Michelle Durand, the highly successful women's basketball coach, spoke at the noon meeting of the Kiwanis Club this week.

"How do you get such top notch players to come to ONU," she was asked. She said that you not only look at athletic ability but also whether or not ONU will be a good fit for the prospective student.

She said the Northern players academically have ranked in the top 25 schools nationally for several years. Their grade point average is an outstanding 3.5.

The players find that ONU offers academic programs not found at a lot of schools, noting pharmacy and engineering as two examples.

Also, she has instituted a mentoring program whereby the upperclassmen assist the freshmen. And, she said, it's not all about athletic ability and scholarship.

The women support the community, as well. The players and coaches sponsor fundraisers for cancer and cystic fibrosis, for example.

Bob McCurdy, who introduced the coach, mention several of the team's accomplishments this year: an undefeated season, winner of the OAC tourney, and reaching the Elite Eight in the NCAA tourney, among others.
(Monty Siekerman photo)