Freeport grad Jenna Manke takes on leadership role under new Allegheny women's basketball staff

When Kelly Muffley took over as the Allegheny women’s basketball coach six months ago, not only was she moving into her first head-coaching job, she was inheriting a roster that was more than half freshmen and sophomores. She needed strong senior leadership to smooth the transition and set the tone for the youngsters.

One of the players she turned to was Freeport grad Jenna Manke. The 5-foot-7 senior is a co-captain and taking on more responsibility than at any point in her college career.

After starting only two games in her previous 46 with the Gators, Manke started each of the first nine games through Dec. 2. Allegheny, after its Dec. 2 conference-opening win over Hiram, was 4-5, 1-0 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Manke knew she likely would play a more important role, so, in the run-up to the season, she said she concentrated on getting up more shots in practice and increasing her hustle in general.

“I think all together we’re a pretty young team,” Manke said. “Last year and the year before, we went from a pretty seasoned team to now working with a bunch of underclassmen and a new coaching staff. I think we’re all adjusting pretty well with working together.”

Muffley appreciates what Manke provides in terms of her leadership and even sees a bit of herself in the senior.

“It was really important to have somebody like Jenna,” said Muffley, the No. 6 all-time leading scorer at Thiel. “Jenna really connects with our upperclassmen, but she connects with everyone. Jenna kind of brings everybody along.

“She’s a lot like me: She doesn’t say much, but she works really hard. People appreciate that and see that.”

Manke has been solid in the early going, averaging 6.8 points — shooting 46% from the floor — and 5.0 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game. But statistics aren’t necessarily her most important contribution, Muffley said. Manke changes the way the Gators can play.

Without her, Muffley said, the team has no true post presence.

“Without her, we don’t have someone who can make back-to-the-basket moves, somebody we can go inside-outside with and somebody that’s just tough,” Muffley said. “Somebody that can guard the other team’s post on their back-to-basket moves and make their shots difficult.”

At 5-7 Manke often gives up several inches to her post counterparts, but that, she said, is nothing new.

“I haven’t grown much since high school,” she said. “So I have been guarding 6-foot to 6-3 girls my entire basketball career. It’s something I’ve gotten used to.”

Manke’s battle against larger players is an appropriate metaphor for what the Gators will face this season: They were picked to finish seventh in the nine-team NCAC in the preseason coaches’ poll.

Perhaps it was the Gators’ young roster, the coaching change or a combination of both that swayed the votes. Whatever the case, Manke said, as the season progresses, the Gators should be able to surprise some NCAC opponents.

“I think the more we’re playing together, the better we’re playing,” she said. “I think we have a chance of getting some really good wins.”