Thirteen Women Strong was the 2009 Book Connection Book for the fall freshmen class at Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University

|type = Public|president= Dr. James C. Votruba|city = Highland Heights|state = KY|country = U.S.|endowment = $68 million|students = 15,405|undergrad = 13,206|postgrad = 2,199|faculty = 1,159...

. This book is focused on the Northern Kentucky University Women's Basketball Team. Copyrighted in 2008, this book was chosen by the Book Connection Committee for the university's freshmen. This book was published in the United States by University Press of Kentucky

University Press of Kentucky

The University Press of Kentucky is the scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and was organized in 1969 as successor to the University of Kentucky Press. The university had sponsored scholarly publication since 1943. In 1949 the press was established as a separate academic agency...

. Written by Robert K. Wallace, this book was meant to inspire as well as educate. Dr. Wallace is a long tenured, prestigious professor at Northern Kentucky University.

Plot

This book revolves around Northern Kentucky University's women's basketball team and their 2006-2007 season. In this book, Dr. Wallace reveals the internal and external struggles that these young ladies had to face as student athletes. This book delivers the success and hardships endured by young women on a journey towards more than just a national championship. Most would think this book is only about basketball, but this story conveys how Nancy Winstel

Nancy Winstel

Nancy Winstel is the head women’s basketball coach at Northern Kentucky University. She ranks 3rd in wins among NCAA Division II women’s basketball coaches and 9th in winning percentage with an overall record of 636-238 . Having finished her 27th season as coach of the Norse, Winstel has compiled...

facilitated the growth of players into professional women. She shows her players how basketball can not only teach you how to set goals but to achieve them, both on and off the court. These players balanced class, winning and losing games, injuries, their personal lives, Coach Winstel's attitude as well as opposing teams. The previous year they were knocked out of the playoffs by a team they knew they could beat, and decided a stand had to be made. This book is about their stand to win.

Themes

Thirteen Women Strong is a book of many themes. This includes overcoming trials and tribulations on an athletic level, as well developing as students and as people. These women took charge of their own destiny and worked towards their childhood dreams. As a team, they bonded into a family unit as well as bonding with their actual families through basketball. Coach Nancy Winstel focused on motivating the players not only as a team, but allowing them to channel their self-motivation.

User Review - Inside Your Town

"Thirteen Women Strong is a fascinating study of a dynamic set of student athletes and their legendary leader. Wallace goes beyond wins and losses to write a tale about the enduring themes of strength, leadership, and teamwork."