Struggles continue for young women's basketball squad

Simply put, it's been a tough year for Coach Bobbi Vandenberg's women's basketball team. The V-Hawks currently carry a record of 6-21, 2-11 in the MCC Conference. With two separate losing streaks of five games or more, the team has had a hard time gaining any momentum throughout the season.
One of the biggest issues for the team has been its struggle to knock down shots on a consistent basis. The team is shooting 36 percent from the field and just 24 percent on three pointers.
Coach Vandenberg points out that injuries have played a big part in contributing to those statistics, as freshman sharpshooter Kenzie Kolb went down with an ACL injury after just two games. Brooke Anderson, the expected starting point guard and also a good shooter, also tore her ACL—in the first half of the first game of the year. Without those jump shooting threats, teams have double and triple teamed senior post players Katina Mandylaris and Joni Stanek.
Turnovers have also been a major problem, as the V-Hawks average five more per game than their opponents. The injury to Anderson also played a role into that, as Vandenberg said, "She was our leader and our ‘quarterback.' We have had three freshmen rotating at the point since then and the results have been inconsistent due to their inexperience, not their effort. In my opinion, having an established point guard is the most critical need for success."
The youth of the team—there are eight freshmen on the roster—has undoubtedly been difficult to overcome.
When asked about the lack of experience on much of the roster, Vandenberg said, "Youth has impacted our team greatly--in good ways and some not so good ways. They're very talented, hungry and energetic. They bring a lot to practice and they're only going to get better. They've been forced into action, and at times are unsure, especially when the opponent gives them a lot of different looks. Turnovers have really hurt us because of this uncertainty. The experience they are gaining, however, is going to be invaluable in the future."
As far as the rest of the season goes, the V-Hawks believe they still have plenty to work for. While Vandenberg admits that their record thus far has been a disappointment, the team hopes to peak in the MCC tournament and make a run there. The team will close their regular season with a home game on Feb. 20 against conference opponent William Penn