Women's Basketball Preview - Part 6: UIC
Oct. 26, 2005
READY TO MAKE A RUN
What a difference a year makes.
Last season in early December, UIC Head Women's Basketball Coach Lisa Ryckbosch sat in her office wondering if her team would even have enough able bodies to field an afternoon practice session as her young squad had been riddled by bad luck and injury.
Now the Flames' headmaster, heading into her fourth year at the helm of the program, sits in the same chair with an excited glow about her as she thinks about the opportunity that lies ahead for her talented and deep Flames squad during the 2005-06 campaign.
"It was an invaluable experience," Ryckbosch said as she reflects on the hardships the team endured and eventually overcame during the 2004-05 season. "It taught our basketball team that no matter how bleak the situation can look it is never over until you let it be over.
"When we were 3-10 last year and down to seven scholarship players, we didn't quit. We persevered and that slowly began to translate into wins."
With the return of healthy players and with a will forged by overcoming adversity, the Flames finished the season by winning 11 of their final 16 games, including an eight-game unbeaten streak.
"The fact that we experienced all of that in one season has the players much more mentally prepared to deal with the little things this season that can get them down," said Ryckbosch. "They are ready to handle anything because they have handled everything.
"We have arrived at a maturity level necessary to reach our ultimate goal of winning a league championship."
Leading the Flames' drive towards their first-ever Horizon League championship is the return of five of the team's six leading scorers from a year ago in senior Chrissy Dizon and juniors LaShonda Grant, Krystal Hugelier, Jacquay Holmes and Kelly True. It's a combination of guards and wings that combined for over 51 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists per game while netting 149 three-pointers in 2004-05.
Dizon, who has gone from walk-on to senior leader at the point guard position, was second in the Horizon League in assists and steals last season while averaging 11.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. She enters this year with 81 games of experience under her belt and Coach Ryckbosch expects Dizon to be the floor general for this team.
"Chrissy has been with us since day one," Ryckbosch said. "Her talents and her role have evolved as the program has evolved.
"She no longer needs to be the entire `show' in order for us to be successful," Ryckbosch continued. "Her `chip on the shoulder' mentality personifies this basketball team.
"Her leadership will set the tone for our success this season."
Grant led four UIC players in double figures last season, averaging 13.9 points per game in just 22 contests. The talented scorer from Chicago's Marshall High School has become one of Ryckbosch's most lethal offensive weapons.
"LaShonda's game has matured in her time at UIC," Ryckbosch said. "She has always had an explosive ability to put points on the board, but her ability and willingness to share the basketball, and her commitment to stopping people, is what has brought her game up to a higher level."
Hugelier, who was one of just a handful of players to play in all 29 contests for UIC last season, not only averaged 10.6 points per game for the Flames as a sophomore and was second on the team in assists, but also developed into a more well-rounded player by picking up her game on the defensive end.
"Krystal was our most improved basketball player last season," Ryckbosch said. "She expanded her game and made herself a complete basketball player.
"Krystal has grown from her role as a scorer to an outstanding decision-maker, defensive player and leader."
Another experienced performer in the Flames' attack is Holmes, a player that forced her way onto the floor last season with her production. Often matching up against teams bigger small and power forwards, the 5-foot-7 Holmes averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
"Jacquay Holmes is a very good basketball player, regardless of which position she happens to be put in," Ryckbosch said. "As we began to turn the season around last year, it became apparent that we were a better team with Jacquay on the floor.
"She has taken her game to another level," Ryckbosch continued. "Her improved perimeter and shooting skills, along with a matured focus and dedication will make her a potent weapon this season no matter where she plays on the floor."
Rounding out UIC's crop of talented, returning upperclassmen is True, who split time between starter and reserve en route to averaging 6.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest.
"Kelly True has quietly made herself into an outstanding basketball player," Ryckbosch said. "Our opponents will be asking "Kelly Who?", as she shuts down their best players, runs the break getting easy baskets and knocks down shot after shot."
Adding to the Flames' attack in the backcourt is a wealth of depth with sophomores Megan Cummens and Bobby Zimny and highly-touted newcomers Jackie Parker and Meghan Hutchens giving Ryckbosch plenty of options.
"We finally have a core of veterans who understand what we are trying to do," Ryckbosch said. "Add to that a hungry group of newcomers and you have the experience and the depth to really get after people.
"Junior college transfer Jackie Parker has the ability to be an impact player by dominating defensively," Ryckbosch continued. "We will be up the floor battling people for every step on the court.
"We will be a dangerous team because we have so many people that can do so many things. We can run, we can shoot three's and we can play post up basketball: we can play!"
While the Flames seemingly have an endless supply of talented guards and wings, Ryckbosch will have to nurture a relatively inexperienced crop of post players with sophomore Nicole Rinaldi the only returnee with any significant game action under her belt.
UIC will miss the contributes of D.J. Flournoy, Chastity Quinn and Amber Washington, but Ryckbosch has restocked the frontcourt cupboard with plenty of newcomer talent in Nikki Grobbecker, Ashley Hluska and Jill Hushka.
"What I like about this group is that they are not going to settle for just sitting back and saying `Oh, we're just freshmen and don't know any better', they are competing," Ryckbosch said. "Now, do they have a lot to learn? Yes. Do they have some developing to go through? Absolutely.
"But despite that, they are pushing the veterans."
Ryckbosch has really liked what she has seen thus far out of Grobbecker and Hluska in the post and has hopes for both have an impact in 2005-06.
"Nikki and Ashley give us an inside physical presence that we had in D.J. (Flournoy), but only had for half the time she was here because of injury," Ryckbosch said. "Jill Hushka adds the ability to face up and knock down jump shots.
"I expect each of the freshmen to make their presence felt."
As Ryckbosch scans the landscape of the competitors standing in her way of a league crown, she once again notices the strides Horizon League women's basketball continues to make.
"There is no question every team in this league has gotten better and it has been getting better every year since I've been here," Ryckbosch said. "(Defending Horizon League champion) UW-Green Bay deserves to have the title as top team until someone takes it from them, but I think the gap between Green Bay and the rest of the league is closing fast."
The 2005-06 Flames have the talent this season. They have the depth they need this season to contend for their first-ever league crown. They also have a fighter's attitude, forged by overcoming a season of adversity, giving Ryckbosch plenty to be hopeful about as the season, which kicks off on November 18th at Bradley, gets ready to begin.
"The lessons of last season's trials and tribulations have this team ready to reach new heights," Ryckbosch said. "We can't wait to get started."
Story provided by UIC Office of Sports Information
