Third time’s the charm

    Tying for 18th place among NCAA Division I-A schools as most improved team, the women’s basketball team looks to build on that improvement this year. Improving eight games from the previous year, the 2005-2006 season proved to be quite effective.

    With an overall record of 12-16 and a 6-8 conference record, the Viks ranked sixth in the Big Sky Conference and qualified for the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 2003. They lost in the quarterfinals to Northern Arizona, who ended the tournament as the Big Sky champions.

    The Viks will be returning 89 percent of their offensive production from last year. Four starters will be returning, including the team’s only senior, guard/forward Heather Arns, and 2005-2006 Big Sky Co-Outstanding Freshman of the Year, forward Kelsey Kahle. Other key players returning this year include junior center Brianna Thompson and freshman guard Jenni Ritter.

    This season will be head coach Charity Elliot’s third at PSU. In her first two seasons she has shown drastic progress, and she looks to be continuing to do so. The Vikings should be able to duplicate the improvement from last year and make it back to the Big Sky tournament to contend for the championship this season.