A first-time Division I conference affiliation, a new coach and new hope will play prominent roles in the 1993-94 Northeastern Illinois women’s basketball program.
Coach Denise Taylor’s Golden Eagles will join five others to compose the East Coast Conference. The possibility of a league regular-season or tournament championship will fuel Northeastern.
“We want to build the program to where we play for championships every year,” said Taylor, who comes to Chicago after a two-year stint at American International. “We can do that here in our first season.”
Taylor inherits three starters from last year’s 5-23 squad.
Senior Pam Osterbink has started all 83 games in her Northeastern career, including 28 last year. The native of Kewaskum, Wis., led the team in scoring (14.7 average), rebounds (7.8) and minutes (34.6) last season. The Golden Eagles will need a big season out of the 6-foot-1-inch center to improve on last year’s numbers.
Seniors Cyndie Donner (10.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals) and Shelly Hurst (9.5 points, 69 three-pointers) will also need to make significant contributions for the Golden Eagles to move forward.
Team health could play the biggest role in any Northeastern successes this season. Only 10 players are listed on the squad’s preseason roster.
The Golden Eagles and their new coach get a tough assignment in their season opener Friday. They host Missouri at 7 p.m. at the Physical Education Complex.