University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Basketball Preview: Backcourt
10/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Gopher women’s basketball team will kick off the season with an exhibition game against Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in Williams Arena. It will be a fresh start, as the Gophers look to rebound from a 13-17 season and return to the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota graduated five seniors last season, and there are four new faces on the roster this year. A preview of what to watch for in the Gophers’ backcourt follows below.
The Gophers lost point guard Brittany McCoy to graduation. McCoy led the team in assists and steals on the way to being named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Katie Ohm, one of the Gophers’ all-time leading three-point shooters, also graduated. This year, senior tri-captain China Antoine will be key to Minnesota's success. Coming in as a transfer last year, she became one of the Gophers’ top weapons before going down with an injury in mid-January. When healthy, the 5-3 Antoine played some shooting guard and also split point guard duties with McCoy. Antoine led the team in three-point field goals and three-point percentage, making 48 of 116 attempts (41.4 percent). In addition to being lethal from behind the arc, Antoine was second to McCoy in both assists (59) and steals (47). This year, with McCoy gone, she will have more responsibility in the point guard slot.
“Obviously we are really excited that China is healthy this year,” Minnesota head coach Pam Borton said. “She’s ready to go, ready to dive in there. China became our go to player last year in December, and really did a great job for us when healthy. China is a competitor. She’s got fire in her belly…We’re going to really be relying on China a lot this year as far as her leadership and her production as a player.”
Another big factor for Minnesota will be 5-11 junior tri-captain Kiara Buford. She earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors last year after leading the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game. Buford also averaged 4.3 rebounds per game and had 57 assists and 40 steals over the season. A starter in every game last year, she will provide some stability in the Gophers’ lineup.
“Kiara I think has gotten better and better the first two years that she’s been here,” Borton said. “I know she’s worked on her game quite a bit. She’s a very skilled and athletic player. She’s improved her leadership over the summer. She is an extremely versatile player, and I think that’s the best way to describe her. Kiara can play both ends of the floor, she can do a wide variety of things offensively, and I think the best is yet to come for her.”
Antoine and Buford will be the leaders of Minnesota's backcourt, but they will need other players to step up, too. Sophomore Leah Cotton is someone who could help the team. The 5-8 Cotton showed some sparks early in the season, leading the team with 15 points in a November win over North Dakota State. She didn’t have as much impact later in the season, but with a year of experience added to her energy and ability, this year could be better.
“I think we are expecting big things from Leah this year,” Borton said. “I think her ability to penetrate to the basket is a strength of hers. I think we are going to need more out of Leah this year than last year, and hopefully with last year being a learning year, she is going to come and contribute a lot more for our team this year.”
Borton also thinks Brianna and Nicole Mastey, both 6-1 juniors, could contribute more this season. Brianna Mastey put in minutes off the bench in 25 of the Gophers’ 30 games in 2009-10.
“I think her athleticism and her size and her ability to play the wing position would benefit our team and benefit her,” Borton said. “I think she’s a good rebounder, she’s a player that has really worked on her shot, and she’s a player who can also get to the rim, so we’re looking for Brianna to continue her growth as a college basketball player and looking forward to seeing more production from her.”
Nicole Mastey provides another option off the bench for Minnesota.
“I think Nicole is one of the hardest workers on the team,” Borton said. “I think she’s gotten a lot better in the off-season, and I think her versatility is going to be important in her development as a college basketball player and just being able to play on the perimeter facing the basket at her size.”
Sari Noga, a 5-10 freshman, could provide a threat from three. At Parkers Prairie High School, she once made 13 triples in a game. She played six years of high school varsity basketball.
“She is a player who gets it,” Borton said. “Her dad was a coach. She’s an easy player to talk to and she communicates extremely well. She has such a bright future ahead of her as a Gopher, just being a great leader for this team.”
--Athletic Communications Student Assistant Justine Buerkle
The Gophers lost point guard Brittany McCoy to graduation. McCoy led the team in assists and steals on the way to being named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Katie Ohm, one of the Gophers’ all-time leading three-point shooters, also graduated. This year, senior tri-captain China Antoine will be key to Minnesota's success. Coming in as a transfer last year, she became one of the Gophers’ top weapons before going down with an injury in mid-January. When healthy, the 5-3 Antoine played some shooting guard and also split point guard duties with McCoy. Antoine led the team in three-point field goals and three-point percentage, making 48 of 116 attempts (41.4 percent). In addition to being lethal from behind the arc, Antoine was second to McCoy in both assists (59) and steals (47). This year, with McCoy gone, she will have more responsibility in the point guard slot.
“Obviously we are really excited that China is healthy this year,” Minnesota head coach Pam Borton said. “She’s ready to go, ready to dive in there. China became our go to player last year in December, and really did a great job for us when healthy. China is a competitor. She’s got fire in her belly…We’re going to really be relying on China a lot this year as far as her leadership and her production as a player.”
Another big factor for Minnesota will be 5-11 junior tri-captain Kiara Buford. She earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors last year after leading the team in scoring with 13.1 points per game. Buford also averaged 4.3 rebounds per game and had 57 assists and 40 steals over the season. A starter in every game last year, she will provide some stability in the Gophers’ lineup.
“Kiara I think has gotten better and better the first two years that she’s been here,” Borton said. “I know she’s worked on her game quite a bit. She’s a very skilled and athletic player. She’s improved her leadership over the summer. She is an extremely versatile player, and I think that’s the best way to describe her. Kiara can play both ends of the floor, she can do a wide variety of things offensively, and I think the best is yet to come for her.”
Antoine and Buford will be the leaders of Minnesota's backcourt, but they will need other players to step up, too. Sophomore Leah Cotton is someone who could help the team. The 5-8 Cotton showed some sparks early in the season, leading the team with 15 points in a November win over North Dakota State. She didn’t have as much impact later in the season, but with a year of experience added to her energy and ability, this year could be better.
“I think we are expecting big things from Leah this year,” Borton said. “I think her ability to penetrate to the basket is a strength of hers. I think we are going to need more out of Leah this year than last year, and hopefully with last year being a learning year, she is going to come and contribute a lot more for our team this year.”
Borton also thinks Brianna and Nicole Mastey, both 6-1 juniors, could contribute more this season. Brianna Mastey put in minutes off the bench in 25 of the Gophers’ 30 games in 2009-10.
“I think her athleticism and her size and her ability to play the wing position would benefit our team and benefit her,” Borton said. “I think she’s a good rebounder, she’s a player that has really worked on her shot, and she’s a player who can also get to the rim, so we’re looking for Brianna to continue her growth as a college basketball player and looking forward to seeing more production from her.”
Nicole Mastey provides another option off the bench for Minnesota.
“I think Nicole is one of the hardest workers on the team,” Borton said. “I think she’s gotten a lot better in the off-season, and I think her versatility is going to be important in her development as a college basketball player and just being able to play on the perimeter facing the basket at her size.”
Sari Noga, a 5-10 freshman, could provide a threat from three. At Parkers Prairie High School, she once made 13 triples in a game. She played six years of high school varsity basketball.
“She is a player who gets it,” Borton said. “Her dad was a coach. She’s an easy player to talk to and she communicates extremely well. She has such a bright future ahead of her as a Gopher, just being a great leader for this team.”
--Athletic Communications Student Assistant Justine Buerkle
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