Site Map | Archives

Home › Sports › LoboZone

Women's basketball: Remaining Lobos vow to work harder next year

By Iliana Limón
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Next year's Lobos

Here's a look at the 2007-08 University of New Mexico women's basketball team:

Name, Class, Pos., Ht.

*Brandi Kimble, Sr., G, 5-8

*Dionne Marsh, Sr., F, 6-1

Amanda Adamson, Jr., G, 6-0

Angela Hartill, Jr., C, 6-3

Morgan Saso, Jr., C, 6-3

Stephanie Baldwin, So., G, 5-11

Amy Beggin, So., G, 5-6

Georonika Jackson, So., G, 5-11

Valerie Kast, So., C, 6-6

Christian Shelter, So., G/F, 6-0

Eileen Weissmann, So., G/F, 6-0

Kelsey Ansley, Fr., F, 6-2

Amanda Best, Fr., G, 5-11

Jessica Kielpinski, Fr., F, 6-1

Nikki Nelson, Fr., G, 5-6

Porche Torrance, Fr., G/F, 6-1

* Returning starters

Brandi Kimble left this year's NCAA Tournament with a furrowed brow and motivation.

Kimble, a guard and one of two seniors on next year's University of New Mexico women's basketball roster, said the eighth-seeded Lobos' 59-52 loss to ninth-seeded Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sunday hurt.

"It feels awful, but it reminds me how much work have to do for next year," she said. "We dug ourselves a lot of holes during the season. I think we all understand the only way to be more consistent is if we start working harder together during the off-season."

When asked what exactly she plans to work on, Kimble replied, "Everything. We're going to be very young, so I need to be better at everything."

UNM ended the year 24-9 overall and 11-5 in Mountain West Conference play. The Lobos rallied from an 0-3 start in league play to win the conference tournament title and make their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Lobos lose three seniors - guards Julie Briody and Katie Montgomery, and forward Timi E-Nunu. They all started this season.

Kimble and forward Dionne Marsh will be the sole seniors and returning starters on next year's UNM squad. The group will include six sophomores and five freshmen, with just one of those players averaging double-figure minutes.

UNM coach Don Flanagan said he isn't worried about the Lobos' youth next season.

"It's like last year. People said, `You lose Abbie (Letz), you lose Jana (Francis), you lose this and that, you're not going to be very good next year,' " Flanagan said. "We've been good for six years. You go to the NCAA Tournament, you're good. We've been good for six years, and I don't see us going downhill. Now, do we have a lot of work to do between now and then? We've got a lot of young people that make a lot of mistakes. Next year will be a year where we've got to experiment more."

He said the 2007-08 Lobos feature more talent at every position than he had to work with this season.

UNM struggled at times this season without a true scoring threat at center, a post player who could knock down 3-pointers or a small forward who had the size and skill to rove both the perimeter and the paint.

Next year's squad has players who can fill those roles, along with an athletic lineup that could allow the Lobos to unleash more full-court pressure.

Kimble, Marsh and freshman point guard Amy Beggin should be starters next season.

Sophomore Angela Hartill and freshman Valerie Kast have the inside track on the center position, while junior transfer Amanda Adamson, Christian Shelter and Eileen Weissmann are among the front-runners for the starting small forward slot.

"I think this year really showed us how hard we need to work to win at this level," Beggin said. "This year's seniors set a great example for all of us, and I just wish we could have done more for them."

Flanagan said Kast could be a major factor, but she has to drop the European hoops style and bad habits in the low post that infuriate her coach.

Kast said she was inspired by the small doses of playing time she got this year and is committed to conforming to Flanagan's fundamentals.

"I definitely want to get into better shape and work harder this summer to pick up everything Coach wants me to do," she said. "I know I can make a difference next year."

The Lobos' five incoming freshmen also could contend for major minutes.

UNM will add 6-foot-2 forward Kelsey Ansley, 5-foot-11 guard Amanda Best, 6-foot-1 forward Jessica Kielpinski, 5-foot-6 guard Nikki Nelson and 6-foot-1 forward Porche Torrance.

All five averaged double-figure scoring and led their teams to the state playoffs.

Kielpinski comes to UNM with the most recognition and success on a small stage. She led Mandan High to five consecutive Class-A North Dakota state titles and was named North Dakota Miss Basketball.

Flanagan said he likes the incoming class' aggressiveness and ability to crash the boards, but he added it remains to be seen how quickly they will be able to adjust to the college level.

Marsh is the type of player who can ease such a major transition, but she struggled to be consistent this season when she faced more double teams than ever.

Flanagan said he could not get her attention during the Lobos' loss to Wisconsin-Green Bay. She quietly scored 10 points, seven below her NCAA Tournament average, and only logged 12 minutes in the second half.

"I know that I have to work harder and just be better," Marsh said. "I understand the expectations, and I'm definitely not satisfied with settling for what I've already accomplished. We're going to be a very young team, and I have to be a strong leader."

While he was disappointed by Marsh's slump, Flanagan said he isn't concerned about her effort next season.

"Dionne's had a good career and that's something she can build on," Flanagan said. "And she's a senior. I expect her to be motivated like all our seniors."

Briody, who played her final game for the Lobos on Sunday, said she expects UNM's successful tradition to continue next season, despite the youth movement.

"A lot of the freshmen got great experience this year, and I know they'll be fine with Dionne and Brandi leading the way," Briody said. "That's the great part of this program. We worked hard to maintain a level of success, and we know next year's team will do the same thing."