The Taylor women's basketball team is looking to bounce back after a 7-21 campaign last year.
The Trojans struggled in conference play, posting a 2-16 record, putting them in the basement of the Crossroads League, with their lone wins coming against Bethel. Last season marked the first time the Trojans finished last place in Crossroads League play since the establishment of the league.
Coach Cassie Wiseman is in her third year as Taylor’s head coach.. She has created a theme with her team of 10 to 1, climbing the ladder from last place in the conference to first place this season. With a young roster with only two seniors, she is excited about where the program is before the season begins and how they have embraced each other.
“We have to show up every day to get better,” Coach Wiseman said. And I think they're really buying into that. So it's been really encouraging just to see that come together.”
For this season, the Trojans retained seven players from last year.
Sophomore Emma Fohl is a key returner for the Trojans and is prone to make a big impact. Last year as a freshman, she averaged 7.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 3.4 APG.
Whitney Warfel and Quinn Kelly are also two key returners who are also difference-makers.
Warfel, a junior, who in her first year at Taylor was second on the team in scoring last year with 11.1 PPG and third in rebounds with 3.8 a game.
Kelly, one of two seniors on the roster, led the team in rebounding last year with 5.6 rebounds per game and averaged 9.0 points a game. She aims to be a key leader for the young Taylor team, drawing on the guidance she received from previous players.
“I had great leaders my freshman and sophomore year, coming into an environment where they already set the tone of spirituality, academics, athletics, all of those kinds of things,” Kelly said. “They set the path for me, and I am just trying to take on what they provided for me and being that, as well as being a vocal leader on the court and making sure that these girls get their time to shine.”
The Trojans brought in five freshmen, all of whom are expected to play big roles for the Trojans.
Marissa Trout is one of those freshmen. Trout, who is from Warren, Ind., previously played at Huntington North High School. At HNHS, she was a 1000-point scorer and was an Honorable Mention All-State Performer. She is expected to play a lot of minutes for Taylor.
Trout has been adjusting to the difference from high school basketball to the high-paced college level. However, she is really looking forward to the season and stepping up when called on by Coach Wiseman.
“It's definitely been a push and a grind all the time,” Trout said. “Basically, the biggest thing is just the pace of the game, with the shot clock obviously making it a lot faster, and trying to adjust to be able to run faster and get up and down, get in shape. And also, knowing how to mesh with the team we have now has been the biggest adjustment.”
Casey Warfel, an Indiana All-Star from Pendleton Heights High School, is expected to be in a big scoring role for Taylor. Emma Ancelet and Madi Allen are also set for some big minutes for the Trojans, per Coach Wiseman.
Having younger competitive players has really helped strengthen the level of competition the Trojans practice with.
“They're really good high school players, and they've brought that competitiveness, that competition, that competitive spirit to our practices, to make us a whole lot better,” Coach Wiseman said.
The Trojans brought in two transfers as well, who are bound to have a big impact.
Sophia Morrison is a sophomore transfer from conference foe Grace College. She returns to Grant County after attending Eastbrook High School before going to Grace. With the Lancers last year, she averaged 9.3 ppg and shot 35.5% from the three-point line in 23 games.
Another big transfer for the Trojans is Celina Blout.
Blout, who is 6’1”, transferred from the NCAA Division I program at College of Charleston. She only appeared in 14 games for the Cougars, but is a dominant post player.
The Trojans began their season on Saturday, October 25 in Notre Dame, Ind., taking on the Holy Cross Saints. Their home opener at Odle Arena is set for Saturday, November 1st, against IU South Bend, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
