1988_11 The Daily Collegian November 1988

              Wednesday, November 23, 1988
>w younger look for '88-f89
Women bring heart, limited depth to '88 squad
BY JENIFER KONZE
Sport, Wriur
Fresno Slate women's basketball coach Bob Spencer
has a young team full of heart and physical ability but
lacking in depth.
"Our big Question this year will be in the backcouit,"
said Spencer. "We feel wc have four people in particular
who can help us out But actually we haven't been tested
under any kind of pressure.
"HooefuMy ihis weekend we will be able io realize
that lest and meet the challenge.*
He said "thai with Michelle Bento, Geri Gainey,
freshman Melissa King and junior Mary Gainey ihe
backcourt has a good nucleus and that King can fit in
wiih either Bento or Geri.
Mary was injured earlier in ihe season and is now
hursing a shoulder injury ihat prevents her from passing
Spencer became the first worncn's basketball coach in
NCAA history to reach over 500 victories which came
with rout of San Jose State in the final regular season
game.
The winningcsl women's basketball coach in FSU
history, Spencer is entering his 23rd year at lhe four-year
college wiih a 500-202 lifetime and 120-78 in his seven
years with the Bulldogs.
Fresno Slate finished third in conference with a record
of 11-7 and  16-12 overall.
Returning for her second season as the Bulldog
assistant coach is Kim Bcllivcau, former University of
Connecticut assistant coach.
Chuck Bandelian returns for his third season as a
volunteer coach.
Joining the leam as a graduate assistant is Maureen
Sharkey.
' Sharkey's served al Oakhurst's Yoscmitc Union High
from 1985-87 as an assistant girl's basketball, volleyball
and sofiball coach as well as leaching history.
THE FRONTCOURT
Forward Yvcite Roberts, a 5-11 senior, returns to the
starting line-up in spile of a nagging left knee snd a
right ankle injury last week.
Roberts enters her senior campaign third in career
points (1.224) and rebounds (695). second in free throws
(343). fifth in steals (723), sixth in field goals (891) and
seventh in blocked shots (27).
Many records will be broken by Roberts this season
but she does not have any personal goals but docs for the
leam,
"As a leam I want the leam to be together as one,"
said Roberts. "I warn us to play as a team instead of as
individuals. I want us lo be more of a fast- breaking
team lhan last year."
Being one of lew on lhe team with such experience
and being on a team that has five freshman, Roberts
related her freshman year as one without patience, always
trying io do good and please the coach.
She sees the incoming freshman as lhe same way.
"I think I can show ih.-- ±z: :* ■_• - lot e&sica if you
just to put your mind lo doing a lot of other things
instead of trying to be perfect" said Roberts. "If you try
to be perfect you're going lo make mistakes. Just go
with it don't be so timid after you make mistakes,"
Joining Roberts in the frontcoun is returning center-
forward Srubek.
A 6-6 junior, Srubck gained added depth over ihe
summer through international competition with the U.S.
Junior National Team.
The main criticism of her play is a lack of
aggressiveness in ihe lane.
"I've been working against my teammates a little bit
harder in practice." said Srubeck. "With Deb Lorenzcn,
you really have lo play physical wiih her because that's
ihe lype of player she is."
She auribuies some of her progress lo fellow
ir-ammaies Lorenzen, center, and freshmen forwards
Mary Galnay hopes to tgnrta tha Bulldog's ottsnaa this aaaaon
photo courtesy Sports mfoiTnsrioiVStfve Prinfle
aa aha atlampts to recover born Inhirlas.
Dawn Stewart and Stacey Cornaggia because they are
more physical.
Her personal goals this season are to become a factor
in rebounding and scoring so she can become a leader on
and off the court
"I've been working on my defense more so that I
won't just be another 6-6 girl who can't play a drive. I
want to be able lo pby anyone," she said.
Spencer said that SmbeV is learning to be more
aggressive and is using the boards more and io use her
body to her advantage in the offense and well as defense.
"One thing thai she is doing now that she didn't do
last year is taking the ball lo ihe board." said Spencer.
"She is playing wiih more determination and authority
lhan shtr did last year." •*
He said it was too early to say what would eventually
happen, bui Srubek and Kline are in their respective
positions as a result of Lorenzen's redshirt stains
Lorenzen. originally from Gridley, Ca . will become
active after the last day of finals, Dec. 20, with her first.
possible game comingl2 games into ihe season in a
home match up wiih Louisiana Stale.
A junior, in her Gridley i!i,;ri School senior year
(1984-85) she averaged U points and 4.2 blocks per
game for an All-State, All-Westsidc League first learn,'
conference Most Valuable Player, and a selection lo the
north stale all-tournament team.
In her freshman year al Texas A&M she played in 15
games as a reserve averaging 1.8 poinls and 1.1 rebounds
per game wiih career highs of six poinls and four
rebounds
A stress fraclure to her shin side-lined her for the 1987-
88 season and  she only  played in one  game the
following season before deciding lo transfer.
--Three freshman have- vied for one of the iwo forward
'.positions.
X*6f Tuesday. Kline will sian in the No. 3 small
forward position. 4
The Atomeda product friginally from Oregon where
her family has a long alhlciic tradition al Oregon State.
Kline spcnl her senior year al Alameda High School
where she averaged 23 poinls, 10 rcbourids and five
steals per game earning All State. All-Northern Cal¬
ifornia. All-East Bay and All-golden Bay Alhleiic League
honors.
The move from high school play inio Division I is a
lot lo ask of a freshman, according io Spencer.
"It's hard." said Kline. "The people that come in io
Division I are pretty much the stars' ol Iheir high
schools."
She said lhe transition "started out in the summer
when I got ihis huge notebook full of all our
conditioning programs, our weight program and all
these things. Then you realize what kind of a
commiiment you've made."
Still much in contention for the starting position are
Brideuc Simmons and frcstiman recruits Dawn Stewart
and Stacey Cornaggia.
Simmons is a 5-8 junior guard-forward who saw
limited a.mm last year, her first playing in 12 gomes
and starting in none.
Her teammates voted her Most Inspirational last year
and is considered to be a morale builder, have good foot
speed and is effective m the fast break.
Stewart. 6-0. is Irom Canoga Park and is a product of
Reseda's Graver Cleveland high school. v
In her senior year she was named the Wesf. Valley
Conference's Most Valuable Player. A1I-WVC fir* leam
and All-City, Los Angeles All-Area first leam and Daily
News All-Area second leam stemming from her average
or 18.4 points and 153 rebounds per game,
Spencer said thai she "is the most physical freshman
we have had in the time thai I have been here at Fresno
State. She uses cither hand very well and is quick to
leam."
Cornaggia is a San 'Joaquin Valley product from out
ofChowchilla. •
The 6-3 forward-ccnicr averaged 16.9 points, 11.3
rebound and 2.25 blocks per game during her senior year
at Chowchilla Union and also nil 51 percent from the
field.
Her averages earned a second first learn All-North
Sequoia League honors snd led her leam io a 10-0 league
Please sec WOMEN, page 9
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