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Fort Lewis women's basketball fabulous 4 returns to hardwood
No. 4 Skyhawks' women to open regular season at Classic in California
Herald Sports Editor
Allison Rosel? Check.
Laura Haugen? Check.
Audrey George? Check.
Katie Mackey? Check.
The four fabulous freshmen - starters since the onset - that have helped head coach Mark Kellogg to an 84-33 overall record in his first leading role are back, as is Lauren McCulloch, another key in this year's senior class, a group that continues to assault the Fort Lewis College women's basketball record books.
This year's version begins anew tonight.
"I think we're ready," said Kellogg, who spoke to the Herald on Thursday from warmer climes. While snow descended on Durango, Kellogg said it was 72 degrees in Anaheim, Calif. "I mean, I know we're ready to play somebody other than ourselves." Fort Lewis, which lost its starting point guard and the Skyhawks' greatest 3-point shooter ever in Erin Kerr to graduation, returns four of its five starters and all seven of its reserves from last year's 28-3 team - a team that was ranked as high as second in the nation and bowed out of the national tournament with a (bitter) Sweet 16 defeat and a less-than-100 percent Haugen.
Haugen and McCulloch, who both missed significant time at the end of last season with foot/ankle injuries, are back and "relatively" healthy, Kellogg said.
"They haven't missed a beat in practice, and they haven't missed any reps, so they're definitely healthy enough to be big-time players for us," he said.
After just 10½ practices - Kellogg counted the team's most recent 55-minute walkthrough a half-practice - FLC, which starts the season ranked eighth in Division II women's basketball, will tip its 2009-10 regular season against San Francisco State at 3:30 p.m. today in Anaheim.
"They're super-athletic," Kellogg said. "They definitely want to beat you off the dribble, and they're going to attack you like crazy." San Francisco State returns three of its five starters from last season.
Fort Lewis will play Western Oregon at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Southern Indiana at noon Sunday as part of the Disney Tip-Off Classic.
Western Oregon and Southern Indiana returns four of their five starters from last season.
"Southern Indiana is probably going to be our biggest challenge," Kellogg said. "We'll see some different looks this weekend for sure." Fort Lewis, which upset a Division I program in an exhibition last season, will play Division I Arizona in an exhibition Thursday in Tucson, Ariz., before returning to regular-season play Nov. 17 against Northern New Mexico. Originally scheduled for Whalen Gymnasium, the Skyhawks' home opener will be played at Piedra Vista High School in Farmington instead.
"We're still a little bit of an unknown," Kellogg said.
While the Fab 4 are familiar, FLC "will be working in a new point guard," he said.
Abby Jackson, who has received extensive playing time her first two seasons behind Kerr, now assumes the starter's role.
A transfer and a pair of freshmen will back her up.
"These two freshmen are going to be really, really good, too," Kellogg said.
Katie Mihalco, a Division I transfer from San Francisco, likely will receive the bulk of backup time early because of her "big-game experience," but freshmen Andrea Owens and Alex Easterbrook will play, he said.
Kellogg cited strong preseason play from Mary Rose Paiz and Dana Schreibvogel, last year's co-sixth women for the Skyhawks.
"Those two have really taken a jump," he said.
And the fifth-year coach praised the early play of George and Mackey, too.
George was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, while Haugen and Rosel both were named first team. Rosel was named the Preseason Player of the Year. FLC, 36-2 in the RMAC the last two seasons, has claimed the conference crown the last two seasons, and it's picked to win this season again.
"We should be a better basketball team this year," Kellogg said.
aaron@durangoherald.com
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