Northwestern University Athletics
Senior Captains Impress in Wildcats' Exhibition
11/7/2016 1:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
By Amit Mallik, Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern's three senior captains, Ashley Deary, Christen Inman and Nia Coffey, all set the tone for the upcoming season in the exhibition win on Sunday over Illinois-Springfield.
The Wildcats defeated the Prairie Stars, 84-56, with 49 points coming from the star trio that averaged 24 minutes each on the floor.
"The bar is set so high for them," head coach Joe McKeown said postgame. "But they set it high themselves. They want to be great and they want their legacy to really be something special."
With the team aiming at a return to the NCAA Tournament, the 'Cats are facing a new kind of pressure to capitalize on this year's opportunity. The captains have welcomed the challenge in their final season and their blue-collar mindset was on display Sunday.
Coffey rumbled her way to a 21 point, 15 rebound double-double along with three assists, two blocks, and a steal. She was a force on both ends of the floor and routinely finished through contact, including two and-ones and six trips to the charity stripe.
"With Nia, she always practices like she plays," McKeown said. "With how hard she plays, and how much she contact she gets."
Inman dropped 19 points with two blocks and two steals, and shot 8-of-14 from the field. McKeown said that it looked like Inman had a "little extra spring and pop" in her game.
"The shooting starts in practice for me and I just try to take game-shots," Inman said after the game. "It's about practicing that simulation and carrying it over into the game."
The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was disruptive as ever on defense, and added five steals to go with her nine points, four rebounds and four assists. Deary stuffs the stat sheet often, but was lauded Sunday for her ability to execute the 'Cats offense seamlessly.
"She has taken on the leadership role as a point guard," McKeown said. "We talked before this year about what it takes to play at the next level, what type of decision making that entails, and she embraces that challenge."
All three have individual focuses this season that have drawn a lot of attention.
Nia Coffey was named to the All-Big Ten preseason list and received an All-American honorable mention last season.
Ashley Deary was named to the Nancy Lieberman watch list for the top point guards this year and led the nation in steals last season.
Christen Inman has been a double-digit scorer her entire career, and will help replace the scoring of the now-departed shooting guard Maggie Lyon.
McKeown does not worry about the pressure at all and believes that the success will come collectively because of how hard his captains work.
"It is exciting to see how hungry the seniors are," McKeown said in the preseason. "They have been working for this and they are ready.
While the stakes for the three have never been higher entering their senior year, McKeown trusts their approach and mindset to the game. If Sunday's exhibition was anything to go by, their hunger can take the 'Cats to new heights.
Northwestern's three senior captains, Ashley Deary, Christen Inman and Nia Coffey, all set the tone for the upcoming season in the exhibition win on Sunday over Illinois-Springfield.
The Wildcats defeated the Prairie Stars, 84-56, with 49 points coming from the star trio that averaged 24 minutes each on the floor.
"The bar is set so high for them," head coach Joe McKeown said postgame. "But they set it high themselves. They want to be great and they want their legacy to really be something special."
With the team aiming at a return to the NCAA Tournament, the 'Cats are facing a new kind of pressure to capitalize on this year's opportunity. The captains have welcomed the challenge in their final season and their blue-collar mindset was on display Sunday.
Coffey rumbled her way to a 21 point, 15 rebound double-double along with three assists, two blocks, and a steal. She was a force on both ends of the floor and routinely finished through contact, including two and-ones and six trips to the charity stripe.
"With Nia, she always practices like she plays," McKeown said. "With how hard she plays, and how much she contact she gets."
Inman dropped 19 points with two blocks and two steals, and shot 8-of-14 from the field. McKeown said that it looked like Inman had a "little extra spring and pop" in her game.
"The shooting starts in practice for me and I just try to take game-shots," Inman said after the game. "It's about practicing that simulation and carrying it over into the game."
The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was disruptive as ever on defense, and added five steals to go with her nine points, four rebounds and four assists. Deary stuffs the stat sheet often, but was lauded Sunday for her ability to execute the 'Cats offense seamlessly.
"She has taken on the leadership role as a point guard," McKeown said. "We talked before this year about what it takes to play at the next level, what type of decision making that entails, and she embraces that challenge."
All three have individual focuses this season that have drawn a lot of attention.
Nia Coffey was named to the All-Big Ten preseason list and received an All-American honorable mention last season.
Ashley Deary was named to the Nancy Lieberman watch list for the top point guards this year and led the nation in steals last season.
Christen Inman has been a double-digit scorer her entire career, and will help replace the scoring of the now-departed shooting guard Maggie Lyon.
McKeown does not worry about the pressure at all and believes that the success will come collectively because of how hard his captains work.
"It is exciting to see how hungry the seniors are," McKeown said in the preseason. "They have been working for this and they are ready.
While the stakes for the three have never been higher entering their senior year, McKeown trusts their approach and mindset to the game. If Sunday's exhibition was anything to go by, their hunger can take the 'Cats to new heights.
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