The Cavalier daily :: Thursday, January 6, 1972 :: University of Virginia Library

After twice tasting defeat at
the hands of Randolph—Macon
and Bridgewater, the
University's brand new
Women's Basketball Club will
attempt to garner their share
(equal, of course) of UHall
magic when they open their
home season Saturday
afternoon in Bill Gibson's
Palladium.

For all those left without
tickets for the men's tilts
against Maryland and North
Carolina this could be a golden
opportunity to view Cavalier
basketball. Due to recent rules
changes, the men's and
women's games are now almost
identical.

The girls' 0-2 record should
be no deterrent as instant
success is hardly to be
expected of a program in its
first year. In addition to her
team's relative unfamiliarity
with the new rules, Coach Vi
Clark has also had to contend
with inadequate practice
facilities, scheduled conflicts
and a backbreaking road slate.

Practice is held four times
weekly between the middle
two baskets in Memorial Gym
and the resulting half-court
game bears little relation to the
full-court variety. Also, class
schedules being what they are,
Miss Clark is liable to find a
different group of faces present
each time she blows the
opening whistle.

The dearth of Physical
Education majors, while
stopping all references to a
team of "dumb jocks" before
they start, is also a hindrance.

Miss Clark's 17-woman squad
is composed of two teams; a
first or varsity outfit and a
second team. Injuries and
academic problems have pared
the rosters down somewhat
and the Club is presently on
the lookout for new recruits.

Prospective female dribblers
are advised to contact either of
the two coaches, Miss Clark or
Barbara Kelly, or Club
president Kathy Goodall.
Coaches Clark and Kelly can
usually be located in or around
the phys-ed offices at Memorial
Gym.

The club scored a bit of a
coup by landing the
preliminary game before the
Virginia-John Hopkins
encounter at UHall the evening
of Jan. 26. The hated Turkeys
from Virginia Tech will provide
the opposition with the team's
only other home game the
evening of Feb. 8 against
Virginia Commonwealth.

The varsity five, breaking
out a set of spiffy new
uniforms for Saturday night's
game, will be without the
services of captain Emily
Hardy, sidelined with a broken
wrist. The other five starters,
however, are set.

President Goodall will open
at center flanked by forwards
Gerry Wright a 5-10
sharpshooter and the team's
leading scorer, and Debbie
Lotz. Guards will be Pat
Johnson, a defensive specialist,
and Jean Sly, a deadly outside
shot. The second team, not to
appear here until February, is
captained by Bev Marcum.

The team plays a 2-1-2 zone
and features just about
everything in offense as
fast-breaks, low posts,
high posts and ball control all
being employed at times.
Needless to say, spectators at
the three home contests would
be appreciated.