A couple of former teammates back in high school are taking completely different paths early on in their Division I college careers.
But Kailyn Strawbridge and Abby Woollacott hope to end up in the same spots — starring on a rising team.
In the beginning
Woollacott (Northern Illinois) and Strawbridge (Loyola of Chicago) were high school teammates for three years, kickstarting it all with a sectional title in their first season together at Rockford Lutheran that ended in 2015.
They formed one of the most formidable point guard-post player duos in the Big Northern Conference throughout their tenure. Then, first Woollacott, followed a year later by Strawbridge, they selected their college teams, earned scholarships, and dove right in to the next chapter.
That’s where things turned in opposite directions.
Different strokes
Woollacott is averaging just 6.4 minutes per game as a sophomore, scoring 1.5 points and nabbing 1.9 rebounds a night as four-year starting center Kelly Smith mans the post for the Huskies most of the way. She is learning the ropes, and waiting for her turn.
“It’s been such a great learning experience,” said Woollacott, who also played sparingly as a freshman while the Huskies went 21-12 and earned a berth to the WNIT. NIU is 10-5 so far this season.
Strawbridge cracked the starting lineup for Loyola before the first game of her career arrived, and she hasn’t left. The Ramblers have been down the past few years, however, and while they already have more wins than last year, they are still only 3-12.
“I’ve kind of gotten thrown right in there,” said Strawbridge, who leads the Ramblers in minutes played (31.4) and is second in scoring (8.3 points per game). “But I love it.”
First meeting
They faced off in college for the first time back on Dec. 6, with Woollacott scoring three points and grabbing two rebounds in just two minutes of work as her Huskies poured it on late to pull away from the Ramblers 80-71. Strawbridge had five points and five assists in 31 minutes of action.
What’s next?
Their games are as different as they get — Woollacott, at 6-foot-2, is a rebounding and post specialist, while the 5-foot-7 Strawbridge is a slasher and a facilitator, and her jump-shot range has expanded. But they both hope to be catalysts for a team with postseason hopes in the near future.
“She will be big for us in the future,” NIU coach Lisa Carlsen said. “She’s working toward that right now.”
So is Strawbridge, she’s just on the fast track.
“We knew, and we told her coming in,” Loyola coach Kate Achter said, “that she was going to be an important piece to this turnaround. We need her to be.”
Jay Taft: 815-987-1384; jtaft@rrstar.com; @JayTaft
Profiles
Here is a breakdown of the two former Lutheran stars.
NIU center Abby Woollacott
Size, year, position, school: 6-foot-2 sophomore forward for NIU
Stats: Played in 14 of NIU’s 15 games, with no starts; averages 1.5 points and 1.9 rebounds; shooting 43 percent (6-of-14) from the field, and 69 percent (9-of-13) from the line.
Highlight: Had 13 rebounds, a career high and the second most for a Huskie this season, in an 86-84 overtime win over Buffalo on Jan. 6. She also scored a career-high six points and played a career-best 20 minutes.
What she says: “I’ve just been working hard at my game, and defining my role. I knew I could defend big-body posts, and I’m working at every other aspect of my game. … When my time comes, I will be ready.”
What her coach (Lisa Carlsen) says: “Saturday’s (Buffalo) game was huge for Abby’s confidence; you could just see it in her face. For us, too. I would say yes, I feel more comfortable going to her when I have to. We knew what she could do, but it’s really good to see her step up when we need her on game day.”
What her former teammate (Strawbridge) says: “I learned a lot from Abby, especially that you have to fight for your role. And that’s what she’s doing. She’ll get there, and she’ll be good when she does.”
Loyola point guard Kailyn Strawbridge
Size, year, position, school: 5-7 freshman point guard at Loyola (Chicago)
Stats: Started all 15 games, leading the team with 31.4 minutes played per game; leads the team with 34 assists and 56 turnovers, second on the team with 8.3 points per game, and tied for third with 3.3 rebounds.
Highlight: Scored 32 points on 12-for-32 shooting, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range, back on Nov. 12, 2017, in a loss to Fort Wayne. She also had 14 points and six assists in the team’s exhibition opener, giving her an early confidence boost.
What she says: “It’s a big learning process, and we’re learning how to take these losses, fix things, and turn them into wins. It’s not easy; I’m not used to losing. But we are going to get there. We are already close; we feel it.”
What her coach (Kate Achter) says: “She’s done such a great job of coming in and becoming a leader. I guess you could say she’s off to a great start, anyway. She’s going to keep working and working, and I’m excited to see what she can really become.”
What her former teammate (Woollacott) says: “She’s gotten the opportunities early on, and she’s taken advantage. I knew Kailyn could do it. And she’s only going to get better. Look out.”