By Brian MontgomeryStaff Writer
Missy, this isn’t Kansas anymore.
The San Diego State women’s basketball team is like a rebuiltmachine, and transfer Missy Schomaker has been brought in to help itrun smoothly.
Schomaker was a standout at Hutchinson Community College in Kansasthe past two seasons. She was named to the first team All-JayhawkConference both years.
With SDSU looking to put past disappointments behind, Schomakerseems to be a perfect fit for the Aztecs.
“I want to be a part of a program that is getting ready to turnitself around and progress and become better in the future,” shesaid. “I’m not worried about what happened here in the past.”
Head coach Barb Smith said the skills Schomaker brings to the teamare something the Aztecs have lacked.
“She brings with her leadership, experience, competitive spiritand outside scoring,” Smith said. “Outside scoring was definitelysomething we needed.”
During her two years at Hutchinson, Schomaker led her team to a48-16 record, while averaging 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.8assists per game. She is a player who can play off-guard, smallforward and power forward.
Smith said her versatility is a great fit for SDSU’s offense.
“For our motion (offense), the two, three and four positions do alot of the same things,” Smith said. “She will be able to post up aweaker defender on the inside or take a slower player to the outside.She will work great for our offense.”
Forward Anita Bundage said Schomaker adds depth to the team.
“With her being able to play three positions, she can step in ifsomeone gets into foul trouble and can contribute,” Bundage said.”She also can help the team with her quick tempo and great shooting.”
SDSU was not the only school trying to get its hands on theversatile 6-foot-1 player. Auburn and Louisville were also in therunning, but ultimately Schomaker decided on San Diego because of theatmosphere.
“The weather is great and there are no winters here,” Schomakersaid. “The school, the education and the coaching staff were all bigreasons for me choosing SDSU. But I really enjoy not having realwinters.”
Adjusting to the Division I level of play is something Schomakeris prepared for. She said it took her a couple of weeks to adjust tothe system and the way things are done.
“I had to grasp the way coach Smith does things and learn how toplay and progress at this level,” she said. “The athleticism isbetter, the intensity is higher and the defenses are solid.Everything is just a touch higher here than at the junior collegelevel.”
This has made Schomaker determined to work on her strengths andweaknesses. She said going to practice everyday and pushing herselfto the limit is necessary to compete at this level.
“I need to improve on every aspect of my game, especially mydefense,” she said. “I need to make sure I contribute to the team inany way possible, whether it be by scoring or making a pass. I am ateam player.”
The Aztecs program has been falling apart the last few seasons.
Twelve players have left for various reasons. But this is a newseason with some new players, and Schomaker said the team isn’tdwelling on the past.
“All we can do is move on,” she said. “This team is looking to thefuture. Right now, we have 13 girls here and we will make sure thereare 13 girls at the end of the season. We need to make sure we staytogether. So far we are.”
Schomaker said that right now the team is on the way to reachingits goals.
“As a team, everyone wants the same thing (a national title),” shesaid. “But we need to make sure that we’re a better team than we werelast year. Right now, I think we already are. We are ranked sixth orseventh in the conference, but it doesn’t matter. All we need to dois show up, play our games and we should do just fine.”
