Photo by: David Stewart
Kaetyln Murdoch, the starting forward and the only senior on the Pioneer women’s basketball team, is optimistic that her senior season will be a success.
In an announcement released last week by CollegeSportsMadness.com, Murdoch is projected to be an All-American candidate, as well as the Sun Belt Conference’s Player of the Year for the 2011-2012 season. Her teammates believe she can make the jump from First Team All-Sun Belt Conference in 2010 to All-American status in 2011.
“Kaetlyn has clearly established herself as one of the premier players in the nation,” said head coach Erik Johnson. “After being named the SBC Freshman of the Year and breaking DU’s all-time, single-game blocked shot record by a freshman, Kaetlyn has worked hard to make significant improvements and has added to her game each season, becoming the complete player she is today. Our staff is proud and happy to see her getting the recognition she richly deserves.”
Last season, Murdoch started in all 31 games and became the 20th Pioneer to record 1,000 career points. She is 2nd all-time in career blocks and is 29 blocks away from securing the top spot. In 2010-2011, she ranked 5th in the nation and 1st in her conference in field goal percentage.
With the beginning of the season fast approaching, the Pioneers will face tough competion, with teams such as Vanderbilt and Oregon slated on the schedule.
Murdoch, however, feels her team is ahead of schedule in terms of preparation.
“In our basketball workouts, it is clear that everyone is in shape and we have been doing great in our team drills,” said Murdoch. “For this upcoming season I really want to expand my game so that I am a better shooter and driver; I just want to eliminate any silly mistakes. As for my team, I want us to continue sharing the ball and hopefully we will make it to the postseason again.”
Judging several difficulties this summer, Murdoch said she did not think she or her team would be so well prepared so soon. While the rest of her team was on campus completing summer workouts and classes, Murdoch was in New York working as an intern for a fashion public relations firm called Krupp Group. After only a month of working there, she fell ill with mono and had to fly back home to Temple, Texas.
“That was a bittersweet moment for me,” said Murdoch. “I was glad to come home and spend time with my family, but I was so sick that I lost 20 pounds. On top of that, I could not work out anymore,and I got out of shape.”
However, illness did not slow the senior forward down for long. Once she became healthy enough, she returned to school early and worked out individually with the team’s strength and conditioning coach to get back in game shape.
After Murdoch’s playing career is over, she hopes to enroll in Cosmetology school.
Murdoch and the rest of the Pioneers will begin their season in an exhibition game against Mesa State on Nov. 6 in Magness Arena.
