• DMACC returns nine sophomores from last season
• Bears looking to improve on an 18-12 record in 2022-23
• DMACC will open the home season on November 3

The DMACC women's basketball team begins the 2023-24 season against Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) November 1 at Rochester, Minn.

The Bears will face a team that was 27-1 last season but graduated a host of sophomores with just three on the nine-player roster this season. DMACC, will be a sophomore dominated team with nine second-year players on the 14-player roster.

"We are all ready to get going," said second-year DMACC coach Jocelyn Kovarik, who led the Bears to an 18-12 record in her head coaching debut. "We've got nine sophomores so everything has flowed fairly easily as far as practice is concerned. They are doing a good job of leading the freshmen in the drills and practices. Even in scrimmages it's nice to have those nine familiar faces out there."

Topping the list of returnees are shooting guards Reanna Hutchinson of Eau Claire, Wis., and Jaden Ainley of Clear Lake. Ainley led the Bears in scoring last season, averaging 14.3 points a game, and Hutchinson was second at 10.1 points a game.

"They are really strong guards for us," Kovarik said. "They can score from the outside or inside and they have done a nice job of stepping into that leadership position for us."

Sophomore Kennedy Jones of Oak Park, Ill., has the inside track at point guard and while not a great scoring threat, she brings quickness to the floor.

"She's scoring more than she did last year, but she is so quick," Kovarik said. "She's got the speed that we want to play with at the rate we want to play so we will be utilizing her to get up and down the floor."

Kovarik said sophomore Hallie Mohr of Mediapolis didn't see a lot of playing time last season but has brought a good work ethic to practice and that is starting to pay off for her.

"She works so incredibly hard and feels more comfortable around the hoop," Kovarik said. "Defensively she's getting to the right spot at the right time so she'll be able to step up and do something this year."

Other inside players include guard/forward Eviyon Richardson of Waterloo and sophomore Mary Walker of Fonda. Walker has also been playing softball for DMACC so missed the first month or so of basketball practice.

"Richardson can score in spurts and can shoot from the outside," Kovarik said. "She'll be big for us when we come up against teams that want to be physical.

"Mary Walker has picked everything up quickly. She's one of the fasters players we've ever had and she can shoot outside. She sees the floor really well and knows the game."

Other sophomores on the roster include guard Pearl Reisz of Council Bluffs, forward Rebekah Fuller of Bondurant, forward Adriana Contreras-Gomez of Commerce City, Colo., center Emma Robbins of Kedington, England and center Mallory Behnken of Massena.

Kovarik said Robbins is currently sidelined because of a fractured wrist.

Other freshman on the roster are forward Joy Beran of Riceville, guard Niya McGee of Waterloo and guard Reese Stevens of Tulsa, Okla.

Kovarik said she thinks her team will more of an outside shooting team as opposed to playing an inside game.

"As much as I love our posts I have a whole bunch of confidence in our outside game this year," Kovarik said. "I think we can make some shots so that will be exciting."

Kovarik said her team will continue to push the ball up the floor, but with more speed and control this year.

"I'm really excited about the offense we're running," Kovarik said. "There's a lot of movement and it will be fun to see how that works out.

"And we've been working on our press. Defensively we always want to have that half-court, man-to-man foundation and we're building on that."

Following their game against RCTC, the DMACC women's basketball team will open the home season against Southeast (Neb.) Community College (SECC) on Nov, 3.