Oregon Daily Emerald Sports Improvement Is everywhere for Oregon women By Scott Simonson Oregon tX*\ l me*M What a difference .t year makes What .1 different e the coach makes l.ast season, the Oregon women's bfls kethall team finished tied for last pla< e in the Pacifn 10 (xmfereni e f file vs '*ek from tfie halfway point of tins v ear's conference season, Oregon is 11 r> and tied for second plat e 111 the conferem e ss 11is a V J ret orti Any game now. the I >u< ks may ss .ike up and find out they're the same team that compiled a rv.i'i record during the past three conference seasons I hen again f In gnn may prove that its last start really isn t a dream and mas end up in the hunt for an N't AA tournament berth at the t lose ol the season I think you pinch yourself and s.is boss fortunate you are to have this opportuni ty and to has e .1 team that's playing as svell as sve are right now. ' said hats Kimge Ore gun's first sear head 1 oach. after Oregon heat Arizona State on Saturdas Oregon won only three conference games last year This year s team won three before the conference season ss us three weeks old. Test year's sipiad won nine games all season I his year s team won nine by the lime the season was halfway through. "The fact that svo’ve Ixiaten UW and the fiit i that wove beaten Arizona and that we're tied for »« ond in the conference obviously they (the Pm 10) have to look at us as someone to be contended with, Rurige said "We're certainly capable of having a shot ;it winning the i onfereni e 1 probably shouldn't sa\ that, but 1 think we con plav with anybody in the confertmc >• Nobody's rushing to praise the Dm ks lust vet Oregon os eiveil three \otes in this vs res ■, Assih .lated Press poll I ha! s only MM votes behind No 1 ' Washington, whom Oregon beat two weeks ago. and a m ant HO7 votes behind No 1*1 Stanford, who is a half game behind the Dm ks in tiie i onferem e standings and play s ()re gon Thursday Since I've been here, nobody has rt-sjxs tell us, senior guard Missy t Iroshnw said alter ()regon heal Arizona Thursday When people think of Oregon basketball, they don't think of a great team or a real sm i essful program I think it s time that people realize that we're a team that peo ple are going to hav e to deal with. It wasn't a year of great evpei lotions for the Ducks The preseason media poll placed Oregon as the coilferem e's eighth plat e team Despite a nucleus of talented seniors — Croshaw. forward Debbie Spon.it h and (.enter Sara Wilson — com plenum!!*) by a bland of youth and expe rimin' in supporting roles. nobody M*wied to be gi\ ing the Ducks much of a t ham e What happened - The e onch gives the players e.nrdi! I he players give* tin' i oar h credit Both may bo righi Kurigi* has a< knovs lodged that shi* has ii group of players that are talented and hard working In a conference loaded with excellent pos! players, the tandem of Sport ich and Wilson are as good ns any oni' When the Duc ks open up their inside gaiin* with c onsistent shooting from the perimeter. the\ are a formidable team offensively This is nothing new However, in past years, injuries have hampered Oregon s i hanc es for sue c ess Spore h h and Wilson missed a combined eight games last sea son and sat out a combined 2*) games dur ing the 1991-92 season Oregon has stayed healthy this year Hie Ducks are also a year older, a year better and a year more experienced Wilson and Spore.n h are on pace to set career highs for points and rebounds averaged in a sea son C.roshaw and junior forward Jessica Se.hutt also could set career l>ests in scor ing The veterans have gotten help from two newe.omers, freshman point guard Cindie F.damura and freshman forward Arianne Dover How»*vt*r. Ihe most notable aucii lion lo this year's team has been Runge She has brought an emphasis on defense to an offense minded club Oregon is hold ing below -t 1 pen ent shooting from the field, after allowing better than 4r> [>er< ent shooting last year. After giving up 76 points per game against I’m -10 opponents last year. Oregon is allowing 67 points per game So what's the most important different e between this year and last year? None of the above The biggest change for this year s Ducks may he in attitude Kongo brings an attention to detail and preparation, a penchant for accepting blame instead of making excuses and exudes plenty of confidence "Everybody knows how much your mindset t an do for your game before you even get out on the court; it depends on how you think as a team and as individ uals." Wilson said after the Arizona game "I think that's the number one thing that has changed, our attitude Croshaw credits Kunge with the change. "She makes demands that we be focused and that we come with her. Every little thing is important to her and I think she's instilled that into us. She's a very focused person,” Croshnw said. Hockey gets its first win this year By Mark McTyre for tfv> Oregon (Xvfy f.meruk) Oregon hoc key pi< kod up its first win of the season in impres sive style last weekend by iaiat mg the visiting Idaho Vandals -V 2 Saturday night, before tying the remati h game -t -1 Sunday The Dut-ks seemed to bo a changed team in these two games. Their defense played well, offense was relentless, ami the strongest attribute for the Ducks was the play of their goalies In the first game Oregon goalie Richard Densmore was Fiternllv unconscious between *1lt+ P*opU* l Jlatv ScJtool jvioudlif o**\ l*\U ImUu** 01 “Bankruptcy, Knowing Your Rights Under The Law” Wed Feb. 2. 7:00pm Rm 129. at the Law School Ron Walrow. Bankruptcy Attorney will lecture and answer questions Call £— 345 -5841 {o\ rULih the pipes. "I haven't felt the same since the opening minute," said Dens more. Densmore received a concus sion when he was tripped up and fell against the goul posts, but he hung tough for the game and only allowed two goals on 2 t shots In the second game. Tom Halils replaced Densmore and allowed four goals on 32 shots Hot austi the goalies were play ing so well for the Ducks, the offense dot ided that hat tricks were in order. In the first game. Oregon for ward Brian ( lendenin picked up the pace for the Ducks after Ore gon's leading scorer Mark Adams put one in the back of the net early for a 1-0 lead At Turn to HOCKEY, Page 8A Recruits ready to sign Today marks (he first day college foot I si II teams (an offi cially sign high school seniors to letters of intent Traditionally, this is one of the most optimistic days of the year for coaches and recruiters, and this year seems to be no different at Oregon. Oregon head coach Rich Brooks said after last season that his biggest need in recruit ing was a kicker and punter to replace Tommy Thompson, who ft 1 led each of those duties for the Ducks during the last two years The Ducks have apparently received verbal commitments from a pair of high school seniors who can fill both positions Matt Belden from Glendale High School in Phoenix, Ariz.. and Josh Bidwell from Dou glas High School will both reportedly sign on with the Ducks today and vie for the kicking jobs. In addition to Bidwell, the other high-profile in-state recruit Oregon is expected to sign is Chad Normoyle. a 6 foot-5, 250-pound offensive lineman from West Linn. Other top recruits who have reportedly made verbal com mitments to Oregon include running backs David Crump of Stockton, Calif., and Kevin Parker of Oakland, Calif., quar terback Jason Maas of Yuma, Ariz., and wide receiver Patrick Johnson of Redlands, Calif. 103 GREEK HAPPENINGS GREEKS & CLUBS f.arn SA0S2S0 for y©p»u» up to SbOO tor your ciuty Th»a turn* art** cost nothing arxj taal t mm** Call now & ra c®rv« a fro© gih 1 ttOO 932 Oi*28 X 6i> 103 GREEK HAPPENINGS 103 GREEK HAPPENINGS IN { W» had » blaall » A XU Placement Adi mav lx placed ai Rmm 300, EMU (main office) or UO H>« Aslxrc. Main Floor t05 PERSONALS Jennifer. I Mef you In Reno. You're 24 yrs ota and a Psychology rnafx ro We to teR agon John 916 750 13/3 So we you e Freshmen or e Sopho morelT! Wi me! i/S». 1 30PM « Artyy'e-fcugene You ere e Gred eluOen! . 2 yr» 30. nice, triendy I em no rock el scientist, but hoping lo left tt> you i^em II you ere or knoe this per yon (Seeee cel (SMI N»eSB3 h mew 105 PERSONALS •May Chrti!" 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