BLOOMINGTON, MINN. – November is often associated with many things in the world of college sports. The fall season is winding down, and NCAA Championship Tournaments are underway for many teams that have been competing since August. Of course, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, where student-athletes and fans alike can give thanks for either the marvelous season to come or the great season that has been.
However, there is one event in November that stands out above everything else: the start of college basketball season. While Division I schools started competing last weekend, the St. Catherine University basketball team and several other Division III institutions across America will kick off their respective seasons this week. In fact, the Wildcats will open the season on Wednesday, November 15 with a 7 p.m. home game against the University of Northwestern-St. Paul Eagles.
There's plenty for St. Kate's to be excited about coming in to the 2017-18 season. The Wildcats are coming off their best season in over 10 years, as they qualified for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff Tournament for the first time since 2009-10. St. Kate's was projected to just miss the playoffs in the MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, as the team was selected to finish eighth in the conference standings at the end of the season.
St. Kate's basketball team will also look a little different this season, as first-year head coach Don Mulhern takes over the program after an impressive tenure at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Several Wildcats are also ready to stand in and fill the shoes of LaShay Holt (Humboldt, Minn. / Humbolt), Mari Lee (Dawson, Minn. / Dawson-Boyd) and Kennedy Jennings (Grimes, Iowa / Dallas Center-Grimes), who graduated from St. Kate's last season as the most successful class in program history. Holt graduated as a five-time school record holder, while both Lee and Jennings etched their names into the Wildcat record books over the years.
Meet the 2017-18 St. Kate's basketball team, in 140 characters or less:
2 - Brooke Torvik (Fy.; Guard; Rice, Minn. / Sauk Rapids-Rice)
First year guard from Rice, Minnesota. Won multiple awards during high school career, including team MVP. 4x All-Conference HM Honoree.
3 - Sam Skwarek (So.; Guard; St. Anthony, Minn. / St. Anthony)
Played in 16 games as a first year and made two starts, primarily as perimeter player. Also member of SCU softball team.
4 - Morgan Kurth (Fy.; Forward; Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson)
Led Hutchinson to state appearance in 2016-17. Voted team captain as a senior and was a 2x All-Conference honoree.
5 – Ashley Fosness (Fy.; Guard; Britton, S.D. / Britton-Hecla)
First South Dakotan to play at St. Kate's in 10+ years. Earned multiple awards during high school, including team MVP and All-Conference.
10 – Katherine Rike (Fy.; Guard; Pine City, Minn. / Pine City)
Four-year letter winner during career at Pine City. Voted team captain as a senior. Sister Ruth plays tennis at St. Kate's.
11 – Danica Cambrice (So.; Guard; Minneapolis, Minn. / St. Croix Lutheran)
MIAC All-First Year Team 2016-17. Ranked 3rd on the team in points (170), rebounds (96) and blocks (12). Also ranked top-5 in steals (34).
12 – Meg Clark (Sr.; Guard; Kenyon, Minn. / Kenyon-Wanamingo)
Played 16 games and made 14 starts in junior season. Scored 41 total points was fourth on the team in assists (35). Sister/twin is Audra.
13 – Audra Clark (Sr.; Guard; Kenyon, Minn. / Kenyon-Wanamingo)
2016-17 All-MIAC Honoree. Led the team/ranked top-5 in MIAC in scoring (14.7), total points (381), assists (96) and minutes played (811).
15 – Jackie Radford (So.; Forward; St. Paul, Minn. / Cretin-Derham Hall)
Transferred mid-season in 2016-17 and made immediate impact. Shot 50% from the floor and 83.3% from free throw line.
20 – Jaelyn Miltz (So.; Forward; Monticello, Minn. / Monticello)
Played in 14 games as a first year for average of 7.3 minutes per game. Scored 15 points and made 18 rebounds.
21 – Emma Nelson (So.; Guard; Byron, Minn. / Byron)
Appeared in three games for St. Kate's during rookie season. Also a member of St. Kate's volleyball team.
22 – Bailee Sillman (Fy.; Guard; Chippewa Falls, Wis. / Chippewa Falls)
One of three first years from Wisconsin. Earned multiple awards for basketball & softball at Chippewa Falls. Also member of SCU softball team.
24 – Alexis Garcia (Sr.; Forward; Minnetonka, Minn. / Hopkins)
Returning for fourth and final season with the Wildcats. Ranked top-five on the team in scoring and 3-point shooting in 2016-17.
25 – Mackenzie Dettman (Fy.; Forward; Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson)
First year from Hutchinson, Minnesota. Lead high school team to state appearance in 2016-17.
31 – Kaitlyn Struemke (Fy.; Forward; Somerset, Wis. / Somerset)
3x All-Conference honoree during career at Somerset. Will also compete for St. Kate's track and field team.
32 – Jacqueline Boarman (Fy.; Guard; Minneapolis, Minn. / Washburn)
Named team MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference as a senior at Washburn. Also named to Inner City All-Star Team.
44 – Kassidy Jenkins (Fy.; Center; Hudson, Wis. / Hudson)
Earned Academic All-Conference honors in both volleyball and basketball during career at Hudson.
Head Coach: Don Mulhern
First season with St. Kate's. All-time winningest coach in UW-Superior history. 2x WIAC and UMAC Coach-of-the-Year.
