TERRE HAUTE —
The Rose-Hulman women’s basketball team didn’t dominate many opponents last season when it ended up with records of 9-18 overall and 6-12 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
But the Engineers did finish on somewhat of a high note. They defeated Manchester 48-37 in the first round of the HCAC tournament, marking their first conference tournament victory in program history. They later were eliminated by powerful Hanover.
“With last year’s team, yeah, our overall record wasn’t very good,” Rose women’s coach Jon Prevo admitted recently. “But it was a situation where we battled. At one point, we had only six healthy bodies for four games. When we got eight bodies toward the end of the year and got healthy, we were pretty good. We beat the 12th-ranked [NCAA Division III] team in the country [Franklin by a 59-52 score], the team that won our league. Then we won our first-ever conference tournament game. So by the end of the year … we were playing our best ball.”
Prevo is hoping that small taste of success can be used to build momentum for the start of this season, which takes place Friday and Saturday in the Emory Tip-Off Tournament at Atlanta.
“We’re not taking any steps backward,” Prevo insisted. “Now we’re building to go forward.”
The Engineers did lose a Division III third-team Academic All-American in Alisa Dickerson to graduation since last season. Dickerson finished No. 2 in points (1,417), No. 3 in rebounds (772), No. 1 in assists (327), No. 4 in steals (142) and No. 3 in blocked shots (140) in school history.
But Prevo and his assistant coaches have brought seven freshmen into the program, giving them a roster with 14 names on it.
“I think we have a chance, with this year’s group, to be better in a lot of different areas and part of that is our depth,” Prevo assessed. “We’re going to be able to rotate a lot of young ladies in and out.”
Opening in the rotation for the first time in more than a year will be 5-foot-7 junior guard Lauren Meadows, who missed the entire 2011-12 campaign with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament that she suffered during the preseason.
“[Rehabilitation] was very tough, but now I’m good to go,” Meadows told the Tribune-Star after a recent practice. “I’m ready to play. I missed [playing basketball] a whole heck of a lot last season. It was very hard to sit and watch my teammates play.”
Prevo, for one, is glad to have Meadows back.
“She will be looked upon to help replace some of the scoring punch we’ll lose with Alisa being gone,” Prevo noted. “Lauren is probably in the best shape of her college career. Coming back from that knee injury, she’s worked extremely hard.”
Returning starters (with their 2011-12 scoring averages in parentheses) are 6-0 junior forward Kelsey Ploof (9.5), 5-5 sophomore guard Sheree Williams (8.5), 5-6 junior guard Heather Finnell (7.3) and 6-0 sophomore forward Gracie Gibbs (5.1). Gibbs also averaged 7.3 rebounds per contest.
“Kelsey worked hard this past summer at getting better with her inside foot work and being able to step out and shoot from the 3-point line,” Prevo pointed out. “She’ll be looked upon to give us a physical presence inside.”
Two key reserves from last season plan to keep contributing — 5-11 sophomore forward Emily Fuhs and 5-10 junior forward Jaci Dalton — but Prevo warned that Rose-Hulman supporters should expect to see several youngsters on the court right off the bat.
“All seven [freshmen], I think, are going to be able to give us production this year,” the Engineers’ coach said, mentioning 5-11 forward Addie Johnson from Michigan as one fans should try to remember.
Two other freshmen — 5-8 guard Cassidy Cain and 5-5 guard Hayley Gilliam — played for the Rose women’s soccer team in the fall.
With this rare mix of veterans and talented newcomers now available for the Engineers, Meadows and Ploof sound impressed with their outlook.
“We’re looking very good,” Meadows emphasized. “We’re progressing every day, getting better. I’m really excited to see what we can do.”
“I’d say we’re definitely building on last year,” Ploof added. “Then with the pieces we’re adding in with our freshmen … I couldn’t be more optimistic about our potential. I think we’re going to really surprise the conference with the players we’ve got coming in.”
As for the HCAC, Prevo thinks Hanover will be difficult to keep from occupying the top spot in the standings, although defending champion Franklin won’t be a pushover to dethrone.
For the record, Rose-Hulman was picked to finish sixth in the conference, according to the annual preseason coaches poll.
“I don’t think any of the [other] coaches took into consideration that Lauren Meadows would be back,” Prevo said in response to that selection. “And nobody knows what anyone’s freshmen are like at this point.”
On a personal note, Prevo said his health is continuing to improve after his 2011 battle with cancer, which was documented in the Tribune-Star last season.
“I’m still cancer-free,” he mentioned. “I’m not propping myself over on a stool like I had to last year. … I’m my old self.”
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Discussion
Rose-Hulman women's basketball preview: Engineers continuing to improve
- Sports
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Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter Intense: West Vigo's #2 Lucas Fagg throws a pitch to the plate during Saturday's championship sectional game against South Vermillion.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
West Vigo won its sectional with a 6-4 victory over South Vermillion on a rainy night at Dick Ballinger Field.
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Seeking elite status
Many stages are set in the long-running drama that is the Indianapolis 500.
The 97th running on the famed oval today has the potential to provide a new four-time champion in Helio Castroneves or Dario Franchitti.
A win for either driver would tie them for the all-time lead in the Indy 500 as A.J. Foyt (1961, ’64, ’67, ’77), Al Unser 1970-71, ’78, ’87) and Rick Mears (1979, ’84, 88, ’91) are atop that mountain with four wins a piece.
While Castroveneves starts in the middle of row three, he and his team won the pit stop competition on Carb Day. The last time Castroneves won the pit stop competition, he won his third Indy 500.
“The field is so close and we have at least 20 cars that are capable to win this race,” Castroneves said. “My previous win, it was actually won on that as well. We were able to execute in the right time and they were able to put me in a very good opportunity to execute.” -
South runs into ‘buzzsaw’ at girls tennis semistate
Postmatch interviews don’t often begin with a coach and a reporter ready to blurt out the same word, but that was the case for Bill Blankenbaker and his interviewer Saturday morning after the Center Grove Semistate for girls high school tennis.
Unfortunately for Blankenbaker’s Terre Haute South team, that word was “buzzsaw.”
Greenwood’s Kawamoto twins made quick work of the top of the Braves’ singles lineup, so despite stellar efforts by both South doubles teams the Woodmen’s 3-2 victory didn’t seem all that close.
Greenwood moves on to Fishers, where it plays Floyd Central or Jasper on Friday in the state quarterfinals.
Also playing Friday, but at Park Tudor, will be South’s Miranda Camp and Nicole Howe, who reached the individual doubles finals for the second straight season by virtue of their 6-4, 6-2 win over the Greenwood team of Taylor Hudnall and Brittany Toney.
“It’s really exciting,” said Howe of the prospect of a second straight finals trip, “but I wish our team could’ve gone with us.”
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Six Sycamores heading to NCAA Track and Field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman punched their tickets Friday to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore. Two more got the job done Saturday on the campus of UNC Greensoboro in the East Preliminary.
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Redneck Quaker: Crappie bait available if you keep looking
For those wanting to catch catfish on the river or crappie in a lake, there is a great place in town to pick up your live bait.
Inland Aquatics is located at 10 Ohio St., at the intersection of the Wabash River and Ohio, but you can’t get to it from Ohio Street. It is easily accessed from Wabash Avenue cul de sac, directly behind the Courthouse. The alternate parking is at the other end of Fairbanks Park from the boat ramp with plenty of room for trucks pulling boat trailers.
They have sold tropical fish for 20 years. There is always feeder goldfish and red wigglers available for the aquarium customers and a lot of fishermen stop to pick up some last-minute bait supplies. They became aware of the need of live bait in Terre Haute since Gander Mountain closed its bait shop. -
Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
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Coach adds regional host to job description
John Hayes has been a familiar face at high school baseball games this spring as he always is, enjoying the games but also looking for players who can help his Wayne Newton Post 346 American Legion team that will start its summer season shortly.
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Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
South Vermillion built an early 7-0 lead late Thursday night, then held off Owen Valley by a 10-4 score to advance to the championship game of the Class 3A West Vigo Sectional for high school baseball.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
- Local Interest
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Tribune-Star/Bob Poynter Intense: West Vigo's #2 Lucas Fagg throws a pitch to the plate during Saturday's championship sectional game against South Vermillion.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
West Vigo won its sectional with a 6-4 victory over South Vermillion on a rainy night at Dick Ballinger Field.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
- High School
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West Vigo back on top of Class 3A baseball sectional
West Vigo won its sectional with a 6-4 victory over South Vermillion on a rainy night at Dick Ballinger Field.
- South runs into ‘buzzsaw’ at girls tennis semistate
- Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
- Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
- West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
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- College
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Six Sycamores heading to NCAA Track and Field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman punched their tickets Friday to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore. Two more got the job done Saturday on the campus of UNC Greensoboro in the East Preliminary.
-
Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent.
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Six Sycamores heading to NCAA Track and Field championships
- Sports Columns
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Redneck Quaker: Crappie bait available if you keep looking
For those wanting to catch catfish on the river or crappie in a lake, there is a great place in town to pick up your live bait.
Inland Aquatics is located at 10 Ohio St., at the intersection of the Wabash River and Ohio, but you can’t get to it from Ohio Street. It is easily accessed from Wabash Avenue cul de sac, directly behind the Courthouse. The alternate parking is at the other end of Fairbanks Park from the boat ramp with plenty of room for trucks pulling boat trailers.
They have sold tropical fish for 20 years. There is always feeder goldfish and red wigglers available for the aquarium customers and a lot of fishermen stop to pick up some last-minute bait supplies. They became aware of the need of live bait in Terre Haute since Gander Mountain closed its bait shop. - RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
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Redneck Quaker: Crappie bait available if you keep looking
- Pro Sports
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Seeking elite status
Many stages are set in the long-running drama that is the Indianapolis 500.
The 97th running on the famed oval today has the potential to provide a new four-time champion in Helio Castroneves or Dario Franchitti.
A win for either driver would tie them for the all-time lead in the Indy 500 as A.J. Foyt (1961, ’64, ’67, ’77), Al Unser 1970-71, ’78, ’87) and Rick Mears (1979, ’84, 88, ’91) are atop that mountain with four wins a piece.
While Castroveneves starts in the middle of row three, he and his team won the pit stop competition on Carb Day. The last time Castroneves won the pit stop competition, he won his third Indy 500.
“The field is so close and we have at least 20 cars that are capable to win this race,” Castroneves said. “My previous win, it was actually won on that as well. We were able to execute in the right time and they were able to put me in a very good opportunity to execute.” - Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
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Seeking elite status
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
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Top guns, again
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