CSU basketball starts against Prague team

November means the start of the basketball season for the CSU

women’s basketball team.

CSU hosts Sparta Praha in Moby Arena at 7 p.m. Wednesday in

their first of two preseason match ups.

Chris Denker begins his second season as head coach of the Rams

with an overall record of 61-31 (21-13 at CSU).

“I’m actually excited and nervous at the same time,” Denker

said.

Sparta Praha, a club team from Prague, Czech Republic, is one of

eight women’s teams associated with Basketball Travelers, Inc. The

club started in 1946 and since then has been Czech champions 23

times.

Head Coach Petr Fejk leads a team that includes three players

from the United States: Jamie Rhodes, a 5-foot-11 guard originally

from Midland, Texas, Ellen Geraghty, a 5-8 guard from Winsted,

Conn., and Leah Sharp, a 5-foot-10 guard from Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Sparta Praha also has Irena Spirkova, a 6-foot-3, 21-year-old

player from Prague. Spirkova was a member of the 2001 Czech

Republic junior world championship team that defeated the defending

champion United States team in the medal semifinals.

“They’re big,” Denker said of Sparta. “And usually (foreign

teams) have more experience.”

The Rams return only one starter with senior guard Jasai

Ferrucho. Four seniors were lost to graduation, but four letter

winners will return. Letter winner and senior forward, Joy Jenkins,

received an honorable mention in the 2002-2003 MWC. Jenkins may be

held out of the game due to a concussion.

Ferrucho, Jenkins and junior guard Ashley Venekamp lead a young

team that includes five freshmen and four sophomores.

Denker said he is pleased with the progress of the new

players.

“They’re doing really well,” Denker said. “We’re happy with our

young kids.”

The Rams have won 16 straight games at Moby and hope for a 17th

against Sparta Praha.