11/21/2009

By BOB DAVIDSON

Salina Journal

It didn't take Stephanie Frost long to realize there's a big difference between high school and college basketball.

But she's adjusting quite nicely, as evidenced by her effort Friday night in Kansas Wesleyan's 79-42 rout of Johnson & Wales (Colo.).

Frost, a freshman and former Southeast of Saline standout, had 18 points and eight rebounds -- both team highs -- along with three steals in her best collegiate outing to date.

"It's been way different than high school," said Frost, a 5-foot-11 forward. "College is a lot faster paced, it's a lot more aggressive. It took me a while, but I think I'm finally starting to get it."

She certainly got it Friday. Frost had 14 points and six rebounds in the first half as the Coyotes bolted to a 38-22 halftime lead and never looked back in raising their record to 4-2.

Most of her shots came under the basket after getting passes from her teammates.

"In high school the girls weren't as strong. Now you have to adjust to the fact they're stronger and taller and bigger than me. You either finish (score) or get the foul," she said.

Asked what the most difficult thing has been to learn, she pointed to her play at the other end of the floor.

"Defense," she said emphatically. "I need to get down and close out and I get beat every single time. All through my basketball career it's always been defense. Here that's the one thing I focus on."

Wesleyan coach Gordon Reimer said he's pleased with the progress Frost is making.

"She's coming along each and every game. She does some things that awe me. She's just an athletic person. I remember one rebound -- I don't know where she came from -- but she was up there by the rim and just snagged it and grabbed it out of the air," he said.

Reimer tried to rest his starters as much as possible with his team scheduled to play Park College at 1 p.m. today in Parkville, Mo. There was no drop-off as the reserves came through, led by guard Tina Dick, who finished with 14 points and five rebounds. Damara Lewis had nine points and Brandi Jensen eight off the bench.

"It was pretty important to keep some legs there," Reimer said. "We've been wanting to work more people into the lineup. We know this is a long season, it's a marathon, and we need to get these people more and more minutes all the time."

Starting point guard LaCole Wilkinson also scored 14 points and had three assists and three steals.

Wesleyan used its defense to create offense. The Coyotes forced 28 turnovers that led to 31 points and had just 12 turnovers themselves.

Holly Kesterson led Johnson & Wales (1-5) with 15 points.

* Sports editor Bob Davidson can be reached at 822-1404, or by e-mail at bdavidson@salina.com

---

Discuss This Story:

---