Women's Basketball 10/23/2012 4:55:00 PM SUU Strategic Communication

SUU Women's Basketball Set for 2012-13 Season

There is a feeling of anticipation surrounding the Southern Utah University women's basketball program as it prepares for its first season in the Big Sky Conference. After facing a tough season full of adversity a year ago, the Thunderbirds are excited to return to the court with a group of talented players ready to prove themselves in their new conference. The team recognizes that a new challenge is in store for them this year, but look forward to the journey ahead.

“The teams in the Big Sky are very well coached and play very skilled basketball. There are some very talented teams that return a lot of starters, like Idaho State and Montana State,” commented SUU head coach JR Payne. “There will also be some change with us and North Dakota coming in, having new teams is always fun for everyone.”

Along with a change of conference, basketball fans will notice some differences in the style of play on the floor.

“We run a motion offense, but we are going to look to play more in transition than we have in the past,” explained Payne. “This group has more depth and pieces, like shooting ability and athleticism on the perimeter. There is good balance on the inside and the outside.”

The Thunderbirds will once again face a challenging non-conference schedule, highlighted by an early matchup with the University of Utah and a trip to the Basketball Travelers Invitational where they will square off against tournament host Texas Tech.

“Tournaments are always fun, and Texas Tech is a neat environment with a team that draws well,” stated Payne. “The back-to-back games format is similar to the conference tournament experience which helps prepare you for that opportunity.”

Southern Utah will return all five starters along with a supporting group that gained a significant amount of playing experience last year due to injuries. Leading the group will be the most veteran member of the squad, senior forward Tayler Anderson.

“Tayler is the only four-year player on this team, she has been a joy to have here and is a great example. She is our hardest worker everyday, she doesn't know how to do anything other than go as hard as you can and then keep going,” commented Payne. “She is the ultimate utility player, she does whatever the team needs. She will play everything from the one through four positions for us at times this year.”

The Thunderbird roster will feature only one other senior this season, returning forward Kimie Hawkins. After transferring to Southern Utah last season, Hawkins quickly developed into one of the team's best post players, ranking among the leaders in scoring and rebounding.

“When Kimie came here we expected her to do well. It is really neat to see how much she has grown and matured from last spring until now, she has worked really hard and understand this team's expectations,” said Payne. “She has added mental toughness to her game and I expect her to have a really great year.”

Also in the frontcourt for Southern Utah will be the team's leading rebounder from last season, Carli Moreland. The junior forward is coming off an impressive sophomore year that saw her receive honorable mention honors for the all-Summit League team.

“Last season Carli was thrown into the fire after playing behind Challis (Pascucci) in her first year. We expected her to play significant minutes, which gives her a lot of game experience going into her junior year,” explained Payne. “She has been working on the mental aspects of the game and is really becoming a complete player.”

SUU fans will look forward to the return of Desiree Jackson who is back for T-Birds after missing last season with an injury. The sophomore guard showed a tremendous amount of potential and skill during her freshman campaign, averaging nearly 10 points a game.

“It was hard for Desiree to be sidelined but she took the approach that she needed to learn. She grew a lot in her understanding of the game and gets better everyday,” stated Payne. “She is a natural talent, the game comes easy to her. She has worked on her perimeter shooting and added the 3-point shot to her game.”

Paired up with Jackson in the backcourt will be Southern Utah's leading scorer from last season, Hailey Mandelko. The sophomore guard is coming off a sensational freshman campaign that landed her a spot on the Summit League All-Newcomer Team.

“The game comes very naturally to Hailey, she can score in a variety of ways, she sees the floor very well and she comes from an athletic background,” commented Payne. “She is doing really well coming back and is shooting as well as before.”

Andrea Jones is back for her junior season, and will help bolster the SUU backcourt. After missing time early in the season due to injury, Jones came back last year to establish herself as one of the Thunderbirds' top scorers, averaging over 10 points a game.

“We need Dre to be more selfish,” explains Payne. “She is a great scorer and has scored the ball very well here. She is athletic and strong and has the ability to make significant contributions on both offense and defense.”

The T-Birds will also benefit from the return of key reserves Taylor Maynes and Brenna Gates who are both back this fall.

“Taylor is a great hustle player and earned playing time by sheer effort. She does anything we ask of her and always works hard,” stated Payne. “Brenna is one of the more talented players on our roster and she has a unique combination of size and athleticism.”

Also back for Southern Utah is Marquelle Funk. The sophomore guard showed great potential a year ago before being sidelined by an injury early in the season.

“Last year was disappointing for Marquelle after she got off to such a great start. She didn't look like a freshman, she played without fear and played her guts out,” commented Payne. “She fits this team perfectly with her long arms and big hands. She blocks shots, rebounds, runs well and has really worked on her perimeter game.”

Southern Utah will be without the services of DJ Norman this year, who will redshirt to recover from a recent injury.

The Thunderbirds are also excited about a strong 2012-13 recruiting class that includes Basia Klein of San Clemente, California and international standout Ashleigh Munns from England.

“Basia is really long and versatile. She is a scrappy hustle player who also shoots the ball well,” said Payne. “Ashleigh is as good a shooter as we have ever had. She also has experience playing in big games from the time she spent on her national team. Whenever you have the opportunity to play with your country's name on your jersey, that is really something special.”

There is also a lot of anticipation surrounding in-state recruit Lori Parkinson. The freshman forward from West Valley is regarded as one of the best high school players to come out of the state of Utah as seen in her selection to the 2012 Salt Lake Tribune 4A First Team and being named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year by the Deseret News.

“Lori is a tenacious player with an incredible world of upside. She is naturally gifted, she jumps and runs well and has big hands that help her rebound,” explained Payne. “She learns like a sponge and is a great teammate. I expect her to be a staple in the post for years here.”

SUU has also brought in three junior college transfer players who will add depth to the roster. Coincidentally, all three were teammates at Salt Lake Community College for the past two seasons. Joining the T-Birds this fall will be Sofia Hepworth from St. Anthony, Idaho, Nicole Newbold of South Jordan, Utah and Marissa Robbins from Lake Point, Utah.

“Sofia is a two-guard who can score the ball well and has a good pull-up jumper. Nicole gives us some depth in the post and shoots better than any other of our post players,” commented Payne. “Marissa fits our style of play perfectly. She runs well, she is long, she jumps well, she is a really good athlete.”

All together Southern Utah will feature one of its most talented lineups in recent history. The T-Birds have looked forward to and prepared for their debut in the Big Sky Conference for a long time and have high expectations for their first season in the league.

“I am more excited about this team than I have ever been,” stated Payne. “This a hard-working group with great spirit that has been able to put in the work and enjoy it. They have bonded well and I think they are ready to have a great journey together this year.”

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Players Mentioned

#31 Tayler Anderson: G/F; 6' 0"; Senior

#45 Marquelle Funk: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

#52 Brenna Gates: C; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#34 Kimie Hawkins: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#13 Sofia Hepworth: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#3 Desiree Jackson: G; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#5 Andrea Jones: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#32 Basia Klein: F; 6' 0"; Freshman

#23 Hailey Mandelko: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#24 Taylor Maynes: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#15 Carli Moreland: F; 6' 1"; Junior

#4 Ashleigh Munns: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#31 Tayler Anderson
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G/F

#45 Marquelle Funk
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

#52 Brenna Gates
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: C

#34 Kimie Hawkins
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#13 Sofia Hepworth
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#3 Desiree Jackson
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#5 Andrea Jones
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#32 Basia Klein
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F

#23 Hailey Mandelko
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#24 Taylor Maynes
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Carli Moreland
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F

#4 Ashleigh Munns
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G