by Tom Froemming
Issue date: 11/9/06
Section: Womens Sports
Minnesota State women's basketball fans haven't had a lot to get excited about during the team's last eight seasons. During that span, the team has failed to post a winning record and has lost more than 65 percent of its games.
Despite posting a losing record last season, something was different. There was something surrounding the program that hadn't been there in some time - hope.
While three-time All-North Central Conference selection Arin Andrews received the most attention, and deservedly so, last year's crop of freshmen showed flashes of what could be a bright future for MSU.
Four players in particular - Arin's little sister Alex Andrews, Flecia Foster, Heather Johnson and Joanne Noreen - showed they had the potential to be the catalysis of a turnaround. Foster started every game, led the team in steals and was just three points from being the team's second leading scorer a year ago. Noreen and Andrews appeared in every game last season. Noreen showed she could shoulder the load on offense if needed when she scored 17 points against South Dakota in late January. Andrews led the team in rebounding in two contests last season and is the best leaper on the team. Johnson scored a career-high 19 points against Nebraska-Omaha late in the season and was tied for the team lead in three-pointers made (31).
Adding to the optimism, Lori Fish has improved the team's record both seasons she has been head coach at MSU. While both years were baby steps, the team improved from nine wins in 2003-04 to 11 in 2004-05 and won 12 games last season, last year's recruiting class was Fish's first opportunity to add players who fit into her system.
This season, it may be a familiar face from the pre-Fish era that is most important to the team: senior guard Alanna Wahl.
Wahl has started every game the past two seasons and has led the team in assists both years. While she is always one of the faster, more athletic players on the floor, Wahl admitted she hasn't controlled her emotions as well as she would have liked.
"I feel like I'm definitely what some coaches might call a bit of a head case sometimes," Wahl said. "Basically, I just take myself out of the game"
In the past, Wahl would be visibly shaken after a call didn't go her way or she made a mistake.
"I just realized it's my senior year, I've got one year left and I'm just going to go out there and enjoy it," Wahl said. "Every once in a while I revert to my old habits, but I definitely think I've matured in that way. I'm still intense and I've still got a lot of emotion, I just use it in a good way."
Wahl's maturation couldn't have some at a better time as the Mavs have just five upperclassmen and seven sophomores and freshmen each on their roster. And while Wahl and Foster are penciled in at starting positions, Fish said there are at least five other players who will compete for the other three spots possibly for the bulk of the season.
"There's so many people that are capable and I think that's what's going to be fun," Fish said. "On any night any of them can go off and have a big night and hopefully our team can recognize who's hot and keep getting that player the ball."
"We've got a lot of talented girls that can come off of the bench and give us just as many good, solid minutes as the starters would," Wahl said. "Who ever is playing well, who ever is working hard is going to get the minutes."
Fish believes with the depth, speed and athleticism her team has they will be difficult to prepare for and will be able to wear down opposing teams.
"We want to be up-tempo and we want to be able to get after people defensively," Fish said. "For us to do that, we're going to have to play a lot of people to stay fresh."
In a conference that includes No. 1 North Dakota and No. 4 St. Cloud State, MSU's NCC championships hopes still appear to be bleak. There certainly is hope, however, the Mavericks can to improve their 12-16 mark last year and prove members of the media who selected them to finish dead last in the conference wrong.
The Mavericks start their season by hosting the Pepsi Tip-Off at Taylor Center's Bresnan Arena. MSU plays Minnesota-Crookston Nov. 17 and Bemidji State Nov. 18. Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m.
Tom Froemming is the Reporter Editor in Chief
