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EPHRAIM — After its first weekend of play, the Snow College women's basketball team's motto of "Won't Be Beat" looks accurate as the Lady Badgers are 2-0 on the young season. The Badgers beat Utah Select, 96-93 in overtime, and swamped Northwest College (Wyo.) in last weekend's Mountain America Credit Union Classic on their home floor.

"We have tremendous team speed and athleticism," said fourth-year head coach Natalie Visger. "We also have some length on the perimeter.  I feel that we can put pressure on people in the back and front court defensively." Offensively, Visger says the Badgers have a lot of different weapons. "We have a nice combination of scorers, shooters, and play makers," Visger says. "We could have a different scoring leader each night."

Snow has four returning sophomores, including three starters, from last year's squad. "They all have critical roles to play and have been asked to do more this season," Visger says. Forward Whitney Saunders (Riverton High School) was named First Team All-SWAC last year and finished the season strong with several huge games down the stretch. "She is a tenacious rebounder and has started to figure out how to defend without fouling, especially inside against taller posts," Visger says.  

"Jilian Powell (Bingham High School) understands how to score and we ran multiple sets for her to get open looks last season," Visger said. "She will be asked to hit open shots again, but also get to the rim when teams get up on her."   

"Ashton Henderson (Bingham High School) was our best 1-on-1 defender last season, and she will again be asked to defend the other teams' top player," says Visger. "In addition to defense, she needs to attack the rim and finish or create for others," Visger adds. "She can score from midrange and hit the occasional three." 

The other returning sophomore, and third player along with Powell and Henderson were teammates at Bingham, is point guard Madison Roe who Visger says "is a great floor leader and teammate, who loves defense." The coach says that Roe plays hard, cares about winning, and is a morale booster.

Visger and her staff, assistant coaches Brett Sawyer and Jordan Downs, are pleased with their returning players' work in the off-season. Visger says that Saunders worked on her shooting range this summer and brought back a nice looking three-point shot with her to campus. "She put in a lot of time this summer on shot mechanics and it has shown."  She adds that Powell put in time in the weight room and is a better finisher off the dribble now along with extending her three-point range.  

Visger says the Badgers have a load of talent with this year's freshmen crop.  Springville High School product Savannah Park is a scrappy defender and a three-time state champion. Visger says Park is "a savvy combo guard who is always on the attack.  She brings our defensive pressure to the next level and I know she is fun to play with."

Kaitlyn Hurley from Roy is a 5'9" point guard who Visger says "has amazing body control and finishing ability." The coach points to Hurley's passing ability, and says she is "fast, explosive, and loves to push the tempo." Visger says that Hurley can score from anywhere and presents other teams with a match-up nightmare due to her size and quickness.

Maddi Smith from Layton High School is the younger sister to Brock Smith who played for the Badger men's team in 2012-13. "They are very similar and she is an amazing athlete," says Visger. "She is so strong but also very fast.  She can go off for 10 points in a three-minute stretch and rack up two steals and four boards in the same amount of time.  She puts extreme pressure on whoever she is guarding."

Abbie Barnard from Mesquite, Nev., is a scoring lefty who, like Smith, can score in a flurry.  She shoots the three well and has a pretty pull up jumper, according to Visger. "She likes to play fast and fits our style," Visger says. "She is an instant threat on offense."

Visger points to her new post players' speed, versatility and toughness. Savannah Sandberg (Copper Hills High School) and Sarah Taylor (Wayne High School) "work hard and are very coachable."  Center Matysen Evensen from Taylorsville has shown huge improvement since practice school began in August and showed her potential by scoring Snow's first six points in overtime last week against Utah Select.

Jaden Anderson from Layton High School and Lisa VanCampen from the Morgan High School basketball factory are "both 6'1" to 6'2" kids who are learning to play tough inside, run the floor, and rebound in college," says Visger. "They have really come a long ways since August and I expect big things out of them defensively, on the boards, and in transition.

Visger says that as with any young (JUCO) team, "We need to make sure we can defend for 30 seconds and rebound.  We aren't undersized at the post, but we gave up some girth when we decided to go with speed."

Visger added that this year fans should see the Badgers pressuring on defense for the full court, along with more speed and athleticism than they are used to seeing. She says that with the team's combination of experience and youth it will be important to have crowd support when the Badgers play at home. "This year's Rowdy Crowd has already been awesome," says the coach. Fans in the seats (something the Snow College student section known as the Rowdy Crowd never uses) "won't be disappointed this season with our style of play. It will be fun and up-tempo and everyone we have on the floor will be able to score."