Shahana Williams
Hall of Fame coach has team shooting for seventh national title
Despite losing two of their top three scorers from a year ago, anticipation runs high for the Kirkwood Community College women’s basketball team for the 2012-13 season. The Eagles were (32-4) a year ago and won their 16th straight conference title before winning the Region XI championship and qualifying for the Division II national tournament.
Leading the charge this season is last year’s top scorer, sophomore Kiana Jacobs. She averaged 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore sharpshooting guard Bianca Dufelmeier averaged 9.3 points-per-game, while knocking down a team high 76 three-pointers. Dufelmeier also led the team in assists with 115. Aisle Quinlan, who has been slowed by injuries this preseason, averaged 7.8 points and knocked down 73 three-pointers during her freshman season last year. Other returning sophomores include post-players Friday Choul, Whitney Henderson, and Krissi Tow, and guard Tara Gray.
New additions to this season’s team include sophomores Alexis Fitzpatrick and Whitney Rohrbach. Fitzpatrick transferred from Cincinnati State Junior College in Cincinnati, OH and looks to be the team’s point guard. Rohrbach played for the Eagles two seasons ago before sitting out last season.
Freshmen newcomers include Shahana Williams from 4A State champion Iowa City West, Sierra Chambers who played for Iowa City High, Mikayla Fallon of East Moline, IL, Lexi Hobbs from Peoria, IL, Jerica Hawkins of Decatur, IL and Haley Faber of Clive, Iowa.
Head Coach Kim Muhl enters his 24th season with the Eagles. He has an astounding 681-123 record during his tenure, including an incredible 288-25 home record. He is the reigning NJCAA Region XI Coach of the Year and has six national championships under his belt. Joining him on the coaching staff are Joe Hruska and Jen Francescon. Hruska is entering his 25th season with Kirkwood. Francescon is a former player under Coach Muhl and begins her fifth season as an assistant coach.
Kirkwood opens the regular season in the Southeastern Community College Classic in Burlington, Iowa on Nov. 2-3 against Highland Community College and Lewis & Clark Community College, before returning to Johnson Hall on Nov. 9 for the Kirkwood Classic.