TicketsPirtle Excited for Practice to Start
19th-year head coach optimistic for 2004-05.
Contact: Geoff Wiswell
10/14/2004
Laurie Pirtle |
CINCINNATI, Ohio ? University of Cincinnati head women?s basketball coach Laurie Pirtle was upbeat and anxious in discussing the upcoming season at UC Basketball Tip-Off Luncheon at the Marriott Kingsgate on Thursday afternoon.
?We are a very young team. We have nine players in their first or second year, but they are talented players,? said Pirtle. ?With all that talent we just have to get everyone learning to work together. We need to get back to being a top 25 program.?
The Bearcats return eight letterwinners from last year, but just two starters, juniors Micah Harvey and Anne Stephens. They do have three sophomores who were among the highest scoring freshmen in the league last year in Toni Slaughter, Karen Twehues and Treasure Humphries, the latter who is out until January with a knee injury.
Pirtle is confident that, despite the loss of all-time second-leading scorer Valerie King, UC will have plenty of offensive options. ?UC?s done a great job of recruiting the right players at the right time in the past. The players weren?t necessarily well-known when they got here, but many became stars. Someone will step up to be that go-to player for us. We just don?t know who it will be yet.?
The winningest coach in school history, Pirtle also touted the upcoming signing class, the first since UC announced it will join the BIG EAST next year. ?Conference USA has been good to us on the recruiting trail, allowing us to gain some success and earn some national recognition. Now with the BIG EAST coming next year, we are getting to a whole new level in the number and quality if players we can get to.?
Pirtle and her Bearcats will be introduced to the public on Friday night at Skyline Chili Bearcat Midnight Madness at Fifth Third Arena. Doors open at 10 p.m. with an autograph session with the men?s and women?s teams at 10:15. Admission is free.