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Show L: Let the 2009-10 Women's basketball season begin KIR A TERRY Asst. Sports editor With last years winning season behind them, UVU women's basketball is ready to tackle a new season. "We're just really excited. We feel like we definitely have the program going in the right direction and hope to build off of the momentum that we've had in the past," said head coach Cathy Nixon. Nixon comes into this season losing five seniors, Li but has six players returning and an additional six incoming freshmen. "It's easy sometimes to focus on the players that have left and the players that are coming in, but you look at that core of kids that we have returning and those are the kids that help me sleep at night," said Nixon: Even with such a chunk of new players Nixon is not worried and says, "The super six we have as freshmen are just a great group of kids. They are learning very quickly and I can't imagine a group of kids that would work harder than these guys have, they've been just awesome." This years seniors are Julie (McMurray) Smith, Asumi Nakayama and Blake Reynolds. Nixon does nothing but praise these three athletes. Nixon says Smith is ready for her senior season. "Julie had a great year last year. I think she's just ready to build off of the momentum and ready to step into a bigger role. She's ready to have a fantastic year and be a player that we can depend on, be that go-to player." With everything Nakayama has overcome the last three years Nixon says, "This is her team as far as being the quarterback and she's ready to have a great senior year. I hope this is the year where she can just relax and be the great player that she is." Nixon says Reynolds has been more than just a great basketball player for UVU, "She's a great communicator," said Nixon. "She understands what to do and she's a good calming presence on the floor. I'm glad she's back and brings experience. She's . ready to handle the pressures that she'll face as a senior." Along with the seniors Nixon really looks to the other returning players for contribution. "I think those are the kids that have already made a big impact and have contributed the last several years and they're ready to go and ready to step into bigger roles and fill any gaps that might be there." As far as this year's schedule goes Nixon says, "Our schedule is very difficult and will be very challenging for us, but 1 feel like it's the direction that our program wants to be going and hopefully will prepare us for our conference play and tournament." The lady Wolverines open their season on the road at BYU on Nov. 13 and will then have their home opener the following day against Mesa State. DAVE IBAAJVU Review Senior Julie Smith averaged 18.3 points a season ago and looks to lead her team to a GWC championship. Julie Smith: The 'hustle' of last season's Canadian duo returns for her final season KIRA TERRY Asst. Sports editor Freshman Kaycee Mansfield battles for a rebound against Montana Tech. DAVE IBAAJVU Review Wolverines take Exhibition win over Montana Tech [ KIRA TERRY Asst. Sports editor The women's basketball team consisting of six returning players and six freshmen battled Montana Tech in their Exhibition game winning 69-54. Senior Julie Smith led the Wolverines with 23 points, scoring 18 in the second half. "I think we all know Julie is capable of that if we can get her the ball in situations where she can go to work, then I have no doubt that she's going to put points up on the board," said head coach Cathy Nixon. The score was kept tight by both teams up until the last part of the second half when UVU stepped up on defense as well as offense. "I like the weapons that we have offensively and we have a lot of young kids so its going to take us some time to put the process together but overall I was really pleased with our effort and I thought some kids showed some really good potential" said Nixon. Freshman Kaycee Mansfield came into the game to score 13 of her 14 points in the second half helping the Wolverines seal the win. "The thing that I liked about it was actually the points that she scored really when the game was hanging in the balance, when we were down and when we took our early lead in the second half," said Nixon. The lady wolverines will open their regular season on Nov. 13 at BYU and will host Mesa State the following day for their home opener. more at UVUREVIEW.COM Coming off her best season yet, Julie (McMurray) Smith looks to have a great senior season. "I have to realize that these are my last competitive games that I'm going to be playing, so I have to make the most of every single one of them because I probably won't have too many more," said Smith With her marriage this summer to former UVU golfer Andrew Smith, last season's McMurray will now be listed on the roster as Smith, but the talent level of the power forward is still the same if not better coming into her final season. Last season Smith averaged 18.3 points per game and had a career high of 31 points in a win over Utah State. With practice well underway for the Wolverines and with some changes this season Smith said, "Practice so far is a lot of new things because we have a lot of new players so it's a lot of teaching and learning." As a senior with experience Smith has been able to assist the learning freshmen. Smith is ready with new goals for her senior season and said, "Every year I come in with the attitude that I want to do better than the last season in whatever that means, if it means being more of a leader vocally or if it means contributing more on defense or offense. Every year I just try to step it up a little bit." This season seems different than others because of the large number of incoming freshmen. "The biggest difference is definitely our work ethic this year. Those freshmen! bring a lot of work ethic to the team and they're ; always working hard and* always hustling," said Smith. 'i Smith says her career : with UVU basketball has: been great and is grateful for the friendships. "You build friendships that you'll have forever and that's probably been my favorite part." After three years as a student-athlete Smith still battles to find an equal balance in her life. She finds herself quite able to manage the task but said, "It's definitely tough especially when we go on the road for a week or 10 days at a time and you have to stay caught up in your classes." Smith looks forward to her final year with UVU women's basketball and said, "I hope we have a winning season and I just hope I have a good senior year, fun and enjoyable." After this season wraps up in the spring Smith will continue her education in PE teaching and will graduate after a semester of student teaching. Smith hopes to get into PE teaching and coaching and said, "One day hopefully I can. become a coach and have*' the same experience that ? we're having." > |