New Vision, New Tempo At Gu Bulldogs Plan To Run With Perno, Two Other Returning Starters Leading Way

Sydney Perno and her Gonzaga University women’s basketball teammates are sprinting up and down the Martin Centre court running the five-man weave for what seems like the gazillionth time.

On the gazillionth-and-one time, Perno decides to break up the monotony and maybe get her stoic-looking coach to break into a smile.

This time, when Perno catches the entry pass from Staci Andrews, she flashes a no-nonsense look and follows with an assertive elbow into the invisible gut of the invisible defender.

She pivots. She throws up a smooth right-handed hook shot. She scores. And she gets coach Kellee Barney to crack the smallest of smiles.

The five players immediately take off downcourt, only to run the drill again, and again, and again, sans Perno’s air-elbow performance.

“This year it’s a more free-lance, run-and-gun type of show,” said Perno. “Last year, we had structure, structure, structure.”

And losses, losses and more losses. There were 23 in all, and just four wins, which came against Idaho State, Idaho, San Diego and Loyola Marymount.

“It hurt to lose,” said Perno. “It was not that we got used to it … but it was kinda like that.”

Perno, a sophomore, is one of three returning starters. Last year, she played in 27 games and started 25. She was second on the team in rebounding with 133 (4.9 per game). Guard/small forward Lydia Ledgerwood and Andrews, a point guard, are the other returning starters.

For Perno, winning has never been a given on the basketball court. She played high school ball at University High, hardly a powerhouse in the Greater Spokane League. The honor student was named to the All-GSL first team her senior year. At 6-foot-1, Perno is one of the tallest players on the Gonzaga team. She’s convinced the team’s up-tempo style will help counter its deficiency.

“When you go against people that are 6-4, 6-5, running down the court, we’re going to beat them in that area.

Obviously we can’t shoot over them,” Perno said.

Barney likes what she sees. At least on some days she likes what she sees.

“We have to find some consistency on the inside,” she said. “There are good days and bad days.”

Thursday was a good day, as the Bulldogs trounced Eastern Washington 87-46 in their opener.

Perno, 5-11 sophomore Kristin Deal, 6-1 sophomore Chelsea Clark and 6-1 freshman Melanie Tipps, provide the team’s height. Six-foot-2 Heather Osberg and 5-11 Casy Murdock, both volleyball players, will join the basketball team next week.

Along with running, Perno said the Bulldogs plan on “pressing for 40 minutes.” She said the team is ready to run, thanks to strength and conditioning coach Anthony Tevlin. The GU alumnus began working with the team last spring.

“We ran stairs,” Perno said. “More stairs than I want to run in my life.”

Perno also had the benefit of playing summer ball. For this, she gives credit to her father, Garry, who organized the Spokane Women’s College Basketball League. Gonzaga teammates junior Sandy Gere and freshman Holly Turner also played in the four-team league that featured several of the local players.

“Our team is having fun right now. They like the changes,” Barney said.

And maybe the playful atmosphere has rubbed off on Barney, who gave birth to her first child during the off-season.

Added Perno: “I don’t know if it’s motherhood. But I feel like she’s so much more understanding this year. She can totally relate to us now. Maybe that’s because she has her own kid.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo