Shippen Hopes to Lead Cougars to Another Winning Season
Salt Lake Tribune 18Nov99 S3
By Phil Miller: Salt Lake Tribune

PROVO, UTAH -- Some think Trent Shippen is trying to get fired, others think he's making sure he never gets fired. Shippen has led the BYU Cougar Women's basketball team in back-to-back winning seasons. Last year's squad even qualified for the Women's NIT. His credits the teams success to high expectations, giving credit to everyone else and scheduling the most powerful teams he can find.

"Our main goal is to win the league and get to the NCAA Tournament," said Shippen. His Cougars were picked fourth in the preseason coaches' survey. "I'm interested to see how quickly we can get there. If not this year, we should at least be a challenger."

Shippen picked up a winning offense while in graduate school at another basketball school. He calls it the Rick Majerus motion offense. "That sounds funny, but it really fits our personnel," Shippen said. "Jill Adams is like our Keith Van Horn -- she can go inside, outside, keep the defense moving and spot up wherever we can get her shots."

Adams is a 6-foot-3 senior center from Kaysville, who carries much of the scoring. She was an all-conference junior who shot 60 percent from the floor, scored 10.5 points and grabbed six rebounds a game. Adams scored 21 points, including 3-of-4 three-pointers and ll rebounds in an exibition game last week.

Shippen also welcomes back four starters from his freshman class led by Erin Thorn, National Freshman of the Year nominee. BYU senior Cady Williams is the Cougar's leading scorer at l2.6 points a game. Lori Cuff is a 6-foot-1 forward. Sophomore Stacy Jensen is this seasons starting point guard, replacing the graduated Amanda Covington. Jensen played in all 29 games as a freshman, being second to Covington in assists.

The absence of Renae Hansen and Megan Jensen will hurt BYU this season. Both have suffered knee injuries that will keep them out this year and Jensen, may be out for good. Before playing in the Mountain West, the Cougars must survive a difficult non-conference schedule.

After Saturday's opener against Oklahoma City, BYU will face four, possibly five, nationally ranked teams while on the road over a three-week period. In response to a killer schedule, Shippen replys, "Nah, I want to get as many tough games on our schedule as I can." "Those games can only help us once league play starts. I can't wait to see how we respond."