January 2, 2008...5:17 am
Hegge helps lead the Coyotes to major region wins
Lately, the USD women’s basketball has been on a roll just like the men, but maybe a bit more impressive. As coach Chad Lavin, or even men’s coach Dave Boots, will say, and on many occasions has said, scheduling other D-2 foes, especially quality ones, has been as tough as it ever has. With how difficult it is to schedule quality foes, it makes both the men’s and women’s schedule look like a couple of cupcakes.
But if you look closer, the women’s schedule can be deceiving. The Coyotes have had to travel to California and Colorado to take on quality opponents. Then they also have had to travel to Aberdeen to take on a Northern team that has some very talented players. Just recently, the Coyotes traveled to Wayne and ended Wayne State’s thirteen game home winning streak. Wayne and Northern are both teams that should make regionals, and both of those wins will be huge when the regions and seeds are selected.
I was wrong when thinking the Coyotes would lose two non-NCC games. I figured with both road games in Wayne and Northern, the Coyotes would drop one out of two. I am glad I am wrong and I have learned a lot about this team. First, freshman Amber Hegge might be the X-Factor for this team. Everyone expects the Hoffman twins, Ashley Robinette, Bridget Yoerger, and Shannon Daly to do what they do. No one on the opposing side has really been able to figure out Hegge. When she came to USD, we knew she would be good, we just didn’t know it would be this soon. In the Wayne game, she went on a personal 7-2 run. That personal run got the Coyotes back in it because they were down by 8 points before the run.
Hegge can do it all. At Crofton High School, she led the team to back-to-back championships. The last one she helped win, she nailed a half-court shot as time expired. Hegge is 6-1, but she can play all five positions on the offensive end and defensive end. She can also shoot the three, so don’t let those three three-pointers she has on the year fool you. She can step back and nail the three and make it look as easy as Jeana Hoffman does. Her defense, along with Bridget Yoerger, helped derail Northern’s Noelle Hall, who was making a bid to be the NSIC player of the year.
Hegge has been a major find for the women Coyotes. She had her pick of schools among USD, SDSU, Iowa State, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. It is amazing she chose USD. Everyone in the area knows SDSU’s women’s team has been as solid as it comes. Nebraska and Iowa State are key teams in the Big 12 and both teams made the tournament last year. Minnesota is rebuilding a bit after having a couple players graduate and go to the WNBA. USD is easily the worst team on that list, no offense Lavin.
So as the year goes on and the conference season starts on Jan. 12th in Sioux Falls against Augie, you will see the familiar face. Then look for Hegge’s, because she might be making that game changing play that could help the Coyotes get the number one seed in the region. She might be the next best Coyote since Mandy Koupal.
—Justin Rust
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