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lusl a freshman. 6-3 Debbie Sporcicb leads the Oregon wom
en ’a basketball team in both scoring and rebounding.
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Sporcich leads way for Oregon
Fresnman averaging double figures in points, rebounds
By Jake Berg
Emerald Sports Reporter
An old photograph of Debbie Sporcich shows
her as a baby seated on a blanket with a basket
ball almost bigger than the smiling toddler in the
picture
Today Sporcich is a powerful 6-foo!-3 forward
for the Oregon women's basketball team and has
no problem figuring out what to do with a basket
ball. Although Sporcich is only a freshman, her
play on the court has turned more than a few
heads, including her own.
"It's a big surprise to me." Sporcich said of her
success.
The freshman has consistently been Oregon's
top player, averaging club-bests of 16.7 points
and 10.1 rebounds a contest. Moreover, Sporcich
has hit a team-high 74 field goals for a .514 shoot
ing percentage from the floor through the Ducks'
first 12 games.
Coach Elwin Heiny is another whose head has
been turned by Sporcich's prowess In a game.
"You don't always expect this from a fresh
man." Heiny said.
All this for someone who didn’t even begin
playing basketball until the seventh grade and
even then wasn't that dedicated to hoops.
"I didn't get serious until my sophomore year
(in high school) Sporcich said. "1 had fun play
ing liasketball. so I stuck with it."
And Oregon is thankful that she continued to
play. Sporcich became an all-conference player
for three years and all-state for two at Pasco
(Wash ) High School.
Her best season was her senior year when she
averaged 1H.4 (mints. 12.4 boards, and 5.5 blocks
a game for an honorable mention All-America
nod from USA Today.
Before determining that Eugene was the place
to be. Sporcich visited Washington. Washington
State, and California.
Washington and (.al proved to tie just too big
for her liking, and Pullman, Wash, (home of
Washington State) was just too small. Oregon, on
the other hand, was "not too big, not too small.”
Sporcich said.
Sporcich is the cream of a crop of Oregon fresh
men touted as one of the best recruiting classes
this season in women's basketball. Also part of
the class of '94 are starting center Sara Wilson,
guard Missy Stowell — who has started five
games for the Ducks — and lesha Smith, a crucial
player off the bench.
"We really have some outstanding young play
ers." Heiny said, "and they will only get better.”
Other Pacific-10 Conference freshman have also
been contributing in a big way to their schools,
and tonight Sporcich will encounter one of the
others in Natalia Mattick. a 6-5 center at Oregon
State, who is averaging 18.8 points and 8.6 re
bounds a game.
USC’s Lisa Leslie is another freshman standout
in the Pac-10 who has already become one of the
best players in the conference.
Although Oregon fell in decisions at Stanford
and California last weekend. Sporcich totaled 48
points on 20 of 31 shooting and had 19 rebounds
in the two games.
What she remembered most though wasn't her
stellar marks on the court, but instead the mys
tique surrounding defending national champion
Stanford.
"I was in awe most of the (Stanford) game. I
was like '1 can't believe I'm playing Stanford,”’
she said. "|ust last year 1 was sitting at home
watching them on TV."
Sporcich hasn't let her amazing rookie season
go to her head; instead, she is intent on improve
ment and greater dedication to basketball.
"1 need to go to the gym on the weekends. 1
think that if 1 work a little harder, then my poten
tial will start developing." Sporcich said. “I'm
working on it."
"She hasn't let notoriety or success get to her."
Heiny said. "She's a delight to coach.
"She still has a lot of potential," he said. "Her
game will improve as time goes on."
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