Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming freshman Kristen Scheffler nails a 3-pointer in an early exhibition game.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
Transition periods from high school to college are always tough for student athletes. Apparently, freshman Kristen Scheffler didn’t get the memo.
All Scheffler has done from her all-state days with Lovell High School to Division I basketball with the Wyoming Cowgirls, is lead the team in scoring through her first two games.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Scheffler said. “I guess as a freshman coming in, you never know how you are going to compete in practice. I guess I got my opportunity, so it’s cool. I’m enjoying it.”
Scheffler and the Cowgirls will open their home season Thursday night against North Dakota (7 p.m. in the A-A).
Not only is Scheffler leading the team in scoring at 16.5 points a game, she is doing it coming off the bench. In one way, she has shown her versatility, and in another she hasn’t.
With junior guard Aubrey Vandiver still out of action with mononucleosis, Scheffler backs up starting point guard Randi Richardson, while also taking a shot or two at shooting guard.
In fact, she’s taking more than a shot or two. Scheffler is 11-of-21 from the field this season, second to the 23 field goal attempts by fellow freshman wing Emma Langford.
Oh yeah … all 11-of-21 are from beyond the 3-point arc.
“Right now, I guess it is my comfort zone,” Scheffler said of her 3-point prowess. “Coach (Joe Legerski) talked about it today and even said they’ll be able to shut me down (with the 3-pointer), so I need to step up and start driving and create opportunities for my teammates.”
Considered a strong all-around player in high school, Scheffler said that while she does enjoy shooting the 3s, she has more to her game than long bombs.
“I think as the season goes along, I’ll get more confidence and be able to branch out a little bit,” Scheffler said. “I think I’ll be able to do it if I work hard in practice.”
“Kristen Scheffler has really stepped up,” Legerski said. “We’ve always know that she is a very talented basketball player. Once again, she is trying to make a jump from Lovell, Wyoming, to Division I basketball. Sometimes that is a bigger leap fro players. But she does have all the skills that you need at this level and we’re just excited in Kristen’s play. She is getting better every day and she had a big game this weekend in Denver and Montana. We continue to hope that Kristen continues to grow as a player and continues to have success.”
While Scheffler will be working on her all-around offensive game, she is also working hard on defense, something that most freshman come into college scratching their heads about.
"In high school I didn’t have to play much defense, so defense has really challenged me,” Scheffler said.”
The cowgirls are off to a 1-1 start, beating Denver on Friday before falling to a good Montana team in the final minutes in Missoula.
Despite the loss to the Lady Griz, Scheffler was pleased with their performance.
“We went out and played really hard. It was 8-0 at the beginning of the game,” she said. We were trying really hard. I guess we let up a little bit. That is one lesson I have learned …. you can’t ever relax. But we’ve played really well as a team.”
While Lovell is still a few miles from Missoula, it was close enough for a little Scheffler family reunion.
“Probably most of the Wyoming fans were my family,” Scheffler said with a laugh. "I had to get nine tickets. I have a little fan club, I guess.”
About North Dakota
North Dakota is 1-1 overall. The Fighting Sioux are led by Kierah Kimbrough, who is averaging 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. Mallory Youngblut follows with 13.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. They return three starters and eight letterwinners to a team that went 27-4 overall and 10-2 in the Great West Conference a year ago.
This is the first meeting ever between the two schools. North Dakota is coached by Gene Roebuck who is in his 22nd season with the program. The Fighting Sioux are in the fifth season of their transition to Division I.
“North Dakota wins,” said Legerski. “When you are used to winning, that’s a big part of any program. Coach Roebuck is the all-time winningest coach up there, he's won over 85 percent of his basketball games. They’ll come out and compete for 40 minutes. They have an All-American in Kimbrough. When you are used to winning, that just continues from year-to-year.”
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Wyoming Cowgirls (1-1 overall)
Probable Starters
3 Randi Richardson G 5-7 RSo. 6.5 ppg, 4.0 aspg
24 Megan McGuffey G 5-11 Sr. 12.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg
33 Elisabeth Dissen C 6-1 Sr. 5.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg
10 Rebecca Vanderjagt F 6-3 Sr. 0. 0 ppg, 5.0 rpg
21 Emma Langford F 6-2 Fr. 15.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.5 aspg
Off The Bench
4 Gemma Koehler F 6-1 Jr. Has not played this season
12 Kristen Scheffl er G 5-11 Fr. 16.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
13 Ashley Sickles F 6-1 Fr. Has not played this season
14 Jade Kennedy F 6-1 So. 2.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg
15 Leah Fitzgerald C 6-2 Fr. Has not played this season
20 Aubrey Vandiver G 5-11 Jr. Has not played this season
22 Brenna Freeze G 5-11 Fr. Has not played this season
41 Hillary Carlson F 6-3 So. 4.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg
45 Mallory Cline C 6-4 Jr. Has not played this season
Head Coach: Joe Legerski (Wyoming, ‘79), Sixth Year
Assoc. Head Coach: Gerald Mattinson (Weber State, '81), Sixth Year
Assistant Coaches: Kristin Becker (Vanderbilt, ‘90), Third Year
Katie Kern (New Mexico, ‘99), Third Year
North Dakota Fighting Sioux (1-1 overall)
Probable Starters
1 Jossy Bergan G 5-3 Jr. 1.5 ppg, 2.0 aspg
14 Mallory Youngblut G 6-0 So. 13.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg
23 Danye Guinn G 5-10 Sr. 12.5 ppg, 5.0 aspg
31 Kayla Bagaason G 5-11 Jr. 5.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg
35 Kierah Kimbrough F 6-1 Sr. 19.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg
Off The Bench
2 Alys Seay G 5-8 Jr. 8.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
3 Whitney Ledger F 6-1 Jr. 13.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg
11 Courtney Thingstad G 5-8 RS Has not played this season
15 Ashley Privratsky G 5-8 Fr. 1.0 rpg, 1.0 aspg
21 Corey Lof F 6-0 So. 1.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg
22 Andrea LaFrance G 5-9 So. 4.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
32 Kristie Gillett F 5-11 Fr. Has played in one game
52 Jenna Gillett F 6-1 Fr. Has not played this season
Head Coach: Gene Roebuck (Mayville State, '69), 22nd Year
Assistant Coaches: Megan Kelling, Travis Brewster, Greg Ulland
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