Opp all smiles at Media Day

By Gus Bode

Team introduces new coach, new players

Women’s basketball head coach Lori Opp shed a problem that has plagued her since she came to SIU just in time for Wednesday’s basketball media day.

Not persistent losing, the problem of poor attendance or her battle with Sarcoidosis, a rare liver condition.

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After two years and five months, Lori Opp finally ditched her braces.

“This morning before media day, I threatened my orthodontist,” Opp said. “And she was kind enough to take them off, so I have a new smile. It’s something for me to be excited about.”

During last season, brace removal is about all Opp could get excited about. The team finished dead last in the Missouri Valley Conference (6-21, 2-16 MVC) and recorded a school-record 16-game losing streak along the way.

Things could be different this year, but players and coaches said they were not expecting a 180-degree turn from the 2001-2002 season.

“I think we have to be realistic and realize that we’re not going to go undefeated or win the conference tournament,” said senior Molly McDowell. “We’ll take all of that if it happens, but realistically, we should be a .500 team this year.”

Opp said she is expecting a top-six finish this season and is looking to pick up at least 15 wins, something she admitted is a lofty goal, but possible with her team’s new personnel.

The team will play three junior college transfers this season:Dana Pinkston, Alissa Jaehnke and Stephanie Brown, who will all make an instant impact according to Opp.

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Pinkston is the most prominent of the three transfers because she, along with sophomore Christine Perry, will compete for the point guard spot vacated by Holly Teague. Teague will be a student assistant coach this season.

“She’s a hard player to replace,” Opp said of Teague. “She did a great job at the point for us. She played with such fire and intensity and that’s hard to match.”

The Salukis also added freshmen Amy Hayden and Afton Gill and assistant coach Staci Starkweather.

Starkweather, who was hired Monday, will bring years of experience to SIU. In addition to coaching two years of professional basketball in Austria, she assisted Tennessee head coach Pat Summit at the Volunteers’ women’s basketball camp this summer.

She described herself as a great motivator, but like everyone else on the team, she was emphasizing realism. It was the theme of media day for women’s basketball.

“The key is motivation and to set realistic goals,” Starkweather said about the upcoming season. “I’m excited, I’m enthusiastic and I have a lot of energy to bring to the team.”

The team is hoping the fans will share their enthusiasm this season.

Opp used media day to deliver a warning to the media and fans to not underestimate her team’s ability or entertainment value.

“We’re hopeful that we as a staff can work hard with our team and make sure we do some good things this year, so if you all make the mistake of missing out later, you’ll have to catch up.”

Senior Hilary Phillips said it much more bluntly.

“Come watch us play,” she said in a desperate sounding voice. “It helps a lot.”

Reporter Michael Brenner can be reached at [email protected]

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