Loralyn Murdoch is trying to unearth a veteran point guard. So far, her digging hasn't yielded the desired reward.
Murdoch, head coach of the UNBC Northern Timberwolves women's basketball team, was left short at the point position this off-season when she found out projected starter Jenn Knibbs would be returning home to Saskatoon. Knibbs is studying to become a doctor and will continue along that path at the University of Saskatchewan because, as a Saskatoon resident, she has a better chance of getting into medical school at U of S.
Knibbs, co-winner of UNBC's top defensive player award in 2011-12, would have been entering her third season with the Timberwolves.
With Knibbs out of the picture and the T-wolves preparing for their first year in the higher-level Canada West Universities Athletic Association, Murdoch made it a priority to bring in another guard -- preferably one who could play a similar role. The coach is currently in contact with a point guard from Toronto but is a long way from cementing anything.
Ultimately, the Timberwolves may have to rely on players they already have in uniform.
"If need be, the likes of the Kady Dandeneaus and the Mercedes Van Koughnetts can bring up the ball too," Murdoch said.
On the bright side, Murdoch did recruit Salmon Arm point guard Jordyn Rabbitt before the news about Knibbs broke. Rabbitt has two years of experience with the SAIT Trojans of Calgary and was a second-team all-star in the South Division of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in 2011-12. She received all-star recognition after a season that saw her pile up 198 points and 59 assists in 18 games.
Murdoch is also searching for a post player who can battle with the bigger bodies the T-wolves will see at the Canada West level.
In the meantime, another forward has committed to the program. Allison Seinen, who helped the Houston Christian Wildcats to back-to-back provincial championships in her Grade 11 and 12 seasons, will be on the roster in the fall. Seinen stands five-foot-10 and plays an aggressive, hard-charging style. In the single-A provincial championship game in March at the Northern Sport Centre, she drove to the bucket all night against the Cedars Christian Eagles and scored 17 points in an 80-63 Houston win. Seinen was later selected to the tournament's first all-star team.
Murdoch said "the sky's the limit" with Seinen and is glad to have her in the green and gold fold.
"When we initially spoke, she was kind of undecided whether she wanted to go to college for a couple years first and then come play at UNBC potentially, or if she should come to UNBC first," Murdoch said. "I'm really happy that she decided that she wants to come to UNBC right away because I think she'll develop into a very, very nice player."
