2010-11 Schedule & Results

DATE	OPPONENT	SITE	TIME / SCORE	RADIO
Sun., Oct. 31	vs. Hillsdale College (scrimmage)	Grand Rapids, Mich.	1 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 5	vs. Olivet Nazarene	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7 p.m.
Mon., Nov. 8	@ Bethel College	Mishawaka, Ind.	7 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 10	vs. Huntington College	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7 p.m.
Fri./Sat., Nov.12/13	@ Marian College	Marian, Ind.	TBA
Fri./Sat., Nov. 26/27	@ Olivet College Tournament	Olivet, Mich.	TBA
Wed., Dec. 1	vs. Alma College	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 4	@ Northwestern Ohio	Lima, Ohio	1pm
Wed., Dec. 8	vs. Cornerstone University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 11	@ Indiana Tech University	Fort Wayne, Ind.	1 p.m.
Mon./Tue./Wed., Dec. 27-29	@ St. Xavier University	Chicago, Ill.	TBA
Wed., Jan. 5	@ UM Dearborn	Dearborn, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan 8	vs. Siena Heights University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	1 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 12	@ Concordia University	Ann Arbor, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 15	vs. Davenport University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	1 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 19	vs. Madonna University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 22	vs. Marygrove University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	1 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 26	vs. Northwest Ohio	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 29	@ Cornerstone University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	1 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 2	vs. Indiana Tech University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 5	vs. UM Dearborn	Grand Rapids, Mich.	1 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 9	@ Siena Heights University	Adrian, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 12	vs. Concordia University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	1 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 16	@ Davenport University	Grand Rapids, Mich.	7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 19	@ Madonna University	Livonia, Mich.	1 p.m.

Roster

No.	Photos	Name	Pos	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown/High School (College)
10		Danielle Kapustka	G	5-7	Fr.	Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview
11		Taelor Sanders	G/F	5-8	So.	Dewitt, Mich./Dewitt
13		Liza Flewelling	F	5-11	So.	Grand Blanc, Mich./Flint Powers
14		Jenna Brower	G/F	5-9	Fr.	Hopkins, Mich./Hopkins
21		Marisa Marx	G	5-5	Fr.	Warren, Mich./Warren Woods Tower
22		Clare Conway	G	5-8	So.	Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe South
23		Vicky Vandyke	G/F	5-9	Sr.	Marne, Mich./ Kenowa Hills
24		Alicia Dorko	G	5-4	Fr.	Schoolcraft, Mich./Schoolcraft
31		Nicci Thomas	F	5-10	FR.	Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall
32		Ann Marie Shumaker	G	5-8	Jr.	Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven
33		Ashlie Bustillos	G	5-5	Fr.	Holland, Mich./Holland West Ottawa
34		Shelby Carter	F/C	5-11	So.	Byron Center, Mich./Calvin College
40		April Feldpausch	F	5-9	Sr,	Pewamo, Mich./Pewamo- Westphalia
42		Lindsey Karpowicz	F/C	6-0	So.	Grandville, Mich./Grandville
52		Carly Bardwell	F	5-10	Fr.	Allendale, Mich./Allendale

Coaches

	LINDA NASH Head Coach -- Entering her 14th year at Aquinas College, Head Coach Linda Nash is looking to build on a solid foundation with the return of seven varsity players that all experienced quality playing time last season. The Saints are coming off their fourth consecutive 20+ winning season and a trip to the NAIA national tournament for the second time in the last four years.

	Last season, Nash notched her 200th career victory and the Saints qualified for the national tournament by stringing together a seven game winning streak to capture the WHAC Tournament championship and an automatic berth to Sioux City, Iowa. The Saints have been ranked in the top 25 in the nation for three straight years and they have proven that they are an elite program in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).

	Although the Saints graduated three starters, the cupboard is far from bare for the Saints. Nash comments , "We have a solid group of veterans. We graduated three seniors that left a big impact on the program. Our philosophy is to reload. There's always someone in the background looking to fill vacancies and this year will be no different. It's a team game and we strive for balance. We are at our best when we have four players averaging in double figures."

	Nash is adamant that she uses basketball to learn about life and to become a stronger individual. This past spring, Nash spent ten very challenging days with a group of students from Aquinas College in Haiti. "I literally felt like I was counting the seconds on some days hoping for the sun to go down. It was so hot and my eyes were not prepared for some of the things that I witnessed even though I had been there before. My travel gives me perspective. I teach perspective to my team. When the going gets tough, there's always someone there to pick you up. That's what a team is all about. We all have the ability in us to hopefully make the world a better place. That's what makes me the happiest when I talk to former players that have come through the program...doing good things!", says Nash.

	Nash prepped at local Kenowa Hills High School and she was a member of their inaugural class inducted into the Hall of Fame. She had her basketball jersey retired. After high school, Nash was a four year starting point guard for Central Michigan University where she earned a double major in Psychology and Physical Education.

	Upon graduation from CMU, Nash then headed south to Cookeville, Tenn. where she earned a Masters Degree in Health and Physical Education from Tennessee Tech University. While at Tech, Nash worked with current WNBA head coach Marynell Meadors of the Atlanta Dream. The Golden Eagles women's basketball program is one the premier programs in the country, ranked seventh in the nation in most wins all-time in Division I. Nash then moved to Houston, Texas, where she served as an assistant coach at Rice University for three years.

	Nash then spent two years in Boston, Mass. working in the Health Club industry. After a short stint in Lansing, Mich. working at the Michigan Athletic Club (The MAC) as a manager, Nash moved back to her hometown realizing her true love was in the gym and coaching basketball. The rest is history and Nash says she is having the time of her life!

	CORALYN "CORKY" NYSSEN Assistant Coach -- Coralyn "Corky" Nyssen begins her first year as an assistant coach with women's basketball program. Nyssen, a standout prep player from Wayland High School, was a premier player in the area during her prep years. She continued her education and playing career at Lake Superior State University. She was a 3 year starter for the Lakers, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Management. Nyssen most recently was the girl's varsity basketball coach at Hopkins High School. Prior to Nyssens's coaching stint at Hopkins, the program had enduring a five game winning season. While at the helm of the program, Nyssen guided her team to three consecutive district finals. Head Coach Linda Nash comments, "I am so excited to be working with Corky. She is very enthusiastic and we share similar coaching philosophies. She was a great player and she did an outstanding job coaching at the high school level. Her teams were fundamentally sound and they played with a lot of heart."

	Nyssen will coordinate the recruiting efforts for the Saints and will assist with on the court coaching responsibilities. She is married to Dave Nyssen and they have two daughters, Amber and Paige. Paige is a freshman at Aquinas College and Amber is a junior at Byron Center High School.

Season Outlook

The women's basketball team completed the 2009-10 season with a 21-12 record and a second place finish in the WHAC behind Davenport University. Coach Nash's Saints have won 20+ games in five out of the last six years and have competed at the NAIA national tournament in Sioux City, Iowa four out of the last five years. This year the "cardiac kids", defied all odds with a nine player roster that included four freshmen. Nash comments, "This was a special year for our program. We lost a couple of players to academic issues and we were competitive the majority of the season with a nine player roster. The players never gave up and as the season progressed we became a solid unit. We didn't have a home court and we only practiced once at Grand Rapids Community College where we played our home games. All and all, I thought it was a very gutsy performance by our players and I was very proud of the way our first year players progressed and meshed with our veterans. Joslyn Narber finished her career out in outstanding fashion and was a great leader with our other senior Kaitlin Lang."

This year's team was led by senior Joslyn Narber who finished her career as the all-time scoring leader for Aquinas College with 2184 points. She led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals and garnered first team All-American status for her efforts. Not only did she become the Saint's leading scorer, but she also became the all-time scoring leader for collegiate women's basketball in the Grand Rapids area, surpassing Mary Randall of Grand Valley State University. Narber was also selected as the WHAC player of the year and closed out her career as a three-time All-American.

The Saint's capitalized on their at-large bid to the NAIA National tournament and posted the only upset in the first round of the tournament, defeating the University of St. Francis. The Saints entered the contest as a number seven seed and defeated number two seeded St. Francis in an overtime thriller. Freshman Taelor Sanders went coast to coast with 8 seconds to go in regulation play and hit a left handed hook shot as time expired. The Saints eventually prevailed in overtime with a 67-65 victory.

In the Sweet Sixteen round, the Saints faced eventual National Champion runner-up, Shawnee State University. The Saints battled tough and with less than two minutes of play it was a two point game. Eventually the depth of Shawnee wore the Saints down and the final score was 66-72. Other high-lights, freshman, Taelor Sanders (DeWitt HS), who earned 3rd team WHAC All-Conference honors. The future looks bright for the Saints who return seven veteran players and will be joined by an outstanding group of newcomers to the program.

The summer's focus is on conditioning and weight training. Nash concludes, "We need to build on our success and the only way you become a stronger program is by committing in the summer to become a stronger athlete. Our players will be on a rigorous training program and the competition will be fierce next season. We will have a young, but athletic group coming in. That was the focus of our recruiting this year…speed, quickness and athleticism. I think we have it, now we need to mesh it all into a cohesive working unit."