Coach Raymer leads women’s team into new season

The women’s basketball team has another week before opening its season at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, on Nov. 11. First-year Head Coach Janet Raymer will attempt to improve from last year’s 8-18 finish, 8-14 in the RMAC.
Raymer isn’t a new face to the program, as she served as the coaching assistant for the last two seasons. Raymer’s promotion was announced July 5.
Another familiar face joined the team in a new role. Former player Emma Block is now on the roster as a coaching assistant. Block led the team in 3-point percentage at 34.1 percent last season.
Last season the Eagles averaged more than 61 points per game, but lost a lot of offensive opportunities, averaging 18 turnovers.
The Eagles were picked to finish 12th in the RMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Notable returnees include Keeley Pearce, sophomore of Adelaide, Australia, and Erin Graham, senior of Deland, Florida. Pearce was an efficient shooter last season, shooting 32 percent from the field.
Graham, is an all-around player, utilizing her speed to average more than one steal a game and just under five rebounds, despite here 5-foot-5-inch frame. She also averaged nine points per game, to go along with a 40 percent shooting average.
Other notable returnees include a pair of seniors Maddie Metzger, of Georgetown, Texas, and Havannah Newens, of Mitchell. Metzger stands 5’11” and primarily plays in the post, but can step outside the 3-point line and shoot. Last season in 22 games, she shot 36 percent from the field and 32.3 from long range. Newens also possesses the ability to shoot from outside and shoots 66 percent from the field.
Raymer also brought in a handful of talented transfer students to fill the roster.
Junior Kalli Fedderson, of Rawlins, Wyoming, averaged more than 10 points per game, while playing at Western Nebraska Community College, in Scottsbluff, helping the Cougars win the NJCAA Region IX South Championship.
Another transfer, Kendra Baucom, junior of Colorado Springs, Colorado, joined the team after two seasons at McCook Community College. Standing 6 feet tall, Baucom will be a big help in the paint, filling the shoes vacated by former Eagle star, Maka Daysh. Baucom, led Region IX in rebounds while at MCC, averaging more than 12 per game along with 7.4 points.