July 21, 2005

Each week fightingillini.com will catch up with a women's basketball player to find out how their summer vacation is going. The Illini have been busy hosting camps and preparing for another big year in the Big Ten.

What's your favorite thing about summer break?
My favorite thing about summer break is the fact that it seems like there are more hours in the day and you're in an over all good mood because the sun is always shining. I love the summer in general.

Have you been playing basketball this summer?
Absolutely. Basketball IS my summer.

Basketball-wise, what type of goals do you have for next season and what are you doing over the summer to help reach them?
Our goals for next season are CHAMPIONSHIPS, CHAMPIONSHIPS, and more CHAMPIONSHIPS. More specifically, though, we plan to go to the NCAA tournament and advance. In order to achieve these goals we have been working out extremely hard, more than I have in my career, and we are putting ourselves in a winning mind frame everyday. We'll accept nothing less than our absolute best effort.

What type of workouts do you do over the summer?
We do basically everything. We run distance, we sprint, we do agility workouts, ply metrics, lift weights, scrimmage, individual basketball workouts, and anything else you can phathom.

The incoming freshman class has been on campus working out, what is your first impression of them?
My first impression of the freshmen was "Yes! Now the pieces are all in place." They work hard and have been committed thus far. They have great attitudes on and off the court and I can tell that they are coachable.

Are you going, or have you gone on vacation anywhere this summer?
In August, when I go home, I plan to scour the state of California. From L.A. to Palm Springs to Huntington Beach to the mountains and to anywhere else the wind takes me. My dad said he has a surprise trip planned so who knows. So, those two weeks at home will be my vacation. Maybe do some Arizona as well.

Are you taking classes this summer? Do you have summer job?
I'm not taking summer classes. I work at FedEx Ground and the Holiday Inn here in Champaign.

What are you doing in your spare time outside the gym?
Outside of the gym I enjoy playing my Super Nintendo. It's out of control fun and it keeps me young. I also enjoy cleaning up around the apartment.

What is your best summer memory from when you were a kid?
Since my birthday is in the summer, my best memories would have to be my birthday parties I used to have. They were so much fun and I will never forget them. Summer babies have the most fun!!