Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet?
It’s a time of new beginnings for the Evansville women’s basketball team both on and off the court. First-year head coach Robyn Scherr-Wells is currently splitting her time between introducing a new fast-paced style of basketball on the court and introducing a new baby to the world off of it.
Scherr-Wells gave birth to her son, Jett Thomas Scherr-Wells, on Oct. 1 and brought him home on Oct. 10 — right in the middle of getting her team ready for their first season together. Fortunately for the Purple Aces, they have a number of returning veterans to help lead them through the changes.
Evansville native Anna Newman is one of those leaders. The senior point guard is excited to see the vision of Scherr-Wells start to take shape.
“Everything's different this year...since we got a new coach,” Newman said. “Her style of play's faster, more athletic, kind of free-range. She’s letting us use our skill and talent as a team, and just go out and focus on winning. So many changes. A lot of new things, new faces.”
It’s not just about the new faces, though. Junior Abby Feit is back and looking to build on an impressive sophomore outing.
Feit led the Aces in points (14.9) and rebounds (7.8) per game last season. She was first on the team in 3-point shots made (33), 3-pointers attempted (106), steals (33), and blocks (23) over 23 games. She was third in total assists (29) behind Newman (73) and alumna Jada Poland (31).
“Gotta love Abby,” Newman said. “Great athlete. A great person off the court too but on the court, got a lot of skill. You can always count on her on making a bucket if we need a fast quick bucket...she'll knock it down.”
Feit believes that the returners and the new faces in town are embracing the changes together to the benefit of all of them.
“I think the returners really quickly built that chemistry with the newcomers and the new coaching staff,” Feit said. “We had to all adapt to Coach Robyn’s philosophy. She wants to play fast-paced, which is very different from what we did last year. So we spent a lot of the summer learning her style of play and helping each other. It was tough, but I think we did a really good job adapting to it.”
Having a senior point guard like Newman who brings both experience and a desire to improve is one key to helping everyone adapt and play together. With opening day on Nov. 9, improving both her basketball skills and her intangibles isn’t important for just her own game. Her position makes her improvement important for all of the players to reach their potential.
“Our point guard has made a lot of progress this offseason,” Feit said. “She’s working on her jump shot more. Really becoming a true point guard, working on her passing and leadership skills.”
Being that “coach on the floor” is important for Newman this season, but it’s also something she’s working on for her future. She wants to pursue college coaching once her playing career is over. After she completes her degree in sport communication, she plans to look for a graduate assistant role where she can continue on her master’s degree and pursue her dream of coaching at a high level.
On the floor, Newman won’t have to do it all alone this season. Some of the pressure will be taken off of her shoulders by transfer Myia Clark, a senior guard who came over from Saint Louis University. Clark started every game for the Billikens last season.
“She’s very vocal, a very hard worker,” Feit said. “I think both [Clark and Newman] are going to help a lot.”
Seeing it all come together as a senior would be a perfect ending for Newman. Being surrounded by loved ones is why she stayed home to play for Evansville. Doing it in an environment where she feels supported both by family and by the new coaching staff is the ideal preparation for the coaching life she looks forward to after college.
“Great environment, positive environment, encouraging environment,” Newman said. “So, all good things there.”
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.