TERRE HAUTE —
California-Irvine’s women’s basketball program is undergoing a revitalization under third-year coach Molly Goodenbour, and the Anteaters are off to a 10-4 record this year following a 9-21 mark a year ago.
Helping to turn things around is former Terre Haute North standout Kelly Meggs, a freshman guard who has played in all 14 of the team’s games.
Meggs starred at North for three seasons on the soccer and softball fields in addition to the hardwood, but transferred to Bellevue High School in Washington last year when her father, Lindsay, left Indiana State to become the head baseball coach at the University of Washington.
Meggs averages 1.9 points and 0.9 rebounds in 13 minutes of action per game, but her most impressive stat is her 18-7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Cal-Irvine started the season by losing its first three games, but things have turned around quickly since then.
“Our season has been really good so far,” Meggs said. “We've won some big games, starting on the road at San Diego State, and have won the last 10 out of 11 games. We just got a big win on the road at Cal State-Fullerton [Wednesday].”
Meggs had her best individual game in the win over Cal-State-Fullerton, being one of only three reserves to hit the court and scoring seven points at the free throw line in eight attempts.
“We're 2-0 in [the Big West] Conference right now, and are working hard to continue to stay on top of the pack,” she said.
The Anteaters are led by a pair of stars in 2010 Big West Freshman of the Year Jazmyne White and 6-1 post player Mikah Maly-Karros, an all-Big West Conference performer last year despite missing the first nine games after transferring from Loyola Marymount.
Maly-Karros tied a single-game school record with 41 points last season.
Experienced point guard Jade Smith-Williams adds stability in the backcourt.
“We’ll have people to put around Mikah,” Goodenbour said before the season. “Our freshmen guards we brought in [Kelly Meggs and Natalie Butler] will be able to back up Jade. We’re encouraged by the level of talent we’ve brought in.”
Meggs has mixed emotions about her senior year, enjoying returning to her West Coast roots but missing her Terre Haute teammates.
“My senior year at Bellevue was a great experience both on and off the court,” she said. “It was a tough transition, but a great test that I like to refer to as my "pre-college experience."
“I loved my basketball team and had a great end to my softball career, and was absolutely stoked to watch the THN Patriots softball team come in second in the state.”
Her older brother, Joe, will be eligible to play baseball for his father at Washington this spring after a stellar summer playing for the Terre Haute Rex, while her younger brother, Jack, is also a successful athlete at Bellevue.
• Conrady takes on new challenge – The Dec. 26 “College Report” contained an erroneous listing for Terre Haute South grad David Conrady among Wabash Valley area grads playing or coaching in college.
Conrady coached the past six seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga, earning a promotion to associate head coach, but left the Moccasins last summer to become the national director of basketball for SCORE International.
SCORE is a Chattanooga-based mission organization that uses athletics to spread the gospel.
"Twenty-three years ago I went on a SCORE mission trip to Argentina with Coach [Ron] Bishop and it changed my life,” Conrady said. “It opened my eyes to the role of the servant leader and I hope to open today's kids' eyes to that same role in serving the Lord.”
Bishop has known Conrady since the mid-1980s, when the 6-1 sharpshooting guard took his talents to Furman University in South Carolina after leading the Braves to an appearance in the single-class “Elite Eight” in his senior year.
“I think David was born to do exactly what he's going to be doing,” said Bishop, who was doing television commentary on Southern Conference games while Conrady was at Furman. “He'll represent SCORE at the Final Four, at coaching conventions, and anywhere he believes he can help our mission trips with coaches and players. He'll also be involved in the lives of many more young people than he is now.
"This is a great day for SCORE International."
Conrady was previously coached at several small colleges, including North Greenville, Mars Hill and Presbyterian.
“SCORE gives me the opportunity to not just impact the 15 kids we have at UTC, but greatly increases my chances to impact young people across the globe," he said.
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.
College Report
COLLEGE REPORT: Meggs helping with Cal-Irvine resurgence
- College Report
-
-
College report: Bloomfield runner to join IUPUI track, cross country teams
Bloomfield track/cross country standout Julie Riggins will be joining the developing IUPUI program next fall as one of six incoming recruits.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Roberts takes coaching position at UNC-Greensboro
Terre Haute native Mike Roberts is continuing his climb up the college basketball coaching ladder, recently departing Rice for a spot as the associate head coach at North Carolina-Greensboro.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley grads playing role for No. 13 Vincennes
A few springtime odds and ends:
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Shouse making his mark for Danville Community College
Derek Shouse definitely flew under the radar in his one season of playing for the Terre Haute South boys basketball team last winter.
Not highly recruited, he made his way to Danville Area Community College as a walk-on with the hopes he could find his way onto the court at some point. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Bullock finds sunny home to continue tennis career
Most college athletes progress along similar paths to get to their final destinations athletically, but Terre Haute South grad Taylor Bullock’s route to the Eckerd College women’s tennis team was a little different than most.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: TH South QB entertains Division I offers
Danny Etling’s trek to being a big-time college quarterback took a huge step this week when the Terre Haute South junior picked up a scholarship offer from Purdue, according to 247sports.com.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Seibert stepping up her game
Terre Haute South grad Haley Seibert has seen the usual ups and downs of her freshman basketball season at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne and is making the most of her opportunities this season.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Vikings Waters, Barton excited about college basketball
West Vigo grad Lauren Dailey helped the Lady Vikings basketball program to a lot of success at the end of the 1990s, and went on to play for Eastern Illinois from 2001-2004.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Some odds and ends from College Report mailbag
Here are some odds and ends from Santa’s mailbag:
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Hayne makes immediate impact at Lindsey Wilson College
Coming from a long line of volleyball players, including standout sisters Madison (Hayne) Minnick and Casey Hayne, it shouldn’t have been surprising that Terre Haute South grad Taylor Hayne made a big impact as a freshman this fall for the Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College squad.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Witt wraps up great season for Grand Valley State
It’s 337 miles from Shakamak High School to Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., if you’re thinking of taking a long jog.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: North senior O’Leary signs with Loyola (Chicago)
Two standout senior basketball players were among several Wabash Valley athletes who made previous college sports commitments official this week, with others expected to make their commitments official soon.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: A battle of Witt’s: Shakamak grad has championship aspirations at Grand Valley State
It’s 337 miles from Shakamak High School to Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., if you’re thinking of taking a long jog.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Potter named to all-conference team after freshman season
There are many clear differences between high school tennis and collegiate tennis.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Younger Weatherford following in brother’s footsteps
“Weatherford punts well for central Illinois college” is an example of a frequent newspaper headline around eight years ago when Terre Haute North grad Steve Weatherford was booming long punts for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: West Vigo grad Coombs excels for Wallace State volleyball
Wallace State volleyball may not come to mind when you think of college athletic dominance, unless you happen to follow Alabama Community College Conference volleyball.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Engle coaching at DePauw, younger Weatherford punting for Eastern Illinois
Pigskins are now flying through the muggy, late summer air and several Wabash Valley grads are continuing their careers at the next level as either players or coaches.
-
JOEY BENNETT: ISU baseball assistant headed to Iowa JUCO
Following a standout baseball career at Terre Haute North, Max Hutson took his talents to one of the nation’s most prestigious collegiate programs at Wichita State.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Terre Haute North’s O’Leary drawing Division I offers
Interest has picked up tremendously lately for Terre Haute North senior-to-be Matt O’Leary, as the 6-7, 200-pounder now has eight college basketball scholarship offers and six at the Division I level after a strong July AAU season for the Indiana Elite One squad.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Sullivan's Trimble to run for IPFW
Summertime comings and goings:
• Sullivan standout to IPFW — Sullivan grad Olivia Trimble will be taking her track and field talents to the Division I level at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne next spring.
Trimble comes to IPFW with personal-bests of 13.1 in the 100-meter dash, 27.5 in the 200-meter dash, 1:04 in the 400-meter dash, and a long jump personal best of 15-5. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Some final notes on the spring season
Cleaning out the end-of-year college sports mailbag:
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Eberle to play for ISU, Fulkerson going to Rose for baseball
Michael Eberle and Parker Fulkerson are both Terre Haute North grads who were key hitters in the middle of the lineup for last summer’s Wayne Newton Post 346 state championship American Legion baseball team.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Vicars pitches Alcorn to top seed
Terre Haute South grad Cole Vicars was the fifth leading hitter for Alcorn State’s baseball team last spring, but this year he has found more success on the pitching mound in leading the Braves to the top seed in the Eastern Division for the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Three North volleyball players to play at next level
Terre Haute North’s volleyball program has made tremendous strides over the past few years, and the college ranks are starting to notice.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Eighty Valley natives playing college softball, baseball
Eighty Wabash Valley natives are playing collegiate softball and baseball this spring, while another 11 serve as college coaches.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: North grad’s college softball career off to strong start
The transition from high school softball to college softball has been a smooth one for Terre Haute North grad Bethany Sullivan.
-
College Report: Akers’ D-1 dream comes true, heading to nearby EIU
Austin Akers hoped to land a Division I scholarship two years ago following a standout high school career at Northview, but that goal wasn’t achieved at that time.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Molly Martin ends college career with run in NCAA Division III Tournament
The stellar college basketball career of Terre Haute North grad Molly Martin came to an end March 4, as Hanover College’s women’s team dropped a 76-62 decision to the University of Chicago in the opening round of the NCAA Division III national tournament at Grand Rapids, Mich.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: SV'S Craigmyle to play football at Division II Harding
Harding University knows exactly what it wants in terms of football players to fit Coach Ronnie Huckeba’s system.
South Vermillion’s James Craigmyle knew exactly what he was looking for in a college. -
COLLEGE REPORT: WRC diamond standouts make college plans
Three Wabash River Conference diamond standouts have decided where they will continue their careers collegiately after graduating this spring.
- More College Report Headlines
-
College report: Bloomfield runner to join IUPUI track, cross country teams
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Castro's Daughter Takes on U.S.-Cuban Relations
1 Dead After Crop-Dusters Collide in Midair
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: School Bus Hits House
Romney: "I'd Like Every Parent to Have a Choice"
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Joplin Rebuilds Stronger, Greener After Tornado
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Fight erupts in Ukrainian parliament over language bill.
Racy ad encourages safe sex for senior citizens
New Video of The Dark Knight Rises Released by Warner Brothers
Coach dismissed after going to prom with student
Jennifer Lopez's Rock Hard Abs
Plane Passenger Records Engine Hatch Blowing Off
What Katy Perry Thinks Makes Her Hot
Toddlers Mistake Laundry Detergent TidePods for Candy, Get Poisoned
Anderson Kicks Guest Off Show
Lolo Jones Admits Trouble Keeping Boyfriends
Behind 'Breaking Bad's' Big Bang
Big Bang Theory Star Comes Out
Laundromat video: It was the babysitter and her friend
"The Choking Game" - Deadly Trend for Youth
Sanchez Eager to Start Her Career after 'Idol'
K.Stew's Topless Confession at Cannes
American Idol Crowns a Champ
