ZH: Tell us about your family, how they supported you in sports, any siblings and some favorite family hobbies or traditions.
AB: I was born and raised on a 4th generation family farm in Snohomish and I've lived there my whole life with my parents, older sister, and younger brother. Both of my parents went to Snohomish High, and my family has been very involved with the tradition of sports in Snohomish. My grandpa played football there, as well as my dad and brother. My sister ran cross-county and track at both Snohomish and Whitworth College, where she recently graduated in Education. My brother will be a sophomore at Snohomish High. In the old barn behind our house, we built a sports court that has a full
size basketball court and we spent a lot of time up there as kids. My family has always been very supportive of me and never pressured me about
sports. They keep me down to earth and remind me what's really important in life.
ZH: When did you first start playing basketball and were you always the "tall girl" and were you a natural or did it take lots of hard work to be as good as you are?
AB: I started playing basketball in the 3rd grade with all my friends on my elementary school team. I also played soccer and softball, but basketball was always my favorite, probably because it was my best sport that I was naturally pretty good in. I've never minded being the "tall girl" except when looking for long enough dresses for our high school dances.
ZH: You chose Gonzaga over many other schools. Why did you select GU
as the program you'd be at for four years, and what all went into your final decision?
AB: I liked the small school atmosphere at Gonzaga. It was comforting to know that my sister was in Spokane going to college at Whitworth and I liked the laid back feel of Spokane. I really liked the coaching staff and I knew that coach Graves was going to make a success of our team. It's hard to explain but I went with my instincts and it just felt right to choose Gonzaga. I was also thinking about majoring in Business and I knew the Business School at Gonzaga had a good reputation.
ZH: Going into your third year at Gonzaga, you must have a few highlights that really stick in your memory. Please share a couple of the most memorable games or moments for you so far.
AB: Beating Pepperdine in the semi-finals of the WCC tourney this
year was one of the most exciting games I've ever been a part of.
ZH: It's expected that Gonzaga will be the WCC Preseason #1 Pick for 2004-05. Now as an upperclassman, what do you and the team need to focus on and also improve on from last year in order to achieve that #1 expectation?
AB: The incoming team is experienced and real deep. I think that if we get offto a quick start it will help us in the long run. Our team has a lot of really good players, but no real superstars, so we need to work on playing as a team and rely on our leadership. I think that this next year we will be coming in with a lot more confidence and we will know that we can play
with any team.
ZH: What areas of your game have you been working on the most during this off-season? And what will be your role this junior year?
AB: Now that I'm an upperclassman I feel that I have more responsibility to help the incoming girls adjust and I need to lead by example. During the offseason I think one of the most important things to do is take a little time off so you can clear your head and get a better perspective going into the next season. I have still been working on my inside and outside game so I'll be ready to go in where I'm needed. I would like to be more consistent next year which will come with confidence and being aggressive
all the time.
ZH: Off the court, what do you enjoy doing, and is there any time after studies and practices to do much?
AB: Just like any normal student my age, in my free time I like to hang out with friends, relax, and find something fun to do. During the season,
school and basketball are pretty time consuming and tiring, so usually in our off time we just lay around the house and talk and watch TV.
ZH: Tell us what you're majoring in and what you might like to do after you graduate in 2006.
AB: Right now I'm in the business field but I haven't picked a specific major, possibly marketing or management. As of right now, I don't have a clue what I'm going to do after I graduate.
ZH: Whenever we see the women's team it's obvious you guys are all close and get along like a family. Tell us who some of the characters
are, like the biggest joker, the goofiest, the most intense, the toughest, the glamour girl, the sleepy head.
AB: [Laughs] We have a lot of different personalities and opinions on the team but for
some reason we mesh pretty good. Of course when you have a group of girls that are practically family there's gonna be drama, but we have had a lot of fun and memorable times. It's an experience that I'm so lucky to be a part of and I will never forget.
ZH: For any recruit that may be reading this, what message would you like to tell them about Gonzaga, Kelly Graves and the staff?
AB: Gonzaga is the perfect size for me because I like the smaller atmosphere and your teachers actually know your name. Basketball is a big commitment but a great thing to be a part of. Our program is going places and next year we will have the most talented team since I've been here.