Women's Basketball Wraps Up First Practice

9/27/2018 4:04 PM | Women's Basketball

SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah women's basketball program officially tipped off the 2018-19 season today with its first official practice at the Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Basketball Facility.

With several new faces on the team mixed with veteran experience, there was an electric feeling on the court today as the Utes continued to prepare for the season.

The Utes return three starters from the team last year that finished with 18 wins for the second time under head coach Lynne Roberts. With seniors Megan Huff, Daneesha Provo and Erika Bean coming back for their final year, the Utes also welcome seven newcomers to Salt Lake City.

Roberts is heading into her fourth season with the Utes, taking them to the postseason for three straight seasons. The Utes have received votes in both the AP and coaches polls all three years she has been at the helm, also knocking off at least one top-25 team each year.

Heading into the 2018-19 season with a new contract extension through 2023, the Redding, Calif., native holds a 52-44 record at Utah and is 273-219 in her 16 years as a head coach. She has coached seven All-Pac-12 selections and 16 Pac-12 All-Academic honorees in her three seasons at Utah, also seeing three athletes join the 1,000-point club for the Utes.

2018-19 Season Outlook

Super Seniors:
The Utes head into 2018-19 with strong leadership as four seniors are set to take the court this year. Fans will instantly recognize the dazzling assists from Erika Bean, the euro-step from Daneesha Provo and that signature pull-up jumper from Megan Huff, but they will also get to know sharp shooter Sarah Porter this season.

"I think this is a very talented senior class that we really need to be reliable and consistent, not only in terms of production on the court, but also in terms of leadership and modeling our program's culture," Roberts said. "This is our fourth year as a coaching staff, so I feel that our culture is pretty solid and established. I think for us to achieve our potential as a team, those four have to stay healthy and those four have to really be dependable."

"I expect them to be consistent examples of how our program carries themselves, especially Huff, Daneesha and Bean, since they have been in the program for three years now. Then we have Sarah who is a graduate transfer, but she has been around and knows what hard work looks like. She has been well-coached and came in here mentally and physically ready to roll. Even though she hasn't been in our program very long, I know she can still model what our program is about because she gets it."

Porter, a graduate transfer from UC Santa Barbara, will make an immediate impact for the Utes this season. The San Diego, Calif., native is known for her quick release from the arc, finishing ranked in the top-15 in the Big West in three-point percentage in back-to-back seasons.

Like Porter, Provo made her mark as one of the best three-point shooters in the Pac-12 last season. She finished 2017-18 ranked in the top-12 in the conference in three-point percentage and three-pointers made per game. She also ranked sixth in the league in field goal percentage, finishing third on the team in scoring (12.3 points per game).

After sitting out a year due to transfer rules, Huff finally saw the court last season and didn't disappoint. The Federal Way, Wash., native earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after ending the year ranked in the top-11 in the conference in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and rebounds. She led Utah in scoring in 16 games and hit double-digits in 22 of Utah's 32 games.

Bean returns for her senior season as one of the most experienced Utes, playing in 96 career games with 61 starts. The Utes' floor general has ranked in the top-five in the conference and in the top-40 in the NCAA in assists and assist/turnover ratio the last two seasons.

Joining the Juniors:
Utah has three juniors on the roster this season, but only one will see action in 2018-19. Kiana Moore and transfers Julie Brosseau and Ola Makurat make up this year's junior class.

Moore, who is known for being one of Utah's most explosive players in terms of speed, returns for her junior campaign after being integral for the Utes off the bench last season. She has played in 58 career games for the Utes in two seasons.

"This is a year that we could really use Kiana's strengths," Roberts said. "She is our most explosive athlete and could potentially be our best on-ball defender. No one works harder than Kiana. I love her work ethic. This could be a breakout year for her. She had a really good summer and her mindset is in a good place, so I am excited to see what she will bring us."

Brosseau, who will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules, comes to Utah after playing two seasons with the Maine Black Bears. She led the Black Bears to an NCAA Tournament berth last season after ranking fourth in the America East in three-pointers made per game. She scored a career-high 29 points against Ohio State last year, setting a school record in threes made in a game (7).

Makurat, who will also sit out for a season for the same reasons, played the last two seasons at Liberty. She played in 64 games for the Lady Flames, leading them to a Big South Title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017-18 as a sophomore. The 6-3 forward is clutch from the free throw line, shooting 80-percent or higher from the line in back-to-back seasons, also averaging 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds last season.

"We knew we will lose some key seniors this spring to graduation, so Julie and Ola will really step into big roles next year. They will sit out of games due to NCAA transfer rules, but will be able to practice and learn and develop throughout the season. Both of them came from NCAA Tournament programs in which they were key contributors, so we are gaining winners and gaining players that have come here to take us to the NCAA Tournament."

Strong Sophomore:
Maurane Corbin stands as Utah's only sophomore on the roster this season after a breakthrough freshman campaign.

"I think Mo had an incredible off season and got herself in the best physical shape of her life," Roberts said. "Her drive to be successful is inspiring. She wants to be good and puts a lot of expectations on herself, so you really don't have to coach her that hard."

Corbin played in 31 games last season, getting the starting nod in one. She averaged 8.8 minutes, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 points per game as a key back-up post player.

"She is 6-5 and has really improved her ability to finish," Roberts said. "She focused on improving her ball handling, her skill work and her quickness and explosiveness. I thought she did a nice job last year playing through the learning process. Once we got to Pac-12 play, there was definitely a jump in terms of learning for her, but she has done the work this summer to be a factor in Pac-12 play."

Fresh Faced Freshmen:
Utah continues to bring in top talent, and this year's freshman class is no different. Add in redshirts Dru Gylten and Jordan Cruz, who have gotten to spend a year with the team, the Utes welcome six total freshmen to the court this season.

Gylten, who was an outstanding three-sport athlete at St. Thomas More in Rapid City, S.D., led her high school basketball team to four straight championships. She earned MIDCO Sportsnet Class A Player of the Year, also becoming a two-time all-state selection and four-time all-conference honoree.

"Dru was the first player that I circled when we started recruiting as a staff here at Utah," Roberts said. "I knew she was my type of player and we had to do all we could to get her here. Unfortunately, she had an ACL injury during the last game of her senior year of high school, so she redshirted here last season. Finally, she gets to play in a game. She can play three positions and she will. She is tough as nails and more athletic than you think. She can shoot it, attack and has great vision. She is like a Swiss army knife."

Cruz's journey to Utah was a different one after not even being sure she would be playing basketball at this point. The Sacramento, Calif., native had brain surgery as a junior at C.K. McClatchy High School after having an absence seizure. She ended up coming back for her senior season to average 20-plus points a game, earning the team leadership award.

"Jordan is coming off her redshirt year because she has had some tough go's with head injuries and concussions, but she is back right now," Roberts said. "Out of high school, she was one of the best shooters in the country and we are looking forward to see her be able to contribute."

Utah's true freshmen, like Gylten and Cruz, bring athleticism and size to the court this season. Niyah Becker, Lola Pendande, Andrea Torres and Dre'Una Edwards all stand at 6-2 or taller and are excited to match up with the best in the country.

Becker brings not only length and size to the Utah roster but also immense international experience with Team Canada. Becker, who is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was a standout for Lincoln Prep and for her country. She earned OSBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, leading Lincoln Prep to a OSBA championship before taking on the Commonwealth Games for Team Canada in Australia this past summer.

"Niyah has so much potential," Roberts said. "She is 6-2, left-handed, long wingspan and she can play two or three positions. She has a great feel for the game that is hard to teach. She came up through the Canadian National Team system, and I'm confident that if she continues to work as hard as she does, she will be an Olympian one day. I think she will be an impact player in the Pac-12 by the time her career is done. Everyone will know who Niyah is."

Edwards, Utah's only true freshman from the United States, is from Las Vegas, Nev., where she was a two-time league player of the year for Liberty High School. The 6-2 wing was a first-team all-state selection in 2018 after averaging 18.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. She led her team to four straight regional championships and a state championship game appearance as a senior.

"Dre, and I am not trying to be funny with the pun, really is like Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors and that is what we liked about her when we recruited her," Roberts said. "She can block a shot, grab a rebound, run a break, make a great pass, get fouled and make the basket. She is big and strong and plays like it. She isn't afraid to be physical and isn't afraid to be vocal. We're going to need her to bring those qualities this season, even as a freshman."

Pendande, who is from Almeria, Spain, will add key size to the Utah roster with her standing at 6-4. She was the John R. Wooden Southern California High School Player of the Year in 2018 at Ribet Academy before getting in key international experience with the Spanish National Team this past summer.

"Lola is still on our roster, but sometimes with international student-athletes, there are extra hurdles that they have to cross academically and with Student VISAS," Roberts said. "She is crossing those now and we can't wait for her to join our team soon. She will be a tremendous addition. She is a 6-4, incredibly athletic post player. She is very seasoned with international play after playing this summer with both the U18 and U20 Spanish National Team."

Torres, who played on the same team as Corbin (Montmorency CEGEP), averaged 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last season with Montmorency. She led her team to the RSEQ Finals in 2018 and was named to the CCAA All-Canadian Championship Team. She played also played internationally for the Canadian National Team at the FIBA World Cup and FIBA Americas.

"Andrea has legitimate length and size," Roberts said. "She can flat out shoot the ball. She can shoot it from NBA range without even looking like it takes any effort. She can stretch defenses, she can pick and pop, she is a great passer and has a good feel. She is going to surprise people. She is really good."