By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

There is "no question" that the University of Cincinnati women's basketball season was a disappointment, Bearcats coach Laurie Pirtle said Tuesday.

The team finished the season 15-16, went 5-9 in Conference USA and was eliminated from the Women's National Invitation Tournament in the first round.

"It didn't meet our goals," Pirtle said, "but I saw us get through adversity. I saw young kids step up and set a good foundation. Sometimes, you're going to have years that are going to set you back, but it's how you respond to them."

Next season, UC will have to react to the loss of its leading scorer Valerie King (16.0 ppg) and defensive leader Brittani Young, who graduate having played the most games in UC history. King ends her career as the third all-time three-point scorer in Division I. Young leaves open her spot as the player who gets to guard every opponent's leading scorer.

The Bearcats also may be without top post player Debbie Merrill (15.2 ppg). Merrill, who was suspended indefinitely on Feb. 20 for violation of team rules, is still enrolled at UC and has attended, but not participated in, Bearcats' practices, UC assistant sports information director Geoff Wiswell said.

Merrill's status for next season is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.

But as Pirtle wrapped up her season, she appeared to be contemplating a new year without her top two leading scorers.

"You don't have a Valerie King, so somebody's going to have to pick up the slack. How we're going to counter that challenge is that while generally we would go to Debbie or Valerie, now we have a really big span of people we can go to," Pirtle said.

One positive this year is several young players saw playing time, including sophomore Micah Harvey and freshman Karen Twehues.

Improving on defense will be a key for all the young starters, Pirtle said, and so will winning close games. The Bearcats lost seven games by five points or less this year, a statistic that, along with their strength of schedule, likely contributed to a WNIT berth despite a .500 record.

"We didn't shy away from anything, and we paved some bumps and bruises that will maybe pay off," Pirtle said.

2004-05 UC Bearcats

Players lost:

Valerie King, Sr., 5-10, G: UC's secon6d all-time scorer, had 16.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg this season.

Brittani Young, Sr., 5-11, F: Top defender, 4.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg.

Key returners:

Anne Stephens, So.*, 6-4, C: 7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg.

Micah Harvey, So., 5-7, G: 6.5 ppg, 4.7 apg.

Toni Slaughter, Fr.: 6-0, F, 6.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg.

Treasure Humphries: Fr., 5-6, G, 7.2 ppg.

Karen Twehues, Fr.: 6-0, G, 6.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg.

Questionable:

Debbie Merrill, Jr., 6-3, C/F: 15.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg.

New additions:

Alicia Avery, 6-6, C: Columbus Mifflin H.S. (Ohio), McDonald's All-American top 100 for No. 3 in state Mifflin before tearing two ligaments in her knee in district tourney.

Ashley Brown, 6-0, F: Xenia H.S. (Ohio), Honorable Mention All-Ohio with 15.5 ppg.

Kristi Brogan, 5-10, G: Hilliard H.S. (Ohio), Special Mention All-Ohio.

Bianca Roldan, 6-1, F: Joaquim Blume School (Barcelona, Spain), 5.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg for Siglo XXI.

Bellva May, 5-9, G: Louisburg Junior College, transferred last year, missed season with knee injury but has been with team all year.

*Eligibility for 2003-04 season