Women's Basketball Preview Part 4: UIC
Nov. 15, 2004
It's understood that you must walk before you can run.
With six newcomers gaining a year of experience last season, the University of Illinois at Chicago women's basketball team is ready for an all-out sprint through the 2004-05 campaign.
UIC Head Coach Lisa Ryckbosch knew that there would be some growing pains, but the third-year skipper has been impressed with her squad's development since last season.
"It's incredible since we've been back to see how far these kids have come," Ryckbosch said. "I feel like I constantly compare coaching to parenthood.
"You don't notice every day how much they are growing and improving, and yet when you take a step back it almost slaps you in the face."
Helping UIC's cause for a run towards its first Horizon League title is the return of all five starters to the hardwood, including 2004 All-Horizon League second-team selection, Chrissy Dizon.
Ryckbosch has high expectations for Dizon, who joined the team as a walk-on, earned a scholarship and led the team in scoring as a sophomore with 14.3 points per game.
"Chrissy is a player that one of her greatest strengths is her `chip on the shoulder' mentality because she tends to be smaller than most of the players she plays against," Ryckbosch said. "There's an underdog attitude there that people don't expect her to be as good as she is and I think she does a great job of feeding off of and using it as motivation to prove that she's a good basketball player.
"This year I expect what Chrissy has done in the past, along with another year of experience on her part, to really show itself in her ability to lead and run the team," Ryckbosch continued. "To know the difference when she needs to go get a shot for us or get a shot for someone else.
"As she continues to do that, she'll have the potential to be one of the best, if not best point guard in the league."
Dizon will be joined in the backcourt by sophomores LaShonda Grant and Krystal Hugelier, both 2004 All-Horizon League Newcomer team selections. That trio tied for the most Horizon League postseason awards and combined for 116 three pointers, which accounted for 72.5% of the Flames' treys during the 2003-04 campaign. UIC finished with 160 three-pointers, breaking the school-record of 157 set by the 1999-2000 squad.
Hugelier was third on the team in scoring, pouring in 9.1 points per contest, while Grant chipped in 7.1 points, including 13.4 points over the last seven games.
"I expect (Krystal Hugelier) to continue to do very well for us," Ryckbosch said. "She achieved a lot for us as a freshman and she carried a big load.
"To be able to go through what she did (missing the first 35 practices with a sprained ankle) and to finish as our third leading scorer is a tribute to her talent and perseverance and I expect that to grow."
Ryckbosch has been most impressed with the development of Grant.
"Shonda's ability to score has grown in leaps and bounds and I want to be able to play to that strength, put the ball in her hands and get us baskets," Ryckbosch said. "Take that talent and put that together with a better understanding of the game and you've got a heck of a basketball player."
Ryckbosch will also welcome the return of senior forward Dejeanette Flournoy to the line-up. Flournoy, who missed action in 12 games due to a bone bruise on her knee, averaged a double-double of 11.9 points and 10.3 rebounds last season.
"Dee brings a tremendous, physical, resilient presence inside and that's contagious," Ryckbosch said. "Her relentless pursuit of a rebound that in it of itself, the more rebounds you get, the more possessions you create for yourself and the more chances you have for baskets.
"Obviously it's a simple reward of her efforts," Ryckbosch continued. "That attitude leads to good results for our basketball team in the form of rebounds, defensive stops, fast break opportunities, energy, excitement and things that set the table for other good things we do.
"I think DJ is capable of dominating the Horizon League."
Dizon, Flournoy, Grant and Hugelier each scored 20 points in at least one game for the Flames last season. Ryckbosch believes that will force match-up problems for their opponents.
"Ultimately, I'd like to have a team where everyone is averaging 10 points a game," Ryckbosch said. "That makes it harder for other teams to stop us, if you take away one weapon, you always have someone else."
Chastity Quinn will join Flournoy in the frontcourt, rounding out the returning starters for the Flames. Quinn, who has not missed a game during her career at UIC, tallied a career-high 5.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per outing during her junior season.
Ryckbosch will also have a deep bench as forward Jacquay Holmes, guard Kelly True and center Amber Washington all started at least once last season and averaged at least 13.7 minutes a game.
Holmes, who averaged 3.6 points and 2.5 boards per game as a freshman, could emerge as the surprise of the squad, according to Ryckbosch.
"(Quay) has an exceptional ability, when she sees something, to get the ball there and get it there in an efficient way," Ryckbosch said. "You put her against a smaller person, she can post her up, take her to the rack. I've been really impressed with her.
"She's somebody where I'm seeing flashes of `Wow, this kid might do something really special," Ryckbosch continued. "I don't think other teams looking at our roster are looking at Quay as a threat and I think she has the potential to be.
"When she stops, looks and reads, she's as good as anyone that we have."
Last season, when Ryckbosch would look for a defensive stopper, she would find it in guard Kelly True. Over the summer, True has developed her offensive game, allowing herself to become a solid player at both ends of the court.
As a freshman, True averaged 3.8 points and 2.1 boards per game, while shooting 31.9% (15-for-47) from three-point range.
"Kelly True is a player," Ryckbosch said. "She can shoot and has drastically improved her ability to handle the basketball.
"Defensively, she's one of our best players understanding our defensive concepts and positioning," Ryckbosch continued. "But top to bottom, I think because we had so many people, I'm not sure other teams picked up the good things that Kelly was doing and yet I feel like she's ready to put that together and surprise our opponents.
"Kelly is a great secret weapon."
Washington, who split time at center with Kelsey Duoss last season, will have to pick up the slack now that Duoss has left the squad to pursue other academic endeavors. As a junior, Washington averaged 3.7 points and was second on the squad with 4.0 rebounds per contest.
Ryckbosch believes that Washington will step up to the challenge.
"I think (Amber) is actually excited about the situation," Ryckbosch said. "She knows she's going to have to step and carry a bigger load.
"Amber is approaching this as a real positive and an opportunity for her to show what she can do because she's a real talented kid," Ryckbosch continued. "She's capable of dominating the backboards and capable of being pretty tough to stop scoring."
The Flames will also welcome incoming freshmen Megan Cummens, Tarrah Miller and Nicole Rinaldi to the squad. Cummens and Rinaldi both hail from Illinois, while Miller is an Indiana product.
As a whole, Ryckbosch believes that her squad will truly be the definition of a `team'.
"Everyone is going to contribute and be a part of our success this season," Ryckbosch said. "Everyone has to take the responsibility of their contribution because if they don't, we won't be successful."
"When you are in a situation that you know you have to do your share, or the whole doesn't have a chance to get it done," Ryckbosch continued. "That's a challenge, but you know you're going to have a chance to make a difference."
Despite a 12-16 record in 2003-04, Ryckbosch is proud of the fact that her squad had a chance to win nearly every game.
"Take that experience with the fact that we have a year of experience under our belts, to me, those close games are going to come in our favor because we're older, wiser and better," Ryckbosch said.
