Page ATTITUDES WARM FOR WOMEN'S ATHLETICS wie Attitude has been the biggest » hurdle to overcome in Women’s Athletics,’ said Jane Miner, WSC coordinator of Women’s ' Athletics. ‘‘Too often if a girl has _ been good in basketball or some " other sport people would say ‘she " Shoots like a man.’”’ ' Jane pointed out ‘‘she didn’t _ shoot like a man—she shot like a good woman athlete.’’ ' Gradually both men and “women are coming to accept that ‘women can be excellent in sports and still be women, ‘feminine, pretty, and good dates,” she said. At WSC both men and women’s athletics come under a single athletic department and are ' treated the same. Gary Cromp' ton is athletic director and ad_ Ministers the program. Presently there are four sports in the women’s program, ' volleyball, basketball, softball _ and gymnastics. Under Title IX, ' the women’s program could _ double in the next few years. “We’re trying for a program as big as the men’s,”’ Jane said. _ “We anticipate adding track, ' field, cross country, tennis and e golf.”’ ' Women’s teams _ the Intermountain compete in Conference ' against 13 universities. WSC is _ the only college in the con_ ference. The conference includes _ the four Utah schools, Arizona ' State, University of Arizona, _ Northern Arizona, University of _ New Mexico, New Mexico State, _ University of Texas at El Paso, Colorado State University, _ University of Colorado, Univer- ' sity of North Colorado, and the ' University of Wyoming. Each team is played once. ; ‘There is a definite home court advantage,’’ said Jane. ‘‘It ' can often mean a 10 point ad_ vantage. Every game is a ‘life or _ death’ event since there is only _ one with each school.’’ For the first time Miss Miner "feels WSC has a good shot at the hationals this year for the AIAW (Associated Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, coun_ terpart to the men’s NCAA). The _AIAW is divided into nine _Tegions. Weber is in Region 7. “It’s very competitive. The top two teams in each region qualify for nationals. We finished seven- th last year. Our region has many nationally ranked teams in all the sports. Three of the top five softball teams in the nation were from Region 7,’’ Jane said. ‘“‘The mood seems to be to affiliate with the men’s conference to alleviate conflict.”’ Basketball is the big sport in our .conference, she _ said. Women’s _ basketball is played with the same rules as men’s basketball except for a 30 second clock and no back court. ‘Tf you haven’t seen a women’s basketball game recently would be in for a big surprise. We’re averaging 82 points a game and playing fast break basketball.”’ The WSC women’s basketball team is an average 5’7’’ compared to other conference teams averaging 5’10” to over 6’. Approximately twenty players in the conference are over 6’. Ann Avondet, starting guard, is a 5’ “whiz kid.” ‘Everybody falls in love with her.’’ Kathy Miller, a Junior, was chosen as most valuable player in the conference last year. She averaged 32 points per game and is the leading scorer. She holds the Wildcat Gym scoring record of 50 points in one game. She scored 47 points against a 672” all-conference player. Miss Miller, a 5’6”’ forward plays against women who are 5°10’ to 6’. She has_ been nominated for All-Conference All-American and Most Valuable Player two years in a row. Out of 150 basketball players only five are selected for all-conference. ‘“‘New players this year have added a new dimension to the team,’’ Jane said. ‘“‘We have a problem with recruiting. It is restricted and can be done only with phone calls and letters. It’s difficult to tell how good a girl is just by seeing a film of her. The scholarships are renewed annually and are almost impossible to revoke if we discover we have a girl who really can’t;play. We give scholarships very carefully. It’s difficult recruiting top Utah athletes because of the other universities. Most come from out-of-state, further complicating selection. We’re hoping for a change in recruitment rules,’’ Miss Miner said. She explained interest is “gigantic.’’ Over 100-200 girls want to come and play. The field is wide-open. As women’s athletics are accepted and criticism lessens, girls stop dropping out of sports as they hit Junior High and High School. There’s a high level of acceptance there now, she said. “It’s okay to be good. Girls aren’t looked down on if they’re also good athletes.”’ Miss Miner is in her second year at WSC. She taught physical education at Hillcrest High School tive years and is a graduate of BYU with a B.S. in physical education and an M.Hed in health education. (TOP) KATHY MILLER, most valuable player, listens to Coach Jane Miner and -- Women play ball. 5