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--> --> Nov. 15: Wilson era kicks off Friday New SOU women's basketball coach will bring up-tempo style By Bobby Heiken Ashland Daily Tidings "Believe it." That's the motto for this year's Southern Oregon University women's basketball team and first-year head coach Kevin Wilson says everyone's buying in so far. "I'm just trying to get the girls to believe in the system," Wilson said. "Right now they all do." After taking over in August after the departure of 11-year head coach Shirley Huyett, Wilson has installed new offensive and defensive systems and has the Raider women ready to roll. "The girls are so tired of playing each other," said Wilson, who comes to SOU after a successful stint at Colorado Northwestern Community College. "They just want to play someone new." The Raiders get their chance Friday night as SOU kicks off the 2001-02 season at Chico State. Wilson has installed an up-tempo game that is based on intense all-over pressure defense. "They are actually adjusting to it really well," Wilson said. "This is a whole different game for everyone. They are all starting to realize that they will get a lot more opportunities to score. "The last two weeks have been go, go, go." Wilson will return seven letterwinners from Huyett's squad that went 16-14 and advanced to the Cascade Conference finals. He also will benefit from a strong group of newcomers and transfers. The key to SOU's new pressure game will be the play of the backcourt. "All of our 1's, 2's and 3's will be interchangeable," Wilson said. "Anyone of them can bring the ball down and get us into our offense." Junior transfer Sara Marks (5-5) will start the season as the point guard. Marks is a former All-Utah prep star and was among league leaders last year at Eastern Utah Junior College where she averaged 12.5 points and 3.2 assists. "She's the quickest person on the team," Wilson said. "She goes all-out, all the time. She takes a lot of chances but we give her the freedom to do it." Returning sophomore Lindsey Hilaire will also see time running the squad. The shooting guards and small forwards will all blend together according to Wilson. Returner Melissa Core (5-10) and Linn-Benton Community College transfer Kelley Dexter (5-10) will earn starting bids at both slots. "Melissa has a great shot and she's added the ability to drive," Wilson said. "She's such a great free throw shooter we have to find a way to get her to the line. Kelley makes the plays you don't expect her to make. She'll come up with rebounds, assists, steals. She does everything." Freshman Heidi Beers will also see a lot of time off the bench. Beers was a two-time all-state guard from Sherman County High in Moro. "Heidi is very good in the open court," Wilson said. "She hustles all the time and has a knack for offensive rebounds." Others competing for backcourt playing time are Adrienne Dolezal, Pashanga-Kena Page, Kim Harline and Stephany McMullen. The frontcourt is where the experience lies for the Raiders. Juniors Jaime Stanford, Amy Tangedahl, Ashley Nunley and Kara Magee-Arick all enter their third season in the Raider red and black. Stanford (6-0) averaged 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds last year and Wilson expects big things out of her as she is slated to start at the power forward slot. "There is no reason anyone should stop her," Wilson said. "If we get the ball to her she should be able to do whatever she wants." Nunley (6-1) brings two years of experience off the bench into the starting center position. "She's our lone post," Wilson said. "She's really coming into her own. She's got the mentality that she owns the key. Ashley is our enforcer." Magee-Arick and Tangedahl will see big minutes off the bench, while senior Tara Murphy will also be a key reserve. "All of our big people can run the court well," Wilson said. "If they get down on the block we can get them a quick shot, and they all work hard for that." Wilson said he hasn't looked ahead to the Cascade Conference foes yet. "The way I look at it they don't know a bunch about us either," Wilson said. "This is going to be a different brand of basketball for SOU. We just need to worry about what we do. We'll take care of our house and our business." The Raiders don't return home until Dec. 18 when they host Western Oregon University. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing