By Loren Miller, USU Eastern Sports Information:
PRICE – Women’s basketball opens their 2018-2019 this Friday and will have almost a completely new look when the ball tips in Ephraim.
Fourth-year head coach Chelsey Warburton brings back three key players from last year’s squad that finished 18-13 and lost in the Region XVIII semifinals.
Sophomores Abby Butler, Alyssa Crumley and Brooklynn Barrus return for the Eagles as captains expected to lead a group of 11 freshman through one of the toughest basketball conferences in the country.
“We have a lot of talent, we are super athletic and we are getting better each day. We are all learning new things since there is so many new girls and its a good experience for all of us,” said Crumley.
Barrus will be a vocal leader this season as she sits courtside next to her coaches while rehabbing from an injury.
Butler and Crumley bring valuable leadership and experience and will be counted on this season according to Warburton.
“Alyssa and Abby will be key pieces on the floor because they started and play major minutes last season. They are embracing their roles and doing a good job at it,” said Warburton.
With the injury to Barrus and the loss of All-American Madison Loftus along with starting point guard Rashel Blazzard, Warburton will look to her young group of freshman along with Crumley to be in the backcourt this season.
That is something she isn’t too worried about.
“We have depth in the guard lineup even if we still had Brooklynn,” she said. “They are young, quick to understand and pick up our offense and defensive ideas”.
The players who will be getting playing time in the backcourt include captain Amiperia Tia, Emmery Wagstaff, Lainee Jensen, Lamija Coric, and Jasmine Lealao.
“We have fast guards and we have the ability to run on teams. We have players that can shoot and drive, we just have to learn each other’s strengths,” said Butler.
On the front line, the Eagles will lack numbers but have the skill and work ethic to compete with anyone, even those that are bigger in the paint.
“We are not as deep but we are confident that they can get the job done,” said Warburton.
Alongside Butler, the Eagles will be counting on freshman Harley Carlisle and Morgan Toluono to step up and play key minutes.
With new players in the rotation at forward such as Rylie Tobiasson, Brianna Ritchie, Morgan Cragun and Noah Harris, Butler hopes to be not just a leader in the stat sheet but with all aspects of being on the team.
“I want to be more of a threat on both on defense and offense. I want to embrace the role I am given and make the best of where I am at. I want to help the freshman grow because they will have to grow faster than we did last year because there is a lot of them,” said Butler.
Both Butler and Crumley believe that their team will be ready for January when conference play begins if as a group they can take advantage of practice time and the non-conference games to learn and gain experience playing together.
“I think we have to learn to play together and gain more experience through non-conference games. The high school level and college level are day and night different so these games will help them get ready for conference games and the competition we will be facing,” said Butler.
“I have been trying to help the freshman learn everyday and they are helping me as well. It is really a family thing,” said Crumley.
Friday’s in Ephraim against Western Wyoming will tip off at 1:30 p.m. inside the Horne Activity Center and will be streamed on the Scenic West Digital Network.