Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Women's Basketball Preview
10/28/2005 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 28, 2005
University of Utah head coach Elaine Elliott couldn't be happier that she has one more season with Kim Smith and Shona Thorburn on her squad. Thorburn and Smith shared Mountain West Conference Player of the Year award as juniors and each earned All-America honors last season.
"Kim and Shona, as returning league co-MVPs, is surely a rarity," Elliott, who is entering her 23rd season at the helm of the Utah program, said. "Having been named as such last year was special. Having them returning as seniors is somewhat remarkable."
 Shona Thorburn shared MWC Player of the Year honors with teammate Kim Smith last season.  | |
| "Kim and Shona, as returning league co-MVPs, is surely a rarity. Having them returning as seniors is somewhat remarkable." Utah head coach Elaine Elliott |
Smith, Thorburn and Larsen will definitely be counted on to contribute heavily in the 2005-06 campaign. However, Utah lost just one player from last year's NCAA Tournament team and numerous underclassmen picked up valuable experience last season. Elliott is quick to point out that her squad will have plenty of good basketball players on the floor.
"It's exciting to feel that our team has a good blend of experience and youth," Elliott said. "Our core of returning players has experienced great success and can portray to the younger players the expectations and effort levels necessary for us to attain positive results.
"We have the expectation that last year's underclassmen will reap the benefits of the significant roles they played last year," Elliott added. "This group will certainly be a key in having a team with good depth and consistency."
In addition to those players returning from last year's squad, the Utes have four talented freshmen joining the program. Elliott is cautiously optimistic about her rookies.
"I really like these freshmen," Elliott said. "I know they will be measured on the court. But I cannot overstate the positive way they have contributed to our chemistry and overall focus. And the good news is, they can play."
Utah was 26-8 last season, won a share of the Mountain West Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With lots of inexperience on that squad, Elliott was definitely proud of last year's Ute squad. But she also believes this year's version can build off what was accomplished in 2004-05.
"I thought our team really focused well on the right things last year," Elliott said. "We played a lot of young, inexperienced players, but fed them the expectations of players like Kim, Shona and Lana (Sitterud, last year's lone senior). Youth would never be an excuse, yet we understood patience and development were key words. I was very proud of those upperclassmen who took the pressure and delivered, while working every bit as hard to leave the young players with a sense of confidence and trust.
"Last year was both a season in itself and a prelude to what we could become later," Elliott added. "We believe we can be better and we believe our best basketball is ahead of us."
The Utes' schedule, as usual, should be challenging. Utah has early-season road games at Arizona and Washington. The non-conference slate also includes a home game with Gonzaga and a tournament in Las Vegas, which includes North Carolina State and a possible matchup with Notre Dame.
"We have high-caliber opponents, many on the road," Elliott said. "If we compete well and have a good measure of success, the schedule will accomplish what we strive for. That is the chance to advance to the NCAA tournament."
While the non-conference slate is daunting, Utah's road through the Mountain West Conference won't be easy either. Along with the usual MWC rivals, Texas Christian University joins the conference this season.
"Our league just keeps getting better," Elliott said. "I believe we (the MWC) can be in the top five in the country this season. Though that kind of strength is a difficult challenge when you begin round robin play, it creates the best opportunity for national exposure."
The following is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2005-06 Utes:
Point Guard
Last year, Utah entered the season without the services of a player who had ever played the point guard position on a regular basis. Thorburn, who had played the off guard in her first two seasons with the Utes, was handed the position. The change was extremely successful. Thorburn finished the season as Co-MWC Player of the Year, led the league and ranked No. 6 in all of NCAA Division I in assists.
"I guess moving Sho to the point after she had played the off guard her whole career worked out for us last year," Elliott said. "She really was the catalyst for us."
Thorburn averaged more minutes than any other player in the Mountain West Conference last season. She may not get many more breaks this year. But Thorburn could see some time back in the shooting guard role, while freshman Morgan Warburton takes over at the point on occasion.
"We will train and use Morgan at the point as well," Elliott said. "Those two can go in and out of the two guard spots and that gives us great flexibility in how to use them and where."
Wings
Once again, Smith could see action anywhere on the floor. But the natural position for the three-time MWC Player of the Year is on the wing.
"Kim is a true All-American and is deserving of every accolade posted for her," Elliott said. "Her work ethic is unquestioned. Her love of the game unmatched. The leadership she has shown going in to her senior year just continues to say so much about her as a player, teammate and individual. She has earned every bit of respect I can give an athlete."
Returners Marie Warner, Julie Larsen and Heidi Carlsen also figure to see plenty of time on the wings, along with Warburton.
"Marie's knee injury took her out of the picture for our post season last year, and as often can happen, that seems to be the catalyst for her enthusiasm and improved play this season," Elliott said. "Julie certainly showed the impact on a game that she can have for us. Her shooting simply destroyed Iowa State's zone in our NCAA game last season. Heidi showed good improvement by the end of last year."
Newcomers Sasha McKinnon and Joh-Teena Filipe could also contribute here. "Joh-Teena will really be a force," Elliott said. "She is a great package of a guard's skill with a forward's power. Sasha has been our biggest surprise. I love her intensity and drive. She can knock down the three and will commit to defend."
However, for anyone other than Smith to see playing time at these positions, they will have to show they can go to the glass.
"Kim gives you everything you could want," Elliott said. "It would be nice if I didn't have to play her so many minutes this year, but that will depend on how other players come along. Perhaps more importantly, that will depend on how committed our other wings are to rebounding."
Posts
Rebounding seems to be a theme for Coach Elliott in the preseason. Hitting the boards will be important for those expecting to see time in the post positions, just like those on the wings.
"I have confidence that we will be able to use a number of players in the post," Elliott said. "I have come to believe that the separating factor for this group may be who is willing to become a force on the boards."
Returning juniors Camie Oakey and Shauna Brouillard each saw significant time underneath the basket last season. Deanne Hanchett and Jessica Perry started the lion's share of last year's contests in the 4 and 5 positions.
"D and Jess were consistent starters last year as freshmen. That is invaluable going into their sophomore campaigns," Elliott said. "Camie and Shauna both were solid back ups their sophomore year."
Those four, along with newcomer Lydia Whitehead, will all be in the mix for court time down low.
"Lydia is a coach's dream," Elliott said. "I have never had a post player who drills harder or wants to improve more. For that matter, I have not had a post willing to run to the rim on every possession as she does. That can put a lot of pressure on an opponent."
-UU-
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