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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1981)
Playing tall at center Lang orchestrates the post for Oregon If Alison Lang's off-season basketball work pays dividends, the Oregon freshman could be bidding for national honors next season “I’m going to work very hard during the off-season,” said the agile 6-4 center. “I really want to improve for next season I don't think that I have played very well this season So I’ll work a lot this summer and be ready for next year.’’ Lang may already be looking toward next season, but she and Oregon's 12th-ranked women’s basketball team have regional and national championship games ahead for the next month Lang, one of three Canadians on the began to loom larger on the collegiate horizon. When the Canadian national team was playing in a tournament in Squaw Valley, Calif., Oregon coach Elwin Heiny met Lang. "I'm really glad I chose Oregon," Lang says. "It’s been a great experience so far. I think that we have a great team, and I am really looking forward to the next few years.” Lang is looking forward to a lot of things — but mostly basketball. In high school she played on five different basketball teams. "I think that playing on the national team has been the best experience for me," says Lang. "On that team, I played with Bev Oregon squad, nearly chose to attend reign ing national champion Old Dominion over the Ducks. “I could have gone ‘If we play as a team... we should have a good chance in nationals’ io a 101 or suiuuib,_-— says Lang, who hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. "Old Dominion and Tennessee were two of the major schools that recruited me. I almost signed with Old Dominion." As one of North America's most recruited centers, Lang, also the center for the Canadian national team, could have chosen anyone. Oregon's need for a center sent the Ducks after Lang, though. Assistant coach Bev Bland made the first pitch at recruiting Lang, visiting her in Saskatoon just before Christmas 1979. No decision had been reached on which school to attend, says Lang. But after talking with Smith, Bland and Heiny, Oregon (Smith) and other players from which I learned a lot.” Lang has played on the national team for the past three years, and will again play on it with Smith this spring when the team goes on tour. On the Duck squad, Lang ranks high statistically. She is averaging 12.6 points a game and grabbing 6.9 rebounds per out ing, second in both categories behind Smith. Her highest point production was 34 against San Jose State. Against Seattle, she had 15 rebounds. Lang leads the team in one category — blocked shots. "Big Al,” as she is known on a team which sports two other "Alisons,” (Towriss and Bernhardt) has rejected 61 opponents’ shots this season, including a game-high of seven blocks. One thing has been evident this season of the Oregon team — the void the Ducks had at center in the past is gone. With Lang starting and replacements Meg Jones and Helen Higgs improving daily, the center position is one spot the Ducks will not have to worry about for a while. "I think that Alison has the potential to become the best center in the nation," says Heiny. "Her most evident role with us has been her defense. She can easily guard someone taller and she is very agile and mobile." Looking ahead to the future, the regionals playoffs and AIAW championship, Lang says if Oregon plays to its abilities the Ducks could go far. "If we play as a team and as good as we have against the good teams we have faced this season, like in the Giusti, we should have a good chance at going far in nationals,” says Lang. “We have an excellent transition game and that really helps when you play quick teams. "I just don’t want to be in the same bracket as Louisiana Tech or Old Dominion. Those two teams are tough.” But if Lang and her Duck teammates work hard in the off-season, as Lang promises, the Oregon could be up in the "tough" category next year. By Steve Turcotte Freshman center Alison Lang (52), seen here snagging the second-half tipoff against Washington State, has given Ore gon strength at the post. Photo by David W Zahn Hoop history records transition from One bounce to full-court press ^)nly one thing separates women’s basketball from men's — the dunk. And even that isn’t far off, some critics say. Indeed, women’s basketball has come a long way from the early days of the three-division court and the one-bounce dribble. Just a few months after Dr. James Naismith invented the game in 1891, the first women's basketball game was played in a YMCA gym in Springfield, Mass. It wasn't long before this East Coast phenomena found its way to the state of Oregon and the University. By 1895, women were playing the game on cam pus. Alice Chapman, a physical education instructor and wife of University Pres. Charles Chapman, found an empty gym and introduced the new game from the East Coast, says Keith Richards, University archivist. The popularity of women’s basketball soared in the early 1900s. The University Women's Athletic Association soon orga nized intramural and interclass competition. "Intercollegiate" play, how ever, meant a match with Ore gon State, then Oregon Agricultural College, at the annual Field Day between the two colleges, Richards says. Spectators were nonexistent. Games were slow and low-scoring. In 1913, the seniors beat the Photo courtesy of University Archives Women's basketball had been at the University 14 years when the basketball club of 1913 lined up for this team shot. sophomores in an interclass game, 16-14. Scoring was kept down partly by the style of play demanded by women’s rules. Women’s basketball started with a court divided into three parts. The guards were restrict ed to the back, centers to the center and forwards to the front. Despite the restrictions, women’s basketball continued to thrive in the United States through the 1920s. But during the ’30s its popularity, along with the popularity of women's athletics in general, dropped sharply. The decline was due to the “social mores” of the era, says Richard. "Women were sup posed to be women. Basketball was just not the thing done by girls anymore.” But the sport did not die. In 1936 a two-division court for women’s basketball was recognized nationally. But the players’ movement still was restricted While Oregon’s men’s basketball team was on its way to winning the first NCAA championship in 1939, women basketball players were still required to stay within their "zones.” The court was divided into halves, but the guards stayed in back and the forwards in front. The centers, or "rovers," were free to travel the entire length Janet Woodruff, a referee in 1941-42, laughs when she compares the sport then with its present form. Continued on Page 7B Cultural Forum Presents A SOUTHEASTERN MOUNTAINS SQUARE DANCE with JIM MORRISOJV Red-hot fiddler and dance caller from Charlottesville,' VA. “Jim is fantastic; a great time will be had by all ’ ’ —D. Reich 8:00 p.m. U of O Campus Friday, March 13 EMU Ballroom $2.00 admission -FREE WORKSHOPS IN TRADITIONAL DANCE FRIDAY Early American Dances 2:30-4:00 p.m. B-50 Gerlinger Annex SATURDAY English Ritual Dance 11:00-12:30 Room 219 Gerlinger fc'f Jse c?bs Ibe l atNEFnb m£NT \^ S 6 \v\ce Classic re el °one ,n y0UB SENtO PARTS AND LABOR 1072 AND LATER BUSES, RABBITS, AND DASHERS SPRING TUNE-UP SPECIAL ENGINE OIL & FILTER (IF NEEDED) • CHASSIS LUBE • ADJUST CAR BURETOR WITH FUEL ANALYZER • CYLINDER COMPRESSION • CHECK AND REPLACE IGNITION POINTS•ADJUST VALVE CLEARANCE • ADJUST FAN BELT . INSPECT AND ADJUST BRAKES • CHECK RADIATOR COOLANT AND ADD (IF NEEDED) • REPLACE SPARK PLUGS Parts & Service Open Sat. by Appointment |951 PARTS AND LABOR ALL VW BEETLES, PRK ’72 BUSES, AND ALL TYPI S’S 1980 WE CARE AWARD OF HONOR WINNER Our mechanics are registered Volkswagen technicians and certified by Niase. VOIItfEDT VOLKSWAGEN 20 Coburg Road • 485-6111 Du* to tha already low prlca ol thit apodal, no additional dlacounta will ba glvan Good Thru March 31 FOR ALL THAT YOU DO THIS RIM NEWS IS FOR YOU rv ^ ■pfcpfation & INTRAMURALS 103 Gerlinger Hall Phone 686-4121.686-4113 will be developed. Teams will be scheduled to play once a week. Games will be self-officiated or unof ficiated (team's choice). There will be no "official" winner. Get you entry in early. Teams will be limited. Softball - See list of activities in the box on this page for all spring activities. Softball has traditionally been Intramural Soccer at Autzen Stadium Special Tribute - RIM would like to salute the players of the Makani Marauder’s and Unclean Hands. Both teams will be graduating most of their players this year. They have been playing Inner Tube Basketball and Polo the past three years and exmemplifying the true spirit of PLAY. Our hats are off to you, best wishes for the future. Softball Umpires are needed for spring term. Applications are available at the RIM office. Interested persons must attend clinics on April 2 and 6 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. New - Action Program - RIM is beginning a new recreation program The Action Program will be a series of non-credit workshops, clinics, and courses which is designed to broaden and enhance recrea tional skills and understandings. We are interested in locating students who have special recreational talents/skills they would like to share with others. There will be a small fee to attend any Action Program. The fee will cover the cost of instructors and other expenses. If you are interested in teaching in the Action Program contact the RIM office now to make arrangements for spring term. FUN LEAGUES offered spring term in Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball. A fun league is just that, activity for fun. This is how it works. Teams turn in entry (available RIM office) after which schedules Intramurais Softball Tennis Track Golf Swimming Fun Leagues Volleyball Ultimate Frisbee Special Events Scotch Doubles Bowling Racquetball Singles Volleyball Doubles Volleyball Doubles Softball - Bat & Throw Tennis Mixed Doubles Tourn. Frisbee Golf Tournament Frisbee Distance & Accuracy Fun Runs duntuuLt ur al i ivi Spring 1981 Division M'-W'-C*' M-W M-W M-W M-W M-W-C M-W-C M-W-C M-W M-W C M-W C M-W-C M-W jt Players 9 4 4 4 4 6 7 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 • M - Men, W - Women, C - Coed ltd Starting Entry Deadline Date Fri, April 3, 4:30 pm April 7 Tue, April 7, 4:30 pm April 9 Tue, April 28. 4 30 pm April 30 Wed, May 6. 4 30 pm May 9 Thurs, May 7, 4:30 pm May 11 Thurs, April 9, 4:30 pm April 13 Wed, April 29, 4 30 pm May 4 Wed, April 15. 4:00 pm April 15 Fri, April 17, noon April 18 Thurs, April 16, 4:30 pm April 20 Thurs, April 23, 4:30 pm April 27 Tue, May 5, 4:00 pm May 5 Fri, May 15, noon May 16 Mon, May 18, 4:30 pm May 19 Thurs, May 21,3:45 pm May 21 April 16 April 28 May 20 RESULTS Basketball Men's I Men's II Women Co-ed I Co-ed II Racquetball Men Women Inner Tube Polo Co-ed Scotch Doubles - B Open FUN RUNS 2 mile men 2 mile women Partner Co-ed Run C J Cardoza Syndicate Oyment Hot Shots Sheldon Hall Sigma Chi The Trio Unclean Hands K Beaman/ D Flores Greg Rahn Joan Gearhart V Stuth/C Kanzig Schoolyard SuperStars Natives Six Packers SAE/KKG Moose Kappa Sigma Triple Whammie s Makani Marauders T Suganama/ M Imamura Tad Gotting Lauren Burch P Wornath / C Dawson our biggest activity spring term. Players are advised that teams will be limited due to budget limitations. Get your entry in early. (Available now at the RIM office) Forfeit Deposit Refunds for fall and winter term intramurals may be picked up at the following times this week Wednesday, March 11,11 00 am - 4:30 pm Thursday, March 12, 11 00 am - 4:30 pm Friday, March 13, 11 00 am - 4:30 pm Deposits may be picked up or remain on deposit for your spring intramural team Budwelser presents this page as a service to students interested In recreation and Intramurals. Publications of RIM News should not be Interpreted In any way as endorsement of the sponsor's product by the University ol Oregon.
