Coach gives team B+ grade so far

The Westminster women's basketball team has already improved enough this year to make last year's season seem like it never happened.

"It's about getting better. Injuries hurt us but it was definitely a challenge," said Westminster coach J.D. Gustin.

In 2004-05, the women's team struggled to a horrible 3-27 record, but this season the Griffins managed to turn things around. In his second season at Westminster, Gustin brought in four new starters, including two freshman guards: Shannon Evans and Elisa Leader. They combined to hit six 3-pointers in an 84-55 win over Johnson & Wales back in December.

"For them to come from high school and contribute right away at this level . . . that's really big," Gustin said.

"We have really talented freshmen but we need everyone on this team," says senior Shalee Fackrell.

The only senior on the team is a good one. Fackrell made NAIA all-American honorable mention last year and figures to be the focal point of this year's team. She led the team in scoring last season, averaging 22 points a game, and also holds numerous career and season records at Westminster.

But it's been a struggle for the former Wasatch Wasp and Class 3A MVP. Tendonitis has prevented her from warming up with the team. Fackrell takes about 30 minutes before and after games to do stretching exercises in order to play.

"I'm to the point where I can go to practice, but that's about it," she says.

Freshman Amy Taggert is a 5-foot-10 center forward who complements Fackrell's game. She also has a nice touch around the hoop, and junior guard Alicia Haberle could be the most athletic player on the team. She averaged less than 10 minutes a game last year but shows a lot of improvement. The junior from Cottonwood started playing basketball while in her junior year of high school.

While this year's team is already much improved over last year, so is the rest of the league.

"We have to sell out and really have to want it," Gustin says. "The league is very tough. It will be very interesting to see how we match up."

The coach gives his team a B+ through the preseason, still wanting more consistency from the starters and better rebounding from the frontline.

---

WESTMINSTER SCHEDULE

    
            

        	
		
        
                
Jan. 14   Lewis-Clark State College
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Jan. 19   MSU-Northern
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Jan. 21   University of Great Falls
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Jan. 27   at Montana Tech
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Jan. 28   at UM-Western
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Feb. 2    Carroll College
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Feb. 4    Rocky Mountain College
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Feb. 11   at Lewis-Clark State College
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Feb. 17   at University of Great Falls
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Feb. 18   at MSU-Northern
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Feb. 23   UM-Western
    
            

        	
		
        
                
Feb. 25   Montana Tech