). Eidenschink may be the newcomer most ready to contribute.

        "Lisa gives us some versatility," Buresh said. "She has great range with the three-pointer, is a strong rebounder and is a very physical player. I look for her to be a key player."

        Even though the Oles suffered severe personnel losses, don't expect them to drop to the lower reaches of the MIAC. Buresh always emphasizes defense and rebounding first. That certainly will be the case again in 1999-2000.

        "We always stress defense," Buresh said. "Defensively, we believe there should be no off nights. When you have such a young group like we have this year, the offense won't always click. That's where defense comes in.

        "We've been successful using that philosophy. I'm confident we have a great group of people who will work hard. Talent aside, that's where it starts with me. Our cohesiveness and the willingness to put the work in -- that's the kind of environment we want to create."

        The Oles' 18-4 MIAC mark last season, including wins in their final nine games,   will be difficult to duplicate. Yet despite the team's relatively limited game experience, the Oles won't concede a big drop-off in the standings.

        "Our goal is to finish in the top half of the league," said Buresh, whose Oles finished third in the MIAC last season behind NCAA Tournament qualifiers Saint Benedict and St. Thomas. "That's a lofty goal considering what everybody has coming back, but we'll go after it. This team will be tenacious because we have a lot of competitors."

        St. Olaf is a four-year, co-educational liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) with a student enrollment of 2,998 and a full-time faculty of 257. The college is known nationally for its art, music, science, pre-medicine, mathematics, pre-law, international studies and religion curricula. It is one of Money Guide's top 100 "elite values in college education today," and it leads the nation's colleges in number of students who study abroad.
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Preseason Roster

Jamie Bown (So), 6-1, St. Paul, Minn.
Carrie Cooley (So), 5-6, Villard, Minn.
Mayme Cupkie (Fy), 6-2, Owatonna, Minn.
Lisa Eidenschink (Fy), 5-11, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Emily Gantzkow-Wold (Fy), 6-1, Madison, Wis.
Emily Hamann (Jr), 5-6, Lakeville, Minn.
Alicia Harrison (Sr), 5-11, Wichita, Kan.
Elisa Hatlevig (Jr), 5-11, Rushford, Minn.
Jillian Helseth (Fy), 5-9, Hartford, S.D.
Shelly Hoffner (Fy), 5-9, Brooklyn Center, Minn.
Sarah Martin (Fy), 5-9, Northfield, Ill.
Liz Mundahl (Fy), 5-9, Eagan, Minn.
Amanda Renneke (So), 5-8, Northfield, Minn.
Katie Riggs (Fy), 5-7, Joplin, Mo.
Jessica Rother (Fy), 5-11, Golden, Colo.
Nicole Trnka (So), 5-10, Morristown, Minn.
Christina Werenicz (Fy), 5-7, St. Anthony, Minn.
Angie Williams (Sr), 5-7, Shoreview, Minn.
Liz Woodrow (So), 5-9, Aitkin, Minn.
 
 

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This page is maintained by the Concordia Sports Information Office  in cooperation with all the MIAC SIDs | pyle@cord.edu |