U women's seniors ready to be leaders

To return to the NCAA tournament, the Gophers need much from Ashley Ellis-Milan and Brittany McCoy.

By MYRON P. MEDCALF, Star Tribune

Last update: November 15, 2009 - 12:07 AM

Pam Borton has made it clear all preseason: If the Gophers are going to make another NCAA tournament run this season, then the senior captains, forward Ashley Ellis-Milan and point guard Brittany McCoy, will have to lead them.

Ellis-Milan and McCoy played prominent roles during their first three seasons. Their final season in maroon and gold begins today with an afternoon matchup against Lamar at Williams Arena.

The Gophers surprised many with a victory at Notre Dame in the opening round of last season's NCAA tournament.

But a 73-42 loss to Texas A&M in the next round was filled with all kinds of mishaps, including 32 turnovers. McCoy had 10 turnovers in that second-round loss. Ellis-Milan had five but scored a team-high 15 points.

That loss is inspiration for two players who want to return to the tournament but not leave it the way they did in March.

"It's not just what [Texas A&M] did, it's how they did it," Ellis-Milan said. "Me and my teammates who were there, we remember it and we remember it every day and we just know that we don't want to feel that way again. So it's like, what are we going to do today that's not going to make us be in that situation later on in the season?"

McCoy added: "It was over, done. We didn't watch film after that game. Obviously, practices were over, games were over, so it's definitely a motivator, though, going into this year."

Borton says the duo can avoid a repeat by consistently producing this season, one of her top demands for the seniors. McCoy shot 33.2 percent from the field last season and Ellis-Milan finished the year with 88 turnovers.

"You can't just be a role player on this team and do what you're responsible for," Borton said. "They've gotta inspire others and get the best out of others as well."

Borton said a 64-62 exhibition loss to Winona State on Nov. 4 -- McCoy shot 2-for-7 from the field and Ellis-Milan had a team-high five turnovers -- was a wake-up call for Minnesota's veterans, who face a tough nonconference schedule.

McCoy said she expects to become a more active and vocal leader for the Gophers this season, now that Emily Fox is gone.

"I need to be someone that sets a great example in practice and expects the best from my teammates and holds them accountable," McCoy said. "I need to be a vocal leader, I mean as a point guard, it's something that I need to do."

Both Ellis-Milan and McCoy have achieved notable goals during their first three years with the team.

McCoy (6.8 points, 4.1 assists per game in 2008-09) has become the Brett Favre of Gophers women's basketball, after starting all 67 games during her first three years with the team. She registered at least 100 assists in each of her first three seasons.

Ellis-Milan (11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds per game in 2008-09) is two points away from becoming the 19th member of Minnesota's 1,000-point club, one season removed from earning All-Big Ten third-team honors.

Both players said they acknowledge and accept their responsibilities this season.

"As an individual, I do set high expectations for myself," Ellis-Milan said. "I think that me and Brittany [McCoy] and Katie Ohm, we're the captains of our team, and I think we have a bar that's set really high."

McCoy added: "We're going to be a lot better than we were last year."

They won't have go it alone. Ohm scored 9.1 points per game for Minnesota last season.

The Gophers also return a solid group of youngsters and a few game-ready newcomers. Sophomores Kiara Buford and Jackie Voigt played surprising roles as freshmen a year ago. Buford made the All-Big Ten freshman team and Voigt started every game during her first year. And freshman Leah Cotton has impressed in two exhibitions.

That's why Ellis-Milan and McCoy are confident that they'll have plenty of help this year as they go after their goals.

"I'm going out this year trying to win games and bring my team along with me," Ellis-Milan said. "We're doing this together. This is a collective group that's unbelievably focused."

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