Montana Women's Basketball Opens 2003-04 Season Saturday
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MISSOULA, Mont. - The University of Montana women's basketball team will kick off its 2003-04 season with practice at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the Adams Center.
The Lady Griz return five starters and 10 letterwinners from a team that went 20-10 last season, finishing third in the Big Sky Conference with a 10-4 record. UM advanced to a national postseason tournament for the 18th time last spring, falling 76-74 in overtime at Wyoming in the first round of the WNIT.
"Last year we were a young team that lacked some offensive consistency, and that ended up costing us in a couple of close losses," coach Robin Selvig, who is entering his 26th season with a career record of 575-168, said on Friday. "I think we were just a play or two away from the NCAA tournament.
"This year we will be a more experienced team, but the Big Sky is going to be another tough race. It's going to be a season with a lot of close, tough games, where a few plays make or break a team."
Five experienced starters return from last season. Junior Hollie Tyler, a 6-3 center, led the team in both scoring (15.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg) and earned her second straight All-BSC selection. Also earning All-BSC honors was senior Brooklynn Lorenzen, a 5-5 point guard, who averaged 7.5 points per game and led the team with 166 assists (5.5 apg).
Other returning starters include sixth-year senior Jill Henkel (6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg), who was granted an additional year of competition by the NCAA last spring, junior Crystal Baird, second to Tyler in both scoring (9.9 ppg) and rebounding (4.8 rpg) last year, and junior Lynsey Monaco (3.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg).
Another key returner is senior Julie Deming, who missed the 2002-03 season with an injury. The 5-10 forward was third on the team in scoring as a junior in 2001-02, averaging 10.1 points per game and adding 4.7 rebounds per game.
Sophomore Katie Edwards was third on the team in scoring as a freshman, averaging 9.6 points per game and leading the team with 57 3-point field goals.
Montana will open its season on Wednesday, Nov. 12 with an exhibition game against Strakonice of the Czech Republic. A second exhibition game against Deja Vu on Sunday, Nov. 16 follows.
Regular-season play begins Friday, Nov. 21 when the Lady Griz host Montana-Western. The following weekend Montana will compete at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, beginning play with a matchup against Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 28.
Montana practice schedule for Oct. 18-24:
Saturday, Oct. 18...8-11 a.m...Arena
Sunday, Oct. 19...12-3 p.m...West Auxiliary Gym
Monday, Oct. 20...4:30-7 p.m...Arena
Tuesday, Oct. 21...2-5 p.m...Arena
Wednesday, Oct. 22...Off
Thursday, Oct. 23...2-5 p.m...West Auxiliary Gym
Friday, Oct. 24 4:30-7 p.m. Arena
The Lady Griz return five starters and 10 letterwinners from a team that went 20-10 last season, finishing third in the Big Sky Conference with a 10-4 record. UM advanced to a national postseason tournament for the 18th time last spring, falling 76-74 in overtime at Wyoming in the first round of the WNIT.
"Last year we were a young team that lacked some offensive consistency, and that ended up costing us in a couple of close losses," coach Robin Selvig, who is entering his 26th season with a career record of 575-168, said on Friday. "I think we were just a play or two away from the NCAA tournament.
"This year we will be a more experienced team, but the Big Sky is going to be another tough race. It's going to be a season with a lot of close, tough games, where a few plays make or break a team."
Five experienced starters return from last season. Junior Hollie Tyler, a 6-3 center, led the team in both scoring (15.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg) and earned her second straight All-BSC selection. Also earning All-BSC honors was senior Brooklynn Lorenzen, a 5-5 point guard, who averaged 7.5 points per game and led the team with 166 assists (5.5 apg).
Other returning starters include sixth-year senior Jill Henkel (6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg), who was granted an additional year of competition by the NCAA last spring, junior Crystal Baird, second to Tyler in both scoring (9.9 ppg) and rebounding (4.8 rpg) last year, and junior Lynsey Monaco (3.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg).
Another key returner is senior Julie Deming, who missed the 2002-03 season with an injury. The 5-10 forward was third on the team in scoring as a junior in 2001-02, averaging 10.1 points per game and adding 4.7 rebounds per game.
Sophomore Katie Edwards was third on the team in scoring as a freshman, averaging 9.6 points per game and leading the team with 57 3-point field goals.
Montana will open its season on Wednesday, Nov. 12 with an exhibition game against Strakonice of the Czech Republic. A second exhibition game against Deja Vu on Sunday, Nov. 16 follows.
Regular-season play begins Friday, Nov. 21 when the Lady Griz host Montana-Western. The following weekend Montana will compete at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, beginning play with a matchup against Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 28.
Montana practice schedule for Oct. 18-24:
Saturday, Oct. 18...8-11 a.m...Arena
Sunday, Oct. 19...12-3 p.m...West Auxiliary Gym
Monday, Oct. 20...4:30-7 p.m...Arena
Tuesday, Oct. 21...2-5 p.m...Arena
Wednesday, Oct. 22...Off
Thursday, Oct. 23...2-5 p.m...West Auxiliary Gym
Friday, Oct. 24 4:30-7 p.m. Arena
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