WOLFPACK WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS FORWARD TO START OF 09-10 SEASON

Diane Schuetze takes it to the hoop (A. Snucins)


For immediate release: October 28, 2009

Kamloops, BC--With the start of the 2009-10 CIS season mere days away, there is optimism at every school. But at Thompson Rivers University, the anticipation of a new campaign is a little brighter for those connected with the WolfPack women's basketball program.

This marks the fourth year that Scott Reeves has been at the helm. After diligently recruiting and development his program, this could be the campaign which the seeds he has sown fill start to bear fruit.

" We should be more competitive and be able to close out some of those single digit losses we had last year," he says, referring to nine games which the team lost by ten points or less. " We are a year more experienced and have added some great pieces. Most teams in our league lost more than they gained. You look at UFV who we open up with this year and they have lost 4 of 5 starters from last year when we played them. We have 4 of 5 starters back. That is a difference we are hoping to capitalize on."

There are only three faces gone from the club which went 3 and 20 in conference play (Reeves has notched more victories each of his three previous seasons). Point guard Sarah Cameron (Langley, BC) played out her eligibility and has now joined the coaching staff of the WolfPack men's squad as a student/assistant.

Fellow guard Brianna Pound (Kamloops, BC) and forward Jess Franz (Surrey, BC) decided not to return to the program.

Reeves was quick to fill those holes. He recruited forward Karalyn Forsyth (1st year, Vernon, BC) to join her older sister Kayla. Alex Allen (2nd year, guard, Calgary, Alta) decided to move to CIS from the S.A.I.T. Trojans of the Alberta College Athletic Association following a visit to TRU in the summer. She adds depth at that position.

But the key acquisition came in the form of point guard Jen Ju (2nd year, Vancouver, BC). Ju takes Cameron's spot and Reeves has called her one of the finest athletes he has ever coached. That is quite a statement considering he developed players who went onto play in the NCAA and National Team programs.

And an added bonus occurred when Kali Ellis (4 th year, guard, Campbell River, BC), who took a year off to recover from injuries decided to play.

The WolfPack went 3 and 4 in the pre-season. "We had some shining moments and some not so shining," Reeves states That is characteristic of a young team that is building and trying to find consistency and a winning tradition."

TRU will open things up Friday October 30 th (6 pm) at the Tournament Capital Center against University of the Fraser Valley Cascades. Is it more special to open in the friendly confines of the TCC? says Reeves: "Not really. We have a lot of student athletes from coast so when we have the chance to play there we generally have good fan support. Playing on our home court will start to mean more once we are more experienced and have established a winning tradition here."

The game will mark the teams contribution to the CIS nationwide effort to help the CIBC Run for the Cure. "This is a great initiative that is supported by the entire WBCA and we are happy to contribute our entire evening to help this cause," he states. " Breast Cancer is a real life issue that affects a number of women and it's possible that someone on our team may be affected by it either directly or indirectly."

TRU and UFV will meet again on Saturday (Oct 31) at 5 pm.