With star duo gone, Utes regroup

From the day they stepped on campus, Julie Krommenhoek and Alli Bills were special players for the University of Utah women's basketball team, leading the Utes to three WAC titles and four straight NCAA appearances.

Now the Utes have to cope without the two guards, who started four years and played nearly every minute of every game when they were healthy."Alli and Julie were unique," said Utah coach Elaine Elliott. "The freshmen we have now may be as talented as they were, but they don't have the maturity those two did. It's going to take more time."

While no one will miss Krommenhoek and Bills more than Elliott, she is looking ahead and sees a lot of potential with this year's young team that has no seniors and just three juniors.

"I can't worry about it," she said. "I have this team now and have no reason not to be excited about it."

Only one starter, 6-4 junior Kristi Rose, returns from a team that included starting forwards Amy Alcorn and Angie Thill and backup Laura Ross Allen.

Rose, who averaged 7.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, will start in the middle while Tiana Fuertes, the 5-3 guard from Hawaii, will take over point guard duties after backing up Bills last year. Otherwise the starting spots are up for grabs, according to Elliott.

The coach has been particularly impressed with former Provo High star Lori Red, who redshirted last year after suffering an early season injury. "Lori looks great - she is one player that has stood out," she said.

Red and fellow sophomore Any Ewert will battle for the small forward spot, while sophomores Lindsay Sodja and Kristina Anderson will contend for the big forward position.

Freshman Erin Gibbons from Salmon Arm, Canada, has looked impressive and may start at the shooting guard position. The Utes were disappointed when ReShawnda Richardson, who would have contended for the off-guard spot, decided not to return to school this fall.

Fans will get their first chance to see the Utes Thursday night when they play a team from Estonia at the Huntsman Center. Their first regular-season game will be Nov. 14 at Bradley and first home game will be Nov. 21 against Montana.