Nov. 8, 2010
Gonzaga University women's basketball senior point guard Courtney Vandersloot, from Kent, Wash., will be writing a season-long blog, giving Bulldog fans an in-depth and behind the scene look at the Zag basketball program. She will also start adding a sit-down video interview with select players throughout the year. Get ready for TALKING HOOPS WITH `SLOOT.
ENTRY THREE: Monday, Nov.8
I hope everybody enjoyed our exhibition game against Western Oregon this past Saturday. The score of the game may put out of sight the importance of an exhibition game to us. I don't want to undermine the fact that we put up 115 points, but it was a learning experience for all of us. I think even "a team effort" is an understatement. So let's break this down, we had 11 players play double digit minutes, five players scored in double digits and two finished with eight and two more with nine points. For those of you who were there, let's not forget the crowd favorite, Carter Schick, scoring five points, including a pull-up 3-pointer.
Now I hope you remember from my very first entry, how I mentioned the future of Gonzaga is in our freshman? All I have to say is...I told you so. Jazmine Redmon put on a show. Jazy was 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-3 from the free throw line, adding up to 16 points in 22 minutes. Stephanie Golden was the only other freshman that suited up, but did not disappoint. Golden had nine rebounds in 16 minutes to go along with five points. The only person to have more rebounds than her was Kayla Standish, who had 10!
Katelan Redmon, as I am sure you guys are growing to expect from her (just like we are), put up some numbers quick. In only 15 minutes of floor time, she scored 16 points. I don't know if everybody else thinks so too, but that reminded me of the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season against the University of North Carolina when Katelan came off the bench and scored 16 points in the first half alone!
Even though we are expected to win our exhibition game by a large margin, it's a great feeling to know we started the season off right, not just a win, but by playing well. Like I mentioned earlier, this game is used for a learning experience and although we had players put up big numbers, it more importantly gave us an opportunity to shape our roles on this team and that's what is going to help us through the rest of the season.
And I do have to say it was an amazing atmosphere and that's because of all you fans out there! We really appreciate your support and hope that you will keep it up through the season. You the fans make the McCarthey Athletic Center one of the toughest venues for opponents to play in. Thanks for helping us create such a great home court advantage! See you this Sunday for our regular-season home opener against Whitman. Game starts at 5!
**Check out my second sit down interview with a teammate. This week is with Meghan Winters. We talk about her dad Brian, a former NBA player and coach, her sister Keelin, a star soccer player at the University of Portland, and about Meghan's journey back from a torn ACL. Hope you enjoy! **
ENTRY TWO: Monday, Nov.1
In the spirit of games starting in under a week, I wanted to give you an insight on what a typical day for a Gonzaga University women's basketball player is. It's not a secret that we are busy trying to juggle school and basketball while attempting to squeeze in a social life. Instead of trying to combine all of our very different schedules into one, I will give you a rough outline of my daily schedule.
8:30 a.m. Rise and shine! Eat a breakfast of champions.
9:00 a.m. Weights
10:00 a.m. Get a snack to replenish from the lift and prepare for practice.
11:00-2:00 p.m. Practice Time!
2:10-4:00 p.m. Run to Class!
4:15 p.m. Head home, shower and eat a late lunch.
5:00 p.m. Go to the athletic lab to work on some homework.
7:00 p.m. Take a homework break to get some dinner.
8:00 p.m. Walk over to the gym to get some extra shots up.
9:00 p.m. Watch my favorite show gossip girl.
10:00 p.m. Bed time
Keep in mind that I am a senior and because of that I am only enrolled in three classes this semester. Our underclassmen are taking five. So if you can imagine my schedule with the addition of two more classes, that's what a typical day of a Gonzaga women's basketball player is. How busy we are depends on our class schedule and extracurricular expectations. Claire Raap is on her final year as an education major, so she is required to spend a certain amount of hours in a classroom. Between her required classes and practice, she must squeeze in time from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to spend time in her assigned class room. On Tuesdays, junior Kayla Standish has class and practice from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Although everyday is busy, some days are definitely busier than others. It may be far and few between, but we do have a little bit of free time and I think I can speak for all us that we spend it doing absolutely nothing but relaxing. Sunday night was an exception though. Our head coach Kelly Graves loves Halloween and puts together a pretty good haunted garage he calls `Spook Alley'! A few players and I go every year to check it out. This year Coach outdid himself. I went in twice and there were a few kids I saw go back multiple times. Coach even scared Janelle Bekkering pretty good when she was stepping out of the garage. It was pretty funny.
Well that is about it for this week. Off to practice, weights or class.
**Check out my first sit down interview with a teammate. This week is with Janelle. We talk Canadian National Team and Spokane. Hope you enjoy! **
ENTRY ONE: Monday, Oct. 25
Basketball season for everyone across the country has officially started. However, because of the recent rule change, the Gonzaga women's basketball team has already completed three weeks of practice. This will be my fourth and final year playing at Gonzaga and I couldn't think of a better way to start it off then to start three weeks earlier! We are coming off of a season that made the Gonzaga women's basketball history books. We are all excited to be a part of something that people will always remember, but the best part about it is that the members of this team aren't satisfied. We worked all summer and fall to make sure that this season we have the opportunity to be above and beyond where we were last season.
There is no questioning the loss we took from our seniors that graduated last year. We had an incredible senior class that was our leaders throughout the season and in the tournament. I know there has been a lot of concern regarding how we are going to replace such valuable pieces to our team. Well first I want to make clear that we have not found another Heather Bowman, or in that case another Tiffanie Shives or Vivian Frieson. I think we all know that those types of players and people are irreplaceable. BUT, I wouldn't worry too much about this Gonzaga team. What we do have are 15 very talented, hard-working young ladies that are willing to do whatever it takes to win basketball games. With that in mind, I won't bore you with the details you already know, so let me give you some insight about the future of Gonzaga women's basketball. Our freshman class this year may be as talented as the class we just said goodbye too. Our three true freshman (Stephanie Golden, Jazmine Redmon, Danielle Walter), and redshirt freshman transfer (Haiden Palmer) combined have the future of Gonzaga women's basketball looking up! We are expecting big things from the four of them.
I and the rest of the Zags are anxious to begin our season and we believe that we have the type of team to once again make history. I am not going to list the reasons why we believe this, instead why don't you be the judge of that and come support the team in our exhibition game with Western Oregon University, Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.! Come see and meet the future of Gonzaga, I spoke so highly of, in action alongside the returners from last year's Sweet Sixteen squad. Let's start this memorable season of right by packing the Kennel. See you there! Go Zags.
