12B = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 2001
KANSAS STATE
Young team ready for challenge
By Jessica Scott Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas State Wildcats' 2-14 record in the Big 12 Conference last yearleave them one place to go-up.
Although the team compiled an overall record of 12-16 in 2001, coach Deb Patterson led the women's basketball team to its best start in three years as the Wildcats opened the season, 11-1. But things went downhill after New Year's, and the team lost eight straight Big 12 games.
"Each game is a tremendous challenge, but at the same time, that is the great thing about the Big 12," Patterson said. "There is no easy game and no easy way to get better. I am hopeful that we will — one day at a time and one step at a time — get better."
Kristin Rethman, a 5-foot-9 guard from Corning, is the only Wildcat with one year of experience. She averaged 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season and ranked seventh nationally in three-point field goal percentage.
"I have all the confidence in the world in the players we have right now in the gym," Rethman said. "They work hard and compete and play hard, and that is exciting."
Potential starters include freshmen Laurie Koehn and Kendra Wecker. Koehn, a 5-8 Hesston native, redshifted during the 2000-2001 season because of a preseason
foot injury. But her list of accomplishments is virtually endless — a four-time 2A Player of the Year, a two-time USA Today and Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year, and most importantly, the second all-time scorer in Kansas high school history, second only to Claffin native and WNBA player Jackie Stiles.
Wecker, a 5-11 forward from Marysville, was named Miss Kansas Basketball as a senior. Patterson described her as an all-around amazing athlete.
"I am extremely excited about the prospects for the upcoming season for Kansas State University." Patterson said. "We have significantly upgraded and we are anticipating a real drastic improvement."
Contact Scott at 864-4858
BAYLOR
By Eric Flaton Kansan sportswriter
The Baylor Bears women's basketball team is returning after its most successful season in school history. The Lady Bears posted an overall record of 21-9 last year.
This year's squad returns its two leading scorers. Sheila Lambert and Danielle Crockrom will lead the Bears once again this season against the tough Biie 12 Conference.
"Sheila and Danielle can score, they can finish shots," said coach Kim Mukley-Robertson.
Lambert comes into the season after averaging 22.1 points per
game last season. Crockrom finished just behind her counterpart with 21,2 points per game.
Lambert said the two players' respect for one another's games and ability to work in tandem propelled Baylor last year.
"She's my teammate and my friend so it's hard to talk about her." Lambert said of Crockrom. "I have never seen anyone handle the ball like her before."
But Mulkey-Robertson said she knew others would need to step up if Baylor planned to improve this year. The Bears will depend on seven freshmen, each of whom may see significant playing time.
"The biggest thing freshmen can do for the team quickly is work on the defensive end." Mulkey-Robertson said. "We're looking to make them quicker on the defensive end."
Contact Flaton at 864-4858
MISSOURI
Tigers hungry for Sweet16
By Jessica Scott Kansan sportswriter
In three seasons as the Missouri women's basketball coach, Cindy Stein has led her teams to two postseason appearances, as the Tigers made an impressive run last season in the NCAA tournament.
After Missouri defeated No. 24 Wisconsin and No. 4 Georgia, the Tigers' luck ran out during their Sweet 16 matchup against a talented Louisiana Tech team. Still, the Tigers' lone senior guard Natalie Bright, wants to take care of unfinished business this season.
"I think we will build off of our Sweet Sixteen appearance last year," Bright said. "We know what it takes to get there, and everybody wants to advance past the Sweet 16. It is
that hunger we have, and it is going to continue."
Bright, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, will be counted on to lead her young team. She averaged 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor. Missouri, which had two seniors drafted in the WNBA last season, will rely heavily on Bright and her shooting ability.
"We are really looking for Bright to do some things for us at the point guard position." Stein said.
Missouri will be one of the youngest teams in the Big 12 Conference.
"Nine of the 12 young ladies on our roster are freshmen or sophomores," Stein said. "We think we can challenge people, but we know that we will have to play at a high level."
Last season, the Tigers were picked to finish 8th in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll but ended in fifth while compiling a record of 22-10. Missouri is picked to finish 10th in the Big 12, above only Kansas and Texas A&M.
Contact Scott at 864-4858
TEXAS
Longhorns toughen up for season
By Eric Flaton Kansan sportswriter
The versatile Texas Longhorns women's basketball team will try to keep teams guessing this season.
After falling to St. Mary's in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament, following a 20-12 finish, the Longhorns are looking to toughen up by playing Wisconsin Nov. 24 at the University of the Virgin Islands invitational tournament.
Texas will lean on depth in its inside and outside games.
"We can go big or small. I prefer to use depth to keep the pressure on and move the ball," said coach Jody Conradt.
any women's collegiate basketball coach in history, with an overall record of 766-248. Heading into her 24th season at Texas, Conradt has coached the Longhorns to a 494-186 record. She has led Texas to the NCAA tournament in 17 of the past 19 years. After last season, Conradt knew she needed to recruit players who could improve the team's field goal percentage.
Conradt has more wins than
"Our focus was to recruit shooters," Conradt said. "I
believe that the best way to be effective is with an inside-outside attack. This freshman class has size and versatility.
The team will turn to sophmore Stacy Stephens who was the first freshman in 20 years to lead the Longhorns in scoring and rebounding.
Stephens dominates in the paint for the Longhorns, averaging 11 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Texas will also depend on senior Kenya Larkin who was voted the team's most valuable player last season.
Contact Flaton at 864-4858
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