The 2014-15 UC Clermont Lady Cougars have the uneviable task of trying to repeat as National Champions.

The 2014-15 UC Clermont Lady Cougars have the uneviable task of trying to repeat as National Champions.
By Chris Chaney
Sun staff

Coming off of a 2013-14 United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship, the UC Clermont Lady Cougars have a bull’s-eye on their back going into every game they play this season.

With just a few pieces left over from that championship squad, however, head coach Michael Matthews and his team are finding out firsthand how difficult it will be to repeat.

“We have six freshmen out of our 11 players, so they don’t really know what it is,” Matthews said of the program’s recent history. “We had two seniors who really mentored the other girls last year; showed them how to play and practice. This year, we don’t have that (leadership).”

The coach said the upperclassmen who remain from title-winning squad are learning what it takes to lead a team and as they better figure out their new roles, he has no doubt that the team will rebound from a sluggish start.

Currently sitting at 2-4, the Lady Cougars are still coming together as a cohesive unit, something that is not unexpected with so many first-year players seeing significant playing time. There are some National Champion holdovers, though, who Matthews said are helping to bring along the core of fresh talent.

“Senior Tess Jenike is trying to (take over an impact role). She’s our leading scorer, averaging in double figures,” Matthews said. “Kelsey Finn from Turpin plays very smartly. She just knows how to get things done and has taken on a leadership role through her actions.

“Jess Brenes from Glen Este has stepped it up athletically. I don’t think she understood how good of an athlete she was (last year). She’s a very good jumper and a fast runner.”

Matthews said of his freshman class, Mackenzie Carrington of Georgetown and Marie Lawson from Wilmington have been the biggest contributors over the first few weeks of the season.

Carrington has become the Lady Cougars’ most efficient scorer in terms of field goal percentage and Lawson has come in after missing her senior season due to ACL rehab and shown the coaches the kind of ability she has.

Other freshmen include Bridget Rheude of Milford, Lydia Jordan of Stivers, Jami Berling of Deer Park and Kaitlin Buemi of Scott.

Clermont will play another tough schedule this season that includes typical USCAA and NAIA competition, but also some NCAA Division II and III schools like Oakland City University, Brescia University and Grove City College.

Matthews said the slow start isn’t ideal, but it’s far from a death sentence for the proud program.

“(Losing) has been a little foreign to some of the girls — and even to us coaches,” he said. “We’ve had seasons like this before where we take our lumps in the first half, but we turn it around in the second half. I think that’s how this year will be.”

The Lady Cougars will travel this weekend to the Anderson University Tip-Off Classic in Anderson, Ind. before returning home for a four-game home stand, their first games to be played at the Student Activities Center this season.

For more information on the UC Clermont Lady Cougars, log on to the school’s athletic website at ucclermont.edu/athletics.