By Nathan Martinson
UWRF Sports Information

Miranda Biteler is one of the leaders on a young Falcon woman's basketball team.

In this, her senior year, she is a starting guard.

The talented guard has started the 2005-06 season strong and after two games was averaging 10.5 points and four rebounds a game. She led the team with 12 assists and had four steals.

At last weekend's Kalamazoo tourney she was named to the All-Tournament team along with teammate Traci Reimann.

In 2004, Biteler played in all 25 games and started in 21. She averaged 6.6 points per game and shot 39 percent for the year. She also averaged 2.2 rebounds per game and was second on the team in assists (62) and led the team with an .833 free throw percentage.

There is a lot expected of her this season including leading the team on offense and to also hit some clutch three pointers. On defense, she is expected to stop the other team's best perimeter player.

"Miranda leads by example, she has great leadership skills and she works very hard at improving herself everyday. Most important is that she has a great attitude," Falcon Coach Cindy Hovet said.

Every year she has improved her points per game, total rebounds, assists, and free throw percentage.

"I have tried to improve every year and it's been fun because my years here at RF have been great. I have made a lot of lifelong friends because of basketball," Biteler said.

Biteler, 5-8, uses her good ball handling skills to get everyone involved in the offense and make everyone around her better.

She grew up in Chanhassen, Minn., and played basketball at Chaska High School. In her senior season she earned honorable mention to the all-conference team while averaging 9.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.

She was a two-year starter at Chaska before joining the Falcons.

She was the captain of her team and she won the triple A (Arts, Academics and Athletics) award.

"One of my favorite moments in high school basketball was when we beat the No. 1 seed in the sectionals my senior season," Biteler said.

She has played basketball since the second grade.

Biteler is majoring in health and human performance and has minors in business and coaching. She is the daughter of LeRoy and Wanda Biteler.

Her hobbies include hanging out with friends and being outside.

The Falcons finished last season with 17 wins. The team feels that they can surpass that this season with good chemistry and a willingness to play together.

"We return a lot of good players from last season. A few new faces will step in and contribute also, so we should have a good season," Biteler said.

The Falcons used recruiting this off-season to get more depth in the post position. Biteler feels that some of the young players are ready to step up and be contributors right now.

Miranda Biteler