Tip-off time for women’s b-ball

The season is finally here for the CSU women’s basketball team,

which will take the court for the first time in the 2004-05 season

at 5 p.m. tonight at Moby Arena against Western State in an

exhibition game.

The Rams will begin their regular season on Nov. 19 against San

Francisco, which will also be a home game.

Even with the regular season opener only two weeks away, the

Rams will not look past Western State, said sophomore guard/forward

Kylee O’Dwyer.

“There is definitely not any less importance in an exhibition

game,” O’Dwyer said. “If we lay down, or place a less importance on

Western State, what will we do with other teams?”

Assistant coach Marcy Myers said it is important to play well in

exhibition games so the team can build confidence going into the

regular season.

“It is extremely important to get off to a good start. It’s a

great confidence builder, and it sets the tone for the year,” Myers

said. “I think that every game is important. Every time you step on

the floor, you need to play your best.”

Although the Rams’ roster is void of seniors, the team does

return three starters to the lineup: juniors Melissa Dennett,

Lindsay Thomas and Vanessa Espinosa. Espinosa, who runs the team as

point guard, led the team in scoring with 12.9 points last season

while Dennett and Thomas rule the paint. The forward duo combined

for 396 rebounds and averaged 24.6 points per game last year.

Although head coach Chris Denker is still figuring out who will

fill the spots vacated by guard Jasai Ferrucho and Joy Jenkins at

the end of last season, O’Dwyer and sophomore guard Annika Walseth

are expected to see more playing time.

After the Rams play Western State, they will have one more

exhibition game against University of Colorado-Colorado Springs at

home on Nov. 13.

Denker said playing well in the two exhibition games will help

prepare the Rams for the regular season opener.

“We want to play well, show improvement and prepare ourselves

for our season opener,” Denker said.