Lackey adds depth to women's b-ball

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior forward and community college transfer Angela Lackey (34) takes a shot against the Slovan Bratislava team Friday night at McKale Center. Lackey had 10 points two rebounds in the Wildcats' 83-54 win over Bratislava.

The junior transfer from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas can play either power or small forward, but looks to be the starting small forward when the Arizona women's basketball team opens up the regular season this weekend in the Nebraska CableVision Classic in Lincoln.

"They recruited me to play four, but they just recently moved me to three," Lackey said. "I like playing three and four because I feel I can do well at both spots."

Head coach Joan Bonvicini described Lackey as having guard skills with a post body, making her a good swing forward.

Bonvicini and the coaching staff were impressed with Lackey's work ethic in preseason pick-up games and conditioning.

"I think we need a big three," Bonvicini said. "I think she has good perimeter skills and good size up front."

Lackey was a 1998 first team Kodak Junior College All-American and first team NJCAA All-American, averaging 25.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Coffeyville finished with a 30-7 record, advancing to the school's first appearance in the NJCAA national championship game. Lackey was named to the NJCAA all-tournament team.

In her two seasons at Coffeyville, Lackey scored 1,273 points, 921 of them last season.

Against Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia in an exhibition game last Friday night, Lackey had 10 points on 5 of 9 shooting and two rebounds, starting at the small forward spot.

"This game was to see where we are as a team," Lackey said. "I think we did a good job playing. We need to start working the ball around more."

Bonvicini calls Lackey a "physically gifted" player, and is excited about Lackey becoming an integral part of the team's balanced frontcourt scoring.

"She's a proven scorer and rebounder, and should fit in right away," Bonvicini said. "She just needs to keep her intensity up the entire time and she'll do well."

Assistant coach Sam Dixon, who works with the post players, has been impressed with Lackey's play.

"Angie's a swing player in the post," he said. "We have pretty good depth and need to find ways to get players on the floor, and we did that by moving Angie to the three spot. She adds to the team with her versatility."

Bryan Rosenbaum can be reached via e-mail at Bryan.Rosenbaum@wildcat.arizona.edu.