The 2008-09 version of the University of Great Falls Lady Argonauts will look to improve on a highly successful season that saw the program achieve many milestones a year ago. The team won more games (12) than any other Lady Argo basketball team had since the program was reinstated for the 2000-01 season. Led by third-year head coach Shawn Chaffin, the Argos had their first All-American selection and 2 all-conference picks overall. The squad began fall conditiioning on September 2nd, and the team will start practice on October 6th with the season opener coming on October 30th at home against the top-ranked and defending NAIA National Champion Vanguard University.
The backcourt graduated Honorable Mention All-American and First Team All Frontier Conference selection Laura Keaster who led the team in scoring last season, but the team's backcourt returns a strong core group and several talented newcomers. Kassie Holmlund (5-6 junior, Great Falls) made a tremendous impact last season after transferring from Rocky Mountain College. Holmlund led the team in three-point shooting accuracy and scored 13 points in a 68-59 victory over Montana-Western on January 25th. Marissa Francis (6-0 sophomore, Great Falls) had several big games, including a 17 point effort against Dickinson State ana 14 point game against Carroll College. Keyla Briese (5-7 junior, Chester), Danielle Heny (5-6 junior, Powell, WY), and Jen Simonds (5-8 senior, Great Falls) all bring big game experience to this year's squad.
Newcomers in the backcourt are plentiful. Leslie Saunders (5'6" redshirt freshman, Bozeman) was the best senior point guard in the state in 2007 when she led the Hawks to their second straight State AA title. The state champion in the 200 meters, Saunders brings tremendous quickness and a strong knack for distributing the ball and hitting the open shot. McKenzie Gentry (5-9 junior, Pocatello, ID) is a standout defender with the ability to score in bunches. Gentry helped lead her Sheridan Junior college team to a 26-4 record and a runner up finish in Region IX. Morgan Jorgenson (5-9 freshman, Harrison) and D.J. Ellis (5-9 redshirt freshman, Blackfoot, ID) are both very talented offensively. Jorgenson is a great three-point shooter and Ellis is very strong off the dribble.
The frontcourt returns as strong as ever. Graduation brought the departure of Jacqui Millam and Joslin Swartz, but four other talented posts and one newcomer will be charged with picking up the slack. Jocelyn Moore (6-1 senior, Graham, WA) was a second team All-Conference selection last season averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds per game. Seh scored a season high 23 points against Walla Walla University and scored the game winning basket at the buzzer in a 61-60 victory over Rocky Mountain College. Ashley Stephen (6-2 senior, Spanaway, WA) started the last 12 games of last season and tallied a season high 14 points against Minot State University in November. Kirilynn Winkler (6-1 sophomore, Great Falls) re-joins teh team at the completion of volleyball season, and Mary Eisen (5-10 junior, Ephrata, WA) add quality depth to the frontcourt. Carrie Feenstra (6-2 freshman, Bozeman) is expected to play a major role after helping her high school team to a pair of state titles during her high school career. Feenstra is a very good face up post player with the ability to block shots and shoot the ball with range.
The schedule features 15 home games including the season opener on October 30th against defending NAIA National Champion Vanguard University Lady Lions. The Second Annual Townhouse Inn Classic will feature Warner Pacific, Dickinson State and MSU-Northern. The Lady Argos will alsp play Montana State of the Big Sky Conference, and 14 of their 30 contests will be against teams that are either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA national polls.
With a balanced roster and an infusion of size, speed and talent, this figures to be an exciting year for the Lady Argos. The Frontier Conference will be one of the premier leagues in the country again. The league qualified three teams again for the National Tourney last spring, with 2 of them making it to the Elite 8.