Click the thumbnails to see video interviews with Norse players and Coach James Fassett.

ESCANABA---The Bay College Norse women's basketball program is dealing with a lot of change in the wake of the abrupt resignation of Coach Todd Ciochetto.

He steered the Norse to their best season in school history last year, with a 22-9 reccord, including 18-2  after a 4-7 start. But he left in September, and the Norse turned to veteran Minneapolis high school coach James Fassett.

The Norse will open the season this Friday night, and Fassett says the team is ready.

"It's been a whirlwind," Fassett said. "The timing was tough because I was coming from Dela Salle High Schol in Minneapolis and we were state runners up last year. Possiby a state championship team. But, at some point, you've got to look at what's best for my futire moving forward, and this was a great opportunity. I got here on a Sunday and started pracicing on Monday and we were off to scrimmages on Thursday and Friday. The girls had already been practicing for a couple of weeks, and I like hiw hard they're working."

The eleven-player roster includes six from the Upper Peninsula, including Kadie Kaukola from the state champion Ishpeming Hematites.

Last year's leading scorer, Ashlee Burchette, returns, along with Norway's Jada Freudinger, who was a key player last season. And returner Kennedy Sproule is back. She hit a school record 13 three-point baskets and scored 45 in a single game last season.

"I knew that my defense was something that I really needed to work on over the summer," Sproule said. "So, I did stay here over the summer to train with Todd. We worked on my offense as well as my defense. I think one thing I had to learn on defense was my positioning, and reading the people that I was guarding. I think I've gotten better at that."

Baraga's Makenna Hendrickson says the abrupt coaching change was difficult, but the girls decided to stay rather than transfer because they had already started bonding and working together.

"At Baraga, we just focused on everyone working hard, and playing together as a tem," Hendrickson said. "Everyone wants to be successful and you wanted to work for your teammates. That was a big thing there, and I decided that Bay was a good fit for me,"

Anna Axtell is another incoming freshman, having played in the rough Great Northern Conference as a member of the Menominee Maroons. She says that kind of tough play will help her play at the college level."

"It tought me the mental toughness I need to have for every game," Axtell said. "I think defensively, I'm a really strong defensive player, and I think that's something I can help the team with this year."

"I think the next step is that we've added depth," Fassett said. "Todd is a great recruiter and he recruited some great incoming freshmen. Adding some incoming freshmen who can score and come from some good high school programs. That will kind of share the load with everybody, and now we won't be so easily scouted (by oppobebts)."

The Norse open their season this Friday night against the team that knocked them out of the NJCAA regional tournament last year, the Jackson Jets. Both received votes in the national pre-season poll. Game time from the Bay College Gym is 6:00 and it will be broadcast live on Maverick FM-106.3 and on-line at radioresultsnetwork.com.