Wolverines' Fairbanks shines

OREM — Sometimes in collegiate athletics, an unknown player will unexpectedly emerge from the woodwork, seize stardom and never look back.

Such was the case for freshman Robyn Fairbanks and the 2005-06 Utah Valley State women's basketball team. Where the Wolverines would've finished without Fairbanks is anybody's guess — suffice to say, it wouldn't have been a happy ending.

Although hailing from a small town in Alberta, Canada, Fairbanks had roots in Utah before coming to UVSC: she is a member of the LDS church, her father played offensive line at BYU, two of her older sisters were living in Utah County and she had a set of grandparents in Salt Lake City.

So when BYU decided not to offer Fairbanks a scholarship, the 6-foot-1 center fell into UVSC's lap. The Cougars, it should be noted, can't be blamed all that much for not knowing what they were passing on in Fairbanks — her level of competition in rural Canada wasn't near good enough to gauge just how good she really was. In a UVSC recruiting class of five incoming freshmen, Fairbanks was only supposed to be the third- or fourth-best of the bunch.

But once the games began in November, Fairbanks served notice that she was the real deal. In a season-opening loss to Jacksonville State, she scored 21 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.

The numbers speak for themselves: Fairbanks led the Wolverines in three major statistical categories with per-game averages of 17.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and one blocked shot. In 27 contests, Fairbanks led UVSC in both points and rebounds 14 times.

With senior Miriam Palkki (Timpview) providing veteran leadership, and freshmen guards Hollie Beaman and Sandy Marvin combining for 20 points, six assists and two steals per game, it's little wonder that the Wolverines were able to improve from four wins last year to 11 this season.

After losing eight of its first 10, coach Cathy Nixon's bunch played above .500 for the final three months to finish 11-16.

2005-06 at a glance

FINAL RECORD: 11-16 — 10-6 home, 1-10 away

MEMORABLE MOMENT NO. 1: UVSC beats visiting Gonzaga 60-51 on Dec. 30, avenging a 87-41 loss last year to the 'Zags.

MEMORABLE MOMENT NO. 2: Freshman center Robyn Fairbanks plays an absolutely brilliant brand of basketball in a Jan. 17 win over Texas-Pan American, scoring 32 points on 12-of-17 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals.