The Rice Thresher, Vol. 89, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, August 24, 2001 Page: 29 of 32
thirty two pages : ill. ; page 19 x 15 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THE RICE THRESHER SPORTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 24,2001
29
jit doesn't get much tougher than this
Irutal Lady Owl schedule includes defending NCAA champion Notre Dame
by Chris Larson
THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF
At least no one can accuse the
omen's basketball team of dodg-
g any bullets.
Tuesday, the women's basket-
all staff announced a schedule that
nks among the toughest in the
country. It includes a treacherous
four-game span in December in
Which the Lady Owls will face four
teams that received postseason in-
vitations last season: No. 11 Texas
Tech University, which advanced
to last year's sweet 16; the Univer-
ity of Arizona, which lost in the
econd round of the Women's Na-
ional Invitation Tournament; Loui-
siana State University, which lost in
fthe second round of the NCAAtour-
jjfnament; and defending champion
Notre Dame University.
It's enough to make any coach's
ead spin. But it's consistent with
head coach Cristy McKinney's phi-
losophy that to be the best, you have
to play the best, and McKinney has
been able to arrange home-and-
home series with some of the tough-
est teams in the country.
"The schedule is tough; maybe
in some ways too tough, but we'll
just have to see," McKinney said.
"But we want to play quality teams,
and when you have an opportu-
nity to have Notre Dame, Arizona
and George Washington play on
your home court, you don't turn
down opportunities like that be-
cause you think it's going to be
too tough."
The Lady Owls will get a chance
to build up to the killer four-game
stretch. They open the season with
three road games at Texas A&M
University at Corpus Christi, the
University of Massachusetts and
Cornell University before making
their home debut when they host
the Gene Hackerman Rice Invita-
tional Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The Univer-
sity of North Carolina at Greens-
boro, the University of Maine and
2001 NCAA participant George
Washington University will battle
Rice for the invitational crown.
After hosting Notre Dame, the
Lady Owls begin their campaign for
a Western Athletic Conference title
by traveling to the University of Tulsa
Dec. 30.
Defending WAC champion
Texas Christian University de-
parted the conference to compete
in Conference USA, but that doesn't
mean a WAC title will come any
easier. In fact, capturing the confer-
ence crown will likely be a much
tougher challenge, as Louisiana
Tech University makes its WAC
debut this season.
The LadyTechsters have consis-
tently been ranked in the top 10
nationally in the last few years. They
finished last season ranked sixth
nationally and advanced to the elite
eight of the NCAA tournament,
where they lost to the University of
Connecticut.
Rice, which returns 10
letterwinners from last year's 18-12
squad, will travel to Ruston, La., Jan.
26 and will host the Lady Techsters
Feb. 21.
m
2001-'02 WOMEN'S BASKEIBALL SCHEDULE
November
26 Louisiana Tech (WAC)
17
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
31 Nevada (WAC)
23
Massachusetts
25
Cornell
February
30
UNC-Greensboro*
2 Fresno State (WAC)
7 Texas-El Paso (WAC)
December
9 Boise State (WAC)
1
George Wash./Maine*
14 San Jose State (WAC)
5
Texas Tech
17 Hawaii (WAC)
8
Arizona
21 Louisiana Tech (WAC)
20
Louisiana State
23 SMU (WAC)
28
Notre Dame
30
Tulsa (WAC)
March
2 Tulsa (WAC)
January
5-9 WAC Tournament
3
Fresno State (WAC)
(Tulsa, Okla.)
5
Nevada (WAC)
15-18 NCAA First and Second
10
Boise State (WAC)
Rounds (campus sites)
12
Texas-El Paso (WAC)
23-25 NCAA Regionals
17
Hawaii (WAC)
(campus sites)
19
San Jose State (WAC)
29-31 NCAA Final Four
24
SMU (WAC)
(Atlanta, Ga.)
* Gene Hackerman Rice Invitational
(WAC) denotes a Western Athletic Conference game
BOLD denotes a home game at Autry Court
Owls' blocking could
be among nation's best
VOLLEYBALL, from Page 26
in two years, and McWilliams
went 137-55 in her stint at Arkan-
sas Tech University, where she
led her team to the NCAA Divi-
sion II regional semifinals.
"They're awesome," Elizabeth
Davenport Pollock said. "I really
like both of them and I know the
whole team really respects both
of them. They bring so much to
the program, not just knowledge
but enthusiasm and passion and
support. They really care about
us and how we do."
Most importantly, the Owls
say, they have a new attitude and
a new, enthusiastic commitment
to teamwork. Last season, tem-
pers flared and teammates pulled
away from each other, particu-
larly during the midseason skid.
This year, they say, things are a
whole lot more fun.
"Last year I didn't feel like the
team was very together," Neal
said. "We had a lot of discord
among the team, but this year I
feel like we're going to be stron-
ger. Already we're doing better
together and playing with each
other better."
Elizabeth Davenport Pollock
said comparing practice from last
year to this year is like compar-
ing night and day.
"We're emphasizing enthusi-
asm and being positive and sup-
port for our teammates," she said.
"It's a huge shift. Last year there
were lots of divisions — this year
practice is a lot of fun and there's
lots of cheering."
One thing Rice is thankful
hasn't changed much is the
team's strength on defense. Se-
nior defensive specialist Michelle
Craven anchors a defense that
ranked second in the WAC last
season with 17.13 digs per game,
and the Owls ranked second in
the Western Athletic Conference
and 15th in the NCAA last year in
blocks with 3.06 blocks per game.
Juniors Briana Cook and
Elizabeth Davenport Pollock led
the team in blocking last year
and should only improve with
another year of experience un-
der their belts. With senior
middle blocker Courtney Smith
returning for her senior year and
Kainz already having established
herself as a serious blocking
threat, Rice's blocking game will
be rivaled by few opponents na-
tionwide.
"The game's won at the net,
and that's blocking and hitting,"
Morales said. "Blocking's the first
opportunity to score, and now
with rally score even more so."
Rice will look to use its middle
blockers more on offense this
season, and the coaching staff
has devoted a large segment of
preseason practice to developing
the connection between the set-
ter and middle blockers.
"The middles are connecting
a lot better than we ever have in
the past," Elizabeth Davenport
Pollock said. "The middle offense
is going to be a huge part of the
team offense this year."
The Owls hope one more new
part fits into the equation this
year — Rice's first-ever NCAA
tournament berth.
"I know we're going to get to
the NCAA tournament," Neal
said. "I just don't know how far."
thresher-photo@rice.edu
loads of friends
magna cum laude
a faithful boyfriend
loving parents
beauty queen
So why does she
say that life is still
unfulfilling?
Have you ever wondered if them's something
mom to !»fe? There is. God. Find out what
difference God can make <n your lit;; See this
feature article "Reo! Life" on the Web at
www EveryStudent.com.
EveryStudent.com
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Liu, Leslie & Reichle, Robert. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 89, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, August 24, 2001, newspaper, August 24, 2001; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443210/m1/29/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.