The Hastings College Women’s basketball team is during a phenominal job. The Broncos are 20-5 on the season and 13-3 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play (GPAC). They are also ranked ninth in NAIA and second in GPAC. Hastings College is also ranks ninth in Total Rebounds with 31,800 and 14th in Total Steals with 276.
The loses the team has had this season have been by close games and against ranked opponents. One of the losses the Broncos was against (2) Concordia in January. They lost by 21 points but the game was tied at 48 going into the fourth quarter. Hastings was only able to score five points in the fourth and that was not enough to keep close against the Bulldogs.
Hastings College swept the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers this season. Back on December 10, 2016, the Broncos won with a score of 65 to 62. The Tigers were ranked number one in the NAIA at the time. In January, the Broncos went to (8) Dakota Wesleyan and put a beating on the Tigers by winning 62 to 54.
Throughout the season, Hastings has had leaders step up and help with winning games. Some of those leaders have been Junior, Holly Hild, Sophomore Mackenzie Willicott, Junior, Rachel Jelden, Freshman, Shandra Farmer, and Freshman, Emma Grenfell. The Broncos have had their three seniors play different roles as leaders on and off the court. Hastings College’s three seniors are; Shanelle Farmer, Kellie Schreibvogel, and Alex Edwards.
Some quick leaders for the team by stats are; Hild with averaging 10.84 points per game, R. Jelden with 6.82 rebounds a game, Shandra Farmer having 2.48 assists per game, and E. Grenfell having 1.76 steals per game.
There has been quite a few players that have lit up the stat charts this season.
#13, Junior, Holly Hild, is leading the team with 271 points and had a season high with 21 points twice against Midland on 1/7/17 and against Dordt on 1/14/17.
#4, Freshman, Shandra Farmer, has been a spark for the Broncos. Farmer is a quick point guard that can shoot the ball, drive in under the bigs and has outstanding defense. She a total of 248 points with her career high with 22 back on 1/18/17 against rival Doane. Also Farmer leads the team with assists with 62 on the season.
#5, Sophomore, Mackenzie Willicott, started off the season coming off the bench but since late November, she has been starting and doing exactly what the team needs. Willicot is a very diverse player. She is not the tallest out there but she can post up, shoot behind the arch, rebound, and take care of the ball. For the longest time, Willicott was the leading scorer for the Broncos. She averages 9.96 points per game. Willicott has a total of 249 points, 110 rebounds, and 31 steals.
#33, Junior, Rachel Jelden, has played the big man for the Broncos this season. Jelden got hurt at the end of December and was out a few games. When she got back into the swing of things, Jelden still played her part when the Broncos needed a big. She leads the team with 137 rebounds. Jelden also has 190 points, 30 assists, and 22 steals on the season.
#3, Freshman, Emma Grenfell, is a quick spark whom comes off the bench for Hastings. Grenfell is another point guard like Shandra Farmer who can shoot, drive the ball in and has terrific defense. She leads the team in steals with a season total of 44 and also has 42 assists.
#20, Shanelle Farmer, back on the court her senior year since she got injured her sophomore year. She also gets a once in a lifetime to play with her sister, Shandra too. Farmer is playing the role of a sixth man for the Broncos. With her quiet but fearless leadership she has, Farmer takes charge when need be. Farmer has 140 points and had a season high with 19 points against Midland on 1/7/17. She also lights up the stats chart with 57 rebounds and 38 assists this season.
The other two seniors, #21, Alex Edwards, and #50, Kellie Schreibvogel, have used their senior leadership in a different way this season. Schreibvogel has started a few games this season due to the injury from R. Jelden. She was the big man for the Broncos when needed and now comes off the bench and still plays a big role for Hastings. For Edwards, she acquired an injury early in the season but returned back on the court on 1/11/17 against College of Saint Mary. Edwards she learned to use her leadership by help coaching when she was hurt.
Hastings will be on the road on Saturday, February 2 against Morningside and will play Haskell Indian Nations University on February 6 in Hastings at 6pm. From there, the Broncos only a few more weeks of regular season play. GPAC Tournament play will start on February 22, 2016.
Farmer Sister Duo Story:
