The 2009-2010 Prairie Fire women's basketball team has high expectations going into the season, coming off a 2008-2009 season in which the team set or tied 3 school records, placed 3 individuals on the Prairie Fire all time season statistics lists and had its most wins in one season since the 2001-2002 season. The team also recorded its most Midwest Conference wins since the 2001 season. The Prairie Fire will have an easier time than most in picking up where they left off, as the Prairie Fire returns all five starters from last year's season opener, and lost only one senior to graduation.

The captains for this year's team are seniors Erin Navolio and Kate Moon. A 2008 2nd team All-Conference selection, Navolio a 6-0 guard/ forward from Hinsdale, Illinois, was the leading scorer a year ago (11 points per game) for the Prairie Fire and is a four year starter. Fellow senior and returning starter Kate Moon, a 5-8 forward from Kahoka, Missouri, will once again battle it out underneath for the Prairie Fire, using her toughness and physicality to grab rebounds and box out opponents. Moon finished second on the team in rebounds per game (5.3 rebounds per game) and third on the team in points per game (8.7 per game) last season. Of her captains, head coach Emily Cline has nothing but good things to say, as both have "done a tremendous job thus far leading the team in the preseason" and is "very excited for what they bring to the table in their final seasons."

Tracy Herring and Ali Hidden are the remaining seniors for the 2009 Prairie Fire. Herring, a 5-5 guard from Seattle, Washington returns to the Prairie Fire after injuries have kept her off the court since her freshman season. Herring looks to return to form as she will battle for a starting position, and "is a good ball handler, scrappy, hard working player." Ali Hidden, a 5-11 forward from Peoria, Illinois, is the "most improved player on the team" according to her head coach. "She worked really hard the last several months and she will battle for a starting spot in the post this season".

Amanda Sicoli, Claire Anderson and Jenny Haskell fill out the rest of the remaining upperclassmen for the Prairie Fire. Sicoli, a 5-9 junior guard from St. Paul, Minnesota will look to contribute even more in her third season, after averaging 15 minutes a game and 3 points per contest off the bench last season. Sicoli played a crucial role off the bench last season for the Prairie Fire, and is one of the best "spot shooters" the Prairie Fire has, Coach Cline says. Anderson, a 5-7 guard from Galesburg, Illinois, returns for her second season with the Prairie Fire. After joining the team mid way through the '08 season, Anderson appeared in eight games, scoring 2 points per game off the bench in limited action. Anderson will add needed depth at the guard position as she has great ball handling skills. Haskell, a 5-5 guard from Murphys, California comes to Knox by way of Division III Lewis and Clark College, and will immediately compete for a starting spot; "She has unlimited potential and I am excited to see what Jenny can do when she gets comfortable with our system."

Five sophomores will lead the underclassmen for the Prairie Fire, as Abby Owens, Lynn Mueller, Steph Nunez and Krystyna Williams return for their second seasons. Joining them will be Kelly Ricketts, who comes to the Prairie Fire by way of the University of St. Francis. Abby Owens, a guard from Grinnell, Iowa, returns after an ACL injury cut her 2008 season short. Cline expects Owens to "compete for time at the guard position" as she showed off her "improved shooting ability" during the preseason for the Prairie Fire. Mueller returns after having a huge role on last season's team, as she started every game and played 30 plus minutes in each of those games. Cline expects more of the same from Mueller, as she will be looked to provide "a huge role in 2009." Steph Nunez, a guard from Mokena, Illinois, is also battling back from injury that cut her 2008 season short, and will look to provide competition at the guard position. Down low for the Prairie Fire will be Kelly Ricketts and Krystyna Williams. Ricketts, a forward from Galesburg, Illinois, is a player who Coach Cline believes "can have an immediate impact on our basketball team." Williams, a forward from Evanston, Illinois returns after a freshman season in which she led the team in rebounding (5.7 per game) and finished second on the team in points (9.0 per game). Cline says that while Williams had a "good freshman season, we will be looking for even more from her in her sophomore season." Williams comes into the season having improved during the offseason on both her strength and conditioning, and should once again play a big role in the post for the Prairie Fire.

The incoming freshman class consists of Kristin McDonald (Regina Dominican/Chicago, IL), Sara Johnson (Grinnell/Grinnell, IA) and Ashley Nave (Edison/Tulsa, OK). All three should make their presence felt as they begin their collegiate basketball careers for the 2009-2010 Prairie Fire women's basketball team.