Stepping off the court at Stanford's Maples Pavilion last spring, Amber Sprague was not happy.
Sure, the USD women's basketball team had won the West Coast Conference Tournament, and with it, an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.
But unable to battle the way she wanted in the paint against Cal's powerful post players, Sprague felt anything but satisfied in reaching another milestone for the Toreros, who fell in their opening postseason game in Palo Alto.
“They were much more physical than I was, and I think that comes from my body size,” Sprague said then. “I could not bang with them in the post. But I see where I need to be and I won't let that happen again.”
Sprague wasn't kidding.
Fast forward eight months. Sprague sat in the office of USD coach Cindy Fisher, a broad smile on her face.
“We've been doing all the practicing and preseason stuff for what seems like forever,” the Mission Bay High graduate said, her voice unable to hide her excitement. “It's that sense of urgency. It's my last year out here, and I want to end on a high note.”
The 6-foot-5 center was back in the weight room just three days after the final game of last season, and she added 14 lean pounds to show for it as USD prepares for its season opener tomorrow night against UCSD.
“For us to be successful, she has to be a presence on the post,” Fisher said. “With that comes a lot of physicalness. But Amber has realized she had to put on some size and work on a different part of her game. She continues to amaze us every day at the things she can do.”
A member of a highly regarded local prep class of 2004, Sprague admitted she thought success would come easier when she first stepped onto the USD campus.
“When (fellow Bucs alumna Amanda Rego) and I came in as naive freshmen, we thought that it was going to happen overnight, which was not the case,” Sprague said. “But with the addition of Fisher and other additions around the athletics department, we've raised the level. We compare ourselves to the bigger-name schools, and that really helps with our mentality and where we're going.”
Each year has brought with it new and different challenges, from having to sit out a season with a broken foot to varied results on the court. But last year changed everything for Sprague.
“Getting (to the NCAA Tournament) showed us what it takes to get there,” said Sprague, who averaged a team-high 15.2 points to go with 8.7 rebounds. “We saw the different level between us and Cal, the size.
“But now, we want to get there and win.”
Fisher said she sees that in every one of her players, from seniors such as Sprague to the newest additions.
One of those additions looks to be more than capable of stepping into a key role. Dominique Conners, a La Jolla Country Day grad, is expected to start in place of Rego, who is playing professionally in Germany.
It marks the first time Sprague will play without Rego, dating to their freshman high school year. Sprague, though, is pleased with what she sees in Conners and Morgan Woodrow, a 6-foot freshman forward.
“It's different, but I'm adjusting to playing without Rego,” Sprague said. “We lost a lot in Rego, but we gained a lot in Dominique. With her having experience (that she has), and the veterans on the wings, I think we're going to do a good job.”
Nicole Vargas: (619) 293-1390; nicole.vargas@uniontrib.com
