This year the Indiana University Northwest's Lady RedHawks basketball team is aiming for the USCAA championship. It was only last year they made history with a record breaking number of wins, and Sharon Houston caught the attention of national media outlets. They were ranked as high as no. 2 in the USCAA nationally, and ended the season at a no. 8 ranking. Expectations are running high.

Ryan Shelton will be returning for his third year as coach, and he thinks the RedHawks can meet the high expectations.
He said, "Last year we knew we were a good basketball team, but we were just looking for respect. Now we're focused on winning the national championship. That's really the only goal we should have."
The 2009-2010 season's recruiting class is very diverse. Joining this year's returning players, which include A.I.I. Conference Player of the Year Sharon Houston and two girls who have been awarded the USCAA Player of the Week award (Juliette Keller and Nina Wills), will be Megan Leal of Calumet High School, Vicky Campos of Hammond Clark H.S., Ish-Sha Terry of Gary West Side H.S., Justine Jones of Calumet H.S., and Amanda Pennington of River Forest H.S.
Janelle Kapelinski, a returning player, said, "We have a lot more depth this year. Depth gives you more to work with because there's always someone who could fill in for you."
Last season, Sharon Houston, in addition to receiving the aforementioned player of the year award and the USCAA All-American honor, was ranked number 1 nationally in scoring (24.7), rebounding (15.3), and blocks (5.7). Houston's all-around domination has the potential to shake the confidence of less assertive players, but according to Shelton her presence has only worked to unify the team.
Shelton said, "The girls on the team recognize that Sharon is our best offensive player, but there's no jealousy there because everyone has the same goal: to be the best basketball team possible."
This year's Lady RedHawks will also be facing a tough schedule that is more focused on road games than last year's schedule. They will be playing six games on the road in December, three in Illinois and two in Wisconsin.
Shelton said, "On the road you know that some calls aren't going to go your way, and you aren't going to get the breaks of home games, so we'll have to get be more mentally and physically tough than we were last year."
Shelton wants his team to have fun but to keep eyes fixed on the prize.
"Winning is much more fun than losing because you feel the prestige and respect of being a good basketball team," he said. Most importantly, he wants this season to be memorable. "Hopefully these are relationships and friendships that they will carry on for the rest of their lives."