Sophomore Kate Lanz is stepping up for the Vikings in a big way
The women’s basketball team is sporting a new offensive threat in the form of sophomore Kate Lanz. Lanz, a transfer from Oregon State, redshirted with the Vikings in the 2010 season. A year of practice has bettered the guard, who also plays post, to be one of the key offensive threats for Portland State.
Lanz has already received two Big Sky Player of the Week awards in the past three weeks. Last week she gained the title for her performance against Northern Arizona and Weber State. The sophomore led the Vikings in scoring and pulled down an average 25 points and 11 rebounds as well as shooting 56.7 percent from inside the paint for the week.
share
Sophomore Kate Lanz is stepping up for the Vikings in a big way
The women’s basketball team is sporting a new offensive threat in the form of sophomore Kate Lanz. Lanz, a transfer from Oregon State, redshirted with the Vikings in the 2010 season. A year of practice has bettered the guard, who also plays post, to be one of the key offensive threats for Portland State.
Lanz has already received two Big Sky Player of the Week awards in the past three weeks. Last week she gained the title for her performance against Northern Arizona and Weber State. The sophomore led the Vikings in scoring and pulled down an average 25 points and 11 rebounds as well as shooting 56.7 percent from inside the paint for the week.
Karl Kuchs / Vanguard StaffNew face on the court: Sophomore Kate Lanz drives to the hoop. Lanz has stepped into a packed women’s roster and made a name for herself as a talent at guard.
“She’s phenomenal. I can’t begin to describe her. She’s such a dominant player. She never stops, she never takes a play off,” head coach Sherri Murrell said. “At the end of a game she’s the most exhausted one out there because she works so hard on both ends of the floor.”
Lanz is certainly an offensive force, leading the team with 19.1 points per game average and 29 assists, but Murrell said her double-doubles prove she can be more than just a shooter. Lanz earned five consecutive double-doubles, a streak which ended last Saturday when Lanz posted 21 points and nine rebounds.
After spending last season as a redshirt, Lanz said she was able to improve her skills and play to the standards she wants for herself this season.
“Redshirting last year was great. It helped me get to know the system and be able to find what I can contribute to the program,” Lanz said. “It helped build relationships and chemistry with my teammates and coaches without the pressure of playing games.”
With senior guard Eryn Jones sustaining injuries that have limited some of her record-breaking performances, Lanz has stepped up beside Jones and the other upperclassmen as a leader. Murrell said Lanz, Jones and junior guard Courtney VanBrocklin are leaders by example and have set the stage for the bench players to step up.
Lanz, Jones, VanBrocklin and sophomore guard Karley Lampman show up as regular starters, with the fifth player varying. While most points come from these four, Murrell said that the bench players also play a significant role in the wins for the team.
Lanz will highlight her talents with the rest of the Viking squad this Thursday in a home game against Northern Colorado.
