Coming off the program’s most successful season in 15 years, the Sandburg women’s basketball team opens its 2024-25 campaign Tuesday night at home.
The Chargers will host Lincoln Land — ranked No. 9 in NJCAA Division II — at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at John Lewis Gym. Tuesday is also Sandburg’s Paint the House Red Night.
The Chargers, led by third-year coach Kellen Fernetti, finished 23-10, won a share of the Arrowhead Conference title and advanced to the championship game of the Region 4 tournament last season.
KEY RETURNERS
Brook Pieper (Abingdon, Ill./Abingdon-Avon), 6-foot-1 sophomore forward
• All-Arrowhead Conference and First Team All-Region 4 pick as a freshman.
• Averaged 13.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on 48 percent shooting last season.
• Led Chargers with 31 percent 3-point percentage last season.
• Fernetti: “Brook really keys our offensive and defensive game plans from the center position. She’s highly skilled, a tremendous passer and a great presence in the paint defensively.”
Capre Ferguson (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg), 5-7 sophomore guard
• Averaged 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 32 games last season, making five starts in 32 games.• Shot 42 percent from the field and 74 percent from the free-throw line as a freshman.
• FernettI: “Capre is a tremendous athlete and defender. She should move into the starting lineup this year after a sixth-woman role last year where she was most comfortable. Capre got better and better as the season went on as a freshman. It could be a big year for her.”
Gabbie Vontz (Oberlin, Kan./Decatur Community), 5-7 sophomore guard
• Averaged 5.4 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 30 percent from the floor in 31 games as a freshman.• FernettI: “Gabbie is a high-energy player that can play any position for us. She can play defense on the perimeter and in the post, and she’s expanded her offensive game this fall. Gabbie’s a hard-hat-and-lunch-pail type of player. She gives her best all the time.”
KEY NEWCOMERS
Lillian Covarrubias (San Antonio, Texas/Southwest), 5-4 freshman guard
• Finished her senior season with 419 points, 236 rebounds, 87 steals and 150 assists.
• Named First Team All-Class 5A Region IV District 28 as a senior.
• FernettI: “Lillian is a phenomenal athlete at the point guard position and will look to lead our offensive and defensive attack. She’s capable of scoring on all three levels. Lillian brings a great work ethic with her. In high school, she was a multiple-sport athlete and will look to bring that athleticism to the Chargers.”
Antonia Kisler (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg), 5-9 freshman forward
• Fernetti: “We’re ecstatic that Antonia chose to stay home and play for us. Coming from the legendary Silver Streaks program, she knows winning basketball. Antonia can post up and shoot the 3-point shot. She’s also a strong defender and rebounder, which fits into our system well.”
Ashley Brach (Winter Park, Fla./Lake Howell), 5-8 freshman forward
• Averaged team highs of 18.9 points and 10.5 rebounds as a senior on 55 percent shooting.
• Fernetti: “Ashley is a high-motor, high-energy player. She’s all about making those effort plays, taking charges and defending hard. She’ll bring some versatility to the forward position for us this season.”
STATES OF PLAY
The Chargers’ roster includes seven players from five states outside of Illinois. Sandburg boasts players from:
- Florida (Ashley Brach and Precious Marshall)
- Kansas (Gabbie Vontz)
- Mississippi (Tyriunna Steele)
- Missouri (Layni Dobbins)
- Texas (Lillian Covarrubias and Tiera Hall)
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS SEASON?
Fernetti: “We expect to be better than yesterday, and for tomorrow to be better than today. The goal will be to play our best basketball in February and, hopefully, early March when we need to play our best.”
THIS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL SEASON IF …
Fernetti: “We need to become the definition of a team, which is to be 13 strong, all pulling in the same direction. Defend, rebound, run and share are the four key daily factors. We also need to compete with the three Es: effort, energy and enthusiasm.”
GAME TO WATCH
Nov. 16 vs. Madison (Chargers basketball alumni reunion)
HOW TO FOLLOW THE CHARGERS
• Watch Chargers home games live and on-demand on the Sandburg YouTube channel.
• Sign up for SportReporting to get free text and/or email notifications of Chargers game results.
• Follow @SandburgNJCAA on Twitter.
• Like @sandburgchargers on Facebook.
• Follow @sandburgchargers on Instagram.
2024-25 SANDBURG WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROSTER
2024-25 SANDBURG WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
PHOTO GALLERIES: Flickr | sandburgchargers.com
***Courtesy of Carl Sandburg College***
