Season Preview Segment 2 – Schedule, WHAC & Coaches | Game Notes
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 2 Davenport women's basketball team is less than 24 hours away from officially returning to the court since the NAIA Division II Tournament championship game last March. As third-year head coach Mike Williams prepares his team for three games in South Florida starting Friday at Florida Memorial at 7 p.m., he sat down with the Voice of the Lady Panthers Ken Clemens to talk about his 2013-14 squad. The sports information office broke down the preview into three segments with the final part talking about the team's schedule, being a target to many opponents, including the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, and his coaching staff.
 
Starting the Season on the Road
For the first time in three years, the Panthers will open their season away from the DU Student Center. In fact, they won't christen their home schedule until Nov. 23 against Lourdes. Following the visit to Florida, the Panthers head back up north and will travel to the other side of Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, Wis., to play in a rematch with No. 15 Cardinal Stritch, which the Panthers defeated on two occasions last season including in the second round of the NAIA Division II Tournament last season. After playing the Wolves, the Panthers will then wrap up the road stretch while beginning their WHAC title defense at Marygrove and crosstown rival Cornerstone.
 
Being a Bulls Eye Target
Although head coach Mike Williams lost all five of his starters last season, the WHAC coaches still think Davenport is the team to beat as they predict Davenport to successfully defend the championship for an eighth consecutive time. Several WHAC schools have changed their look in leadership such as Concordia, UM-Dearborn and Lourdes will begin their respective campaign with new head coaches. Other teams, such as Siena Heights and Madonna, are looking to challenge Davenport with their experienced roster. The Saints and Crusaders are predicted to finish second and third in the standings, respectively, according to the preseason poll.
 
About the Coaching Staff
Williams brought back many familiar faces to his staff this season while adding two more to bolster it, including one of his four graduated seniors from last season. Returning to the team are Jori Monnich, a member of Davenport's inaugural women's basketball team in 2002, Jonathan Goei and Brian Morris while joining Williams' staff this season are former Davenport student-athletes Kayla Gross and Russ Rose. Gross, who started all but one game during the national title run last season, will transition to the coaching ranks while Rose, who played on the men's basketball team from 2003-07, returns to Davenport after spending the previous season working at NCAA Division I Central Michigan.
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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