—Photo by Paul DeCoursey Sophomores for the Iowa Central women’s basketball team are, left to right, Rachel Toto, Emma O’Donoghue and Sarah Rolling.

Kelly Kruger begins his second season in charge of the Iowa Central women’s basketball team with a roster much more to his liking.

Kruger and the Tritons went 12-18 a year ago, including a 4-10 mark in the rugged ICCAC.

Now, with 13 incoming freshmen, Kruger is hoping to use his depth to put pressure on the opposition night in and night out like Iowa Central fans are used to seeing.

“We think we had a decent recruiting season, but you never know until you see how it all turns out,” Kruger said. “I feel like we are more athletic, have a little bit more perimeter scoring, and have better shooters.”

North Union graduate Sarah Rolling and Rachel Toto are the only players back for the Tritons, with Emma O’Donoghue joining them from Ireland.

“We want to get up and down the court, but we can’t do it by being careless with the ball,” Kruger said. “When we are focused, we can play pretty decent on defense — we just have to work on developing more consistent habits.”

Rolling played in all 30 games, averaging just under nine points and four rebounds. She shot 52 percent from the field and blocked 10 shots.

Toto started 24 of 29 games she played in, scoring 7.6 points and dishing out three assists per night. She led the team with 41 made three-pointers and also had 27 steals.

“Both Sarah and Rachel have been through a season and understand what we expect out of our players,” Kruger said. “They don’t want to be 12-18 again because that was hard enough. They have really embraced the new group and have done a good job of leading them the right way and by example.”

Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Justice Crooks and former Humboldt all-stater Avery Terwilliger headline the new players along with five other former Iowa preps.

Crooks averaged 11 points and shot 50 percent from the field for the Dodgers last year. She also had 45 assists, 40 steals, made 30 three-pointers and averaged six rebounds a night.

“We knew coming in that we were getting a very good athlete on both side of the floor with Justice,” Kruger said. “She played the game the right way at FDSH and is a go-getter.

“Over the past three weeks, she has been very consistent for us. It’s a big learning curve from high school to college, but she has the right attitude and comes to work every day.”

Terwilliger, who originally committed to Wartburg College, led the Wildcats in points (13.5), assists (124) and steals (45) last year. She also made 79 of 100 free throws. She will be eligible to play in January.

“Avery was a very welcome addition,” Kruger said. “It will be great to have her on the court after the first of the year.”

Bailey Stroud of Columbus Junction joins the Tritons after averaging 16.6 points and 6.3 rebounds last year. She also had 115 steals in just 22 games and made 38 triples. Cherokee’s Makenna Carver posted 14.6 points, 64 steals, shot 42 percent from the field and sank 45 three-pointers last year.

Jescenia Mosley, who played at Essex, led her team at 16.4 points per game. She attempted 394 field goals and also had 7.6 rebounds a night to go with 68 steals and 54 assists.

Ottumwa grad Jaylin Carter averaged seven points a two assists last year and Kaitlin Savary from Sergeant Bluff-Luton posted seven points and six boards.

“Brittany West, Mardaeja Cross, Makenna and Kira Ward have all really done a nice job through the preseason,” Kruger said. “I really like this group and am anxious to see our growth over the first two months of the season.

“I really feel like once conference time rolls around, we will be ready.”

The preseason NJCAA Div. II poll was released recently, with ICCAC favorite and defending national champion Kirkwood holding the top spot. NIACC is rated ninth and DMACC 15th.

Iowa Central opens its season at home on Thursday against the Grand View JV at Hodges Fieldhouse. The first league game is set for Jan. 13 vs. Kirkwood.

Kruger will be assisted by Candice Followwell.

IOWA CENTRAL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Roster

Sophomores

Emma O’Donoghue, Ireland; Sarah Rolling, North Union; Rachel Toto, Des Moines Lincoln.

Freshmen

Jaylin Carter, Ottumwa; Makenna Carver, Cherokee; Mathilde Couppe De K Martin, Guadeloupe; Justice Crooks, Fort Dodge; Mardaeja Cross, Illinois; Mackinze Gray, Missouri; Jescenia Mosley, Essex; Krystalynn Okinaka, Hawaii; Kaitlin Savary, Sergeant Bluff-Luton; Bailey Stroud, Columbus Junction; Avery Terwilliger, Humboldt; Kira Ward, South Dakota; Brittany West, Minnesota.

Schedule

Nov. 2 — Grand View JV; 6 — at Central-Columbus; 10 — vs. Illinois Central in Cedar Rapids; 11 — at Kirkwood Classic; 15 — at Little Priest Tribal; 19 — at Grand View JV; 20 — Graceland JV; 26 — South Australia.

Dec. 1 — Central-Columbus; 2 — Northeast; 6 — Briar Cliff JV; 9 — Marshalltown; 13 — at Northeast; 16 — Little Priest Tribal.

Jan. 2 — Luther JV; 10 — at Iowa Western; 13 — Kirkwood; 17 — Southwestern; 20 — at NIACC; 24 — Iowa Lakes; 27 — at Southeastern; 31 — at DMACC.

Feb. 3 — Ellsworth; 10 — at Kirkwood; 14 — Southwestern; 17 — NIACC; 21 — at Iowa Lakes; 24 — Southeastern; 28 — DMACC.

March 3 — at Ellsworth.