2008 Woodie Awards
Driving towards team history
LaShonda Grant, UIC women's basketball begin season hungry for a title
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 11/6/06 Section: Sports
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Last year, the UIC women's basketball team became the first Flames squad in history to advance to the Horizon League championship game. This year, pre-season All-Horizon League First Team recipient, LaShonda Grant, believes the team can make it a step further.
"We're going to shock the Horizon League this year," said Grant, the Flames senior guard. "We came close last year, but this year, we're going to get the title."
With five seniors and four returning starters, it's easy to understand why optimism would be so high. Coach Lisa Ryckbosch enters her fifth year at the helm of the Flames with a bigger, more experienced team. Seven players are listed at, or above 6 feet; something Grant believes will help the offense.
"I definitely feel like we are a better team, and we have a lot of players that can play any position," said Grant. "Last year, a lot of people were talking about how we didn't have an inside game, but this year we have a bunch of players who seem to want the ball, and they're looking to score on the inside. Teams always had to be concerned with our perimeter game, now they also [have to] focus on our inside game."
The focus of many UIC basketball fans this season will be the showdown with the Fighting Illini of Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Flames also take on two other Big Ten teams, Wisconsin and Northwestern, before starting the conference schedule at UW-Green Bay on Dec. 28.
"I can say that this is probably the most challenging schedule that we've had since I've been here," said Grant. "As Coach Lisa says all the time, 'we've got to be ready to defend these big teams that [might be] bigger than us.' I'm very excited. I love challenges, I am very competitive, and I am very interested in seeing the turnout to these games."
Grant, along with guards Kelly True, Krystal Hugelier, and Jacquay Holmes, are all entering their fourth and final season together with the Flames, and because of this Grant considers the chemistry 'wonderful.'
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"We're going to shock the Horizon League this year," said Grant, the Flames senior guard. "We came close last year, but this year, we're going to get the title."
With five seniors and four returning starters, it's easy to understand why optimism would be so high. Coach Lisa Ryckbosch enters her fifth year at the helm of the Flames with a bigger, more experienced team. Seven players are listed at, or above 6 feet; something Grant believes will help the offense.
"I definitely feel like we are a better team, and we have a lot of players that can play any position," said Grant. "Last year, a lot of people were talking about how we didn't have an inside game, but this year we have a bunch of players who seem to want the ball, and they're looking to score on the inside. Teams always had to be concerned with our perimeter game, now they also [have to] focus on our inside game."
The focus of many UIC basketball fans this season will be the showdown with the Fighting Illini of Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Flames also take on two other Big Ten teams, Wisconsin and Northwestern, before starting the conference schedule at UW-Green Bay on Dec. 28.
"I can say that this is probably the most challenging schedule that we've had since I've been here," said Grant. "As Coach Lisa says all the time, 'we've got to be ready to defend these big teams that [might be] bigger than us.' I'm very excited. I love challenges, I am very competitive, and I am very interested in seeing the turnout to these games."
Grant, along with guards Kelly True, Krystal Hugelier, and Jacquay Holmes, are all entering their fourth and final season together with the Flames, and because of this Grant considers the chemistry 'wonderful.'
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