Sarah Hawbaker
Lindsborg News Record

At KCAC Media Day held Oct. 9 in Wichita, Kan., the Bethany College women's basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the KCAC's Media and Coaches Preseason Polls.

The Swedes finished the 2011-2012 season with a 1-17 KCAC record and were 4-25 overall.

"Obviously looking back at last season, it was very frustrating and a very long season," Bethany Head Coach Jim Campion said. He noted that while last year's team was very young with no seniors, he has to "look back and see where we need to get better,"

Campion said the bright spot is that he returns all five starters, which brings experience back.

One of those five starters include junior Tasha Wagoner, from Colby, Kan. Wagoner was a KCAC honorable mention selection, averaging about 12 ppg. Campion's recruiting goal for this season was to build around the other four starters.

Areas of improvement for this year's team include scoring. " When you're scoring 50 points per game you're not going to win despite being competitive," Campion said. He added that as a team, his athletes executed well, they simply couldn't score.

Campion said last year's team was undersized, which just one six-foot player in Heather Eddings, had struggled on the rebounds.

Lastly, Campion said his team must be better defensively.

Campion said he is excited about this year's team, as he brought in two transfers and nine freshman.

One newcomer is Morgan Nelson, a 6'2" post player from Elizabeth High School. There she was a three-time second-team all conference selection, averaging 10.8 ppg her senior season.

Brittany Green, a 6'1" center, comes to Bethany from McPherson College. Prior to McPherson, Green played basketball at Gentry High School (Ark.)

The women's team opens their season Oct. 27 versus Manhattan Christian College. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. in Hahn Gym.

You can listen to Coach Campion's media day talk talk here.

Full Coaches Poll:
Southwestern College, Friends University, Sterling College, Kansas Wesleyan, Ottawa University, Tabor College, McPherson College, University of Saint Mary, Bethany College, Bethel College.

Full Media Poll:
Southwestern College, Sterling College, Friends University, Ottawa University, University of Saint Mary, Kansas Wesleyan, Tabor College, McPherson College, Bethany College, Bethel College.