2009-10 Women's Basketball

Record: 24-12 Home: 12-4 Away: 9-6 Neutral: 3-2
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2009-10 Women's Basketball Coaches
Ryan Shelton Image
Ryan Shelton - Head Coach - 3rd Season

Ryan Shelton is entering his fourth season as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Indiana University Northwest. During Coach Shelton's tenure, the Lady RedHawks have shown dramatic improvement. In 2008-2009, the RedHawks were one of college basketball's youngest and most improved teams. That same season, the Lady RedHawks set a school record for single season and consecutive victories (9) while qualifying for their first ever post-season appearance (2009 USCAA National Championships), finishing with a no. 8 national ranking. The RedHawks were ranked as high as no. 2 in the nation by the USCAA and the successful season netted Shelton 2009 A.I.I. Conference Coach of the Year honors.

 
The following year in 2009-10, the RedHawks soared to new heights by winning a school record 24 games including 11 consecutive and a no. 2 national ranking by the USCAA. In addition, IU Northwest claimed it's first ever post-season championship by winning the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Championship. That same year the RedHawks post-season run led them to the USCAA National Tournament and a Final Four appearance. The RedHawks also qualified for and made their first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance. The record-setting season earned Shelton his second-straight A.I.I. Coach of the Year award.
 
In his three years as head coach, the Lady RedHawks have made three National Tournament Appearances, have had three All-American selections, two Conference Player of the Year selections and six All-Conference selections in addition to numerous sportsmanship and academic awards.
 
As a prep, Shelton played basketball locally at Merrillville High School (Merrillville, IN) and later collegiately at Savannah College of Art and Design (NCAA Div. III, Savannah, GA, 1994-1995). He holds a B.A. and M.P.A. from IU Northwest. Shelton works professionally as a Marketing and Communications Specialist at IU Northwest. He was born in Hammond, IN and currently resides in Crown Point, IN with wife Kellie and daughter Talia.
 
Loretta Soria Image
Loretta Soria - Associate Head Coach - 2nd Season
Loretta Soria is in her second season as Associate Head Basketball Coach at IU Northwest. In her first year as Associate Head Coach she helped guide the Lady Redhawks to their first USCAA National Tournament appearance and the most wins in school history. Her duties include on court coaching, game preparation, scouting of opponents and recruiting. Loretta served as an assistant coach at Calumet College in Whiting, IN from 2004-2006. She was promoted to head women's basketball coach in 2006-2007, making her one of the youngest female head coaches in NAIA history at age 24. As the head coach at Calumet College, she guided the program to their first ever win in the CCAC conference and first ever post season victory against Trinity International University.
 
Soria played professionally in Australia's ABA league and collegiately at Chicago State University (NCAA Div. I, Chicago, IL) from 2000-2004. Soria ranks in the top 10 all-time in several career offensive categories at Chicago State. Throughout her collegiate career she competed against powerhouses Florida State, Michigan State, University of Florida, DePaul, Auburn, Arizona State and Marquette University and was a four year starter for the lady cougars. She had career highs of 23 points against IUPUI and again vs. Eastern Illinois. As a senior, Loretta lead the Summit League in 3 pt percentage shooting 46% from beyond the arc and is ranked 4th all time in conference history. She remains the all time leader in free throw.
 
In 2008 Soria travelled to Luxembourg, Europe and was a gold medal winner in the European Basketball Championships while representing the nation of Malta, she was selected on the European All Star Five Team. In the summer of 2009, Soria travelled to Cyprus to compete the XII Olympic Games for the small nations of Europe. She won her second international gold medal while representing Malta and finished top five in scoring and 3 pt percentages in the games. She holds a B.A Elementary Education from Calumet College of St. Joseph and a B.S Physical Education from Chicago State University. Her husband Dan, is the head baseball coach at IU Northwest, they reside with their daughter, Isabella in Crown Point, IN.