Notre Dame Prep basketball points to its experience

Notre Dame Prep coach Katie Marks has been anxiously waiting for a new season to begin in order to watch nine returnees — including three starters — from a team that went 18-7 last year come together.

"It's really nice to know we have so much potential going into the season, and that we can go far if we live up to it," said Marks, who is in her 11^th season. "We are pretty mentally tough and can bounce back when things don't go our way."

Marks may be referring to the loss of 5-foot-6 junior point guard Annika Meyer, a two-year starter who is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

However, the coach feels she has capable replacements in senior Halle Regan (5-4) and freshman Nicki Swam (5-2).

"Halle was a point guard when Annika wasn't in the game," Marks said of the shooting guard. "Halle is our best leader and knows the plays best. She is one of our better decision makers and she is just emotionally our leader out there."

If Regan doesn't have the ball in her hands, Swam will.

"She is a true point guard," the coach said about the rookie. "She is also a great decision maker and can go to the basket and score as well."

The point guards will be feeding the ball to senior guard Katie Railey (5-7) and junior guard/forward Mary Price Suter (6-0),  who averaged nine points and seven rebounds per game last year.

Suter and junior forward Morayo Adenegan (6-0) will be asked to help make up for some of the production lost to the graduation of Marisa DeLuca, who averaged 14 points and nine rebounds.

"It's just not going to be one of our players that ends up making up for all of her stats," Marks said. "We are going to rely heavily on Morayo and (Price) to take up the bulk of that inside play."

Senior forward Kate Behlen (5-8), junior forward Caroline Guterres (5-10) and sophomore forward Ayden Robinson (6-0) add depth to the frontcourt.

Junior guards Mary Norris (5-8) and Marla Varnado (5-5) are competing for playing time.

"Speed and experience are our strengths," Marks said. "It's nice to know we have so many returning players. I see girls that know what we want and know what we expect. They are just excited to be here and working hard at practice every day."