As coach Loralyn Murdoch prepares to take the UNBC Northern Timberwolves women's basketball team to a higher level of competition next season, it appears she won't have starting point guard Jenn Knibbs in uniform.
Knibbs, who has spent two years in UNBC colours, is almost certain to return to her hometown of Saskatoon and attend classes at the University of Saskatchewan. She is studying to become a doctor and, as a Saskatoon resident, has a much better chance of getting into medical school at U of S.
And here's the other catch -- Knibbs needs three prerequisites to get into the medical program at U of S and has been told she can only take the courses there.
"It's limiting," Murdoch said. "We've pled our case and we're looking at a few other things that might come through but it's not looking great."
Murdoch said the loss of Knibbs would be "absolutely huge" for the women's basketball program, especially because it is on the verge of moving from the B.C. college league into the Canada West conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport.
"She's such a franchise player," Murdoch said. "She's such a great person to have in the locker room, in the community. She's our poster child. She's everything, and unfortunately she can't take those courses spring or summer, she can't take them online, she can't take them via correspondence. They have to be taken at U of S."
Knibbs was named UNBC's rookie of the year in 2010-11 and was a co-winner of the team's top defensive player award this past season. She could not be reached for comment on Monday.
With Knibbs likely out of the picture, Murdoch said recruiting a new point guard is "mandatory." The player at the top of her wish list is five-foot-seven Brittney Newcomb, an Oregon product who has played two seasons with the Washington-based Yakima Valley Community College Yaks.
"She's an excellent three-point shooter," Murdoch said. "She's very much like Knibbs, maybe a little bit more of an offensive threat."
Just as importantly, Murdoch needs to find a player with height and strength -- someone who can create space under the hoop and win battles against the bigger inside players at the Canada West level.
"There are three or four six-foot-and-over girls that I've contacted," she said. "We're waiting on transcripts and all that eligibility stuff. We can only have two [international players, as per CIS rules] so I have to go after two hard but I have to have many backup plans.
"There's also a forward out of Germany that we're talking to that would love to come here," Murdoch added. "I just don't know if I can use that spot for her because I do need a point guard and we have to bring in a big."
