'Bug' no pest for UA women

Karen C. Tully Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior guard DexAngela Minter has begun a new regimen to fight her hydration problems. Her weekly mineral shots should help.

The Wildcat bug, however, doesn't have six legs, multiple eyes or shell-crushing teeth, just a mean jump shot.

UA sophomore Monika Crank, who picked up the nickname when she was a toddler for her insect-eating habit, actually kind of enjoys it.

"I used to eat them when I was little and my parents called me that from then on," Crank said. "I prefer it with my friends."

Her teammates picked the nickname up from a visit with Crank's parents, Hoskie and Evelyn, and it has been "bug" to the team ever since.

The public address announcer has even got involved. After a Crank three-pointer, the crowd gets a good taste of "Threeeeeee-pointer by Buuuuug Crank."

However, she is far from a gnat on the court.

She tied her career-high 14 points for the fifth time this season against Oregon on 6 for 9 shooting and is the team's third leading scorer (10.0 per game).

"We felt that Bug needed to work on picking up her scoring. It's amazing the open looks our team gets when she is on," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said.

The Page, Ariz. native understands her role.

"I know that I can shoot, and I feel good when I get involved offensively," Crank said.

While the "bug" title is slowly becoming familiar with Wildcat fans, Crank's knee-high socks are widely known.

"Sometimes I don't even hear Monika," Crank said.

While it is still up in the air whether the killer cockroach episode is her favorite episode of her favorite show, The X-Files, Crank has little doubt the nickname will stick with her.

"Bug is just bug, what else is there to say?" junior center Marte Alexander said.

Junior off-guard DeAngela Minter has had a problem the last few years of getting severe cramps in her legs late in games and practices. Just recently when the LA schools visited, Minter was unable to walk off the court after the cramps began and had to be carried off in the final five minutes in both games, unable to return. To combat the problem, Minter is now receiving a mineral shot once a week.

"We did this last year and it worked, so we are going to try it again," Minter said.

Since the injections began last week, Minter has not had a problem.

"The shots are mainly for re-hydration reasons," said M.B. Iliria, who is the assistant athletic trainer for women's basketball. "Hydration is a very important factor for all sports."

So far the treatment has made a positive difference. Against Oregon on Saturday, Minter, who is considered Arizona's best perimeter defender and most experienced perimeter player, was able to finish the game on the court and had seven rebounds.

"We are happy with her new regiment," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "Her defensive presence means a lot to this team, especially late in games."

To a non-medically-trained individual, Minter seemed to play herself into the cramps. Her almost wild, relentless style made it look like her body was letting her know to take a break. Iliria said that dehydration is common in sports that are more enduran ce orientated, but Minter problem is not rare.

"DeAngela is extremely active, and late in the games, the cramps would hit her when she would come out or off a time-out," Bonvicini said. "She works so hard."

After one of the incidents when Minter had to be sidelined earlier in the season, Minter's mother, Sherrie said, jokingly, "It's that college lifestyle. They just don't get enough rest."

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Bonvicini must have seen something in Arizona's press that she liked, because this week the team has spent a lot of practice time working on it. Whether the team will open with it against Washington on Thursday is not known, but Bonvicini admits she likes it.

"I think that size is the most overrated quality in college basketball," Bonvicini said. "Quickness is just as important. Our team likes to put pressure and force turnovers."

Bonvicini has been impressed with the work-ethic of junior Cha-Ron Walker as well. The 6-foot-1 junior forward has seen little playing time this season, but things could change. Walker backs up Adia Barnes, the school's all-time leading scorer.

"Cha-Ron is a smart player and very quick. I think that she is a good replacement for Adia," Bonvicini said.

Walker said she doesn't mind being a team motivator.

"I would be lying if I didn't say that I want to be in there, but I will do whatever is best for the team," she said.