JILL MARICICH/Arizona Daily Wildcat Seniors Julie Brase (left) and Krista Warren bring valuable experience and maturity to their new roles as the leaders of the UA women's basketball team.

Senior roommates ready to take reins of young Wildcat women's basketball team

Clad in school colors, seniors Julie Brase and Krista Warren sat together at media day as expected.

Between interviews, they laughed and joked with each other and gave some of the freshmen a hard time.

The two were relaxed and answered every question quickly and thoroughly without fidgeting, sweating or nervousness.

They have been here before. It was just another media day, though it happens to be their last.

Four years ago, graduation and suiting up for their final game in an Arizona uniform seemed like a long way away.

But time has caught up with seniors Krista Warren and Julie Brase, and though the opportunity to open a new chapter in their lives has them mildly intrigued, moving on is still a little difficult to swallow.

"I am excited that I am a senior but I don't want it to end," Brase said.

They came to Joan Bonvicini's program one year apart, and as fate and health would have it, they will finish together.

Player Profiles Name: Julie Brase Height: 5'10" Position: guard Year: senior Hometown: Tucson Name: Krista Warren Height: 6'2" Position: forward Year: senior Hometown: Coverdale, Calif.

Injuries change plans

Brase entered the Wildcat program in the 1998-99 season as a sharp-shooting guard from Catalina Foothills High School. Her career at Arizona would quickly test her toughness ÷ mentally as well as physically.

As a freshman, she suffered a broken nose during practice when she collided with former UA standout Felecity Willis.

The injury affected her game-time for the next five games, while she wore a protective mask.

"It wasn't like one of those custom ones in the pros," Brase said. "This one had those ugly straps. There were a few pictures taken of me in it, but thankfully they have been hidden away."

The 2000-2001 season began with wrist surgery for Brase, and she was forced to take a medical redshirt.

As member of the All-Pac-10 freshmen team in the 1999-2000 campaign, Warren has taken a similar route as Brase, minus the medical redshirt.

Following her promising freshman season, Warren tore her right ACL in the first half of a game at Oregon.

It has all come full circle now, and despite the injuries and frustrations, Brase and Warren have gotten through it and are looking forward to instilling all their knowledge in the next generation of Wildcats.

They are the seniors ÷ healthy seniors ÷ and are showing the freshmen how things work.

Leading by example

As roommates and friends, Brase and Warren exemplify a cohesive bond off the floor, and dedication and hard work on the floor.

"We are here to show good leadership and help out the freshmen," Brase said.

Brase said this season will be memorable and successful, but it is the bigger picture that Brase holds closer to heart.

"It's going to be an interesting year, and a fun year," Brase said. "We get along real well and we have a good attitude."

After comparing this year's team to previous ones, Warren said there is something about this team that hasn't been present in seasons past.

"We never really had relationships with each other," Warren said. "It used to just be basketball and we would hang out every once in a while."

Don't be fooled by the friendliness and togetherness approach to this season these two take öö that's just an important aspect to a successful team, Brase and Warren said. Since the team belongs to the two seniors now, they understand the responsibility that comes with being the oldest, and must be assertive as well as approachable.

"We are going to have to be there on and off the court," Warren said. "That is something we are going to focus on."

Bonvicini said the two have fulfilled their duties thus far, and is expecting them to continue to influence the team positively.

"Julie is a fifth-year senior and has always been a solid player, but she does a lot of the intangible things. She has a really good knowledge of the game. Krista has had a good career here and I expect her to have a great year this year, too," Bonvicini said.

Been there before

Along with their attitude and work ethic comes another thing Bonvicini likes: experience.

Experience is something all coaches love to have on their teams. Along with valuable post season and game experience, Brase and Warren bring another important trait to the table ÷ one they and Bonvicini don't necessarily like looking back on.

Even before the pair took on the role of senior leaders, they were well versed in comforting teammates öö especially those with injuries.

Last season, freshman Katrina Lindner tore her ACL during the Red Blue scrimmage.

She turned to Warren.

"She was there for me and supported me," Lindner said. "She helped me get through it."

Both Warren and Brase smile when looking back on certain moments in their career ÷ the painful ones specifically ÷ and are more than welcome to pass on advice to their downed teammates.

"It can only go up from there," said Brase, smiling and shaking her head as she remembered a time when she was sidelined. "It can't get any worse; so there it is, no way but up."

Unfortunately for these two, there is no way now but out.

They've been there, they've done that, and it's the beginning of the end ÷ at least as a member of the Wildcat basketball team.

Only one more chapter left, and both players want it to be their best ever.