TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

Jessica Kochendorfer reached the 1,000 career-point plateau last Saturday at Niagara. What did it mean to you to see her achieve that career milestone?
It is an awesome accomplishment. I am so proud of her. She and I gel very well together. I am looking forward to Mid-American Conference play where we can show that leadership together. I've always enjoyed playing beside her and I am certainly looking forward to doing the same for the rest of the season.

The two of you seem to get the ball a lot in the high post. Is that the design of your team's offense and what does that allow for?
We run a lot of high-low sets on offense, which brings one of us to the high post. From that position, we will then look to dump the ball down into the low post - and especially when Jess is at the top of the key, she will look to shoot. When I am in the low post at the same time, we have that high-low set up that works out really well for us.

What enabled you to break out last week with a pair of double-doubles?
Lately, we have each been working on improving our individual games. I have been coming in on my own time lately and continuing to work. My teammates have also been looking to get me the ball.

You have eight blocks this season and are continuing to move up UB's Top Ten list in career blocks. What do you look for prior to a blocked shot and how much emphasis do you put on that part of your game?
It's just a matter of being aggressive - I really can't break down any one way I go about looking for a block. But, I definitely take pride in playing in defense. When I was recruited, I was looked at because I was a defensive player. Coach Dozier stresses that in the recruiting process - defense wins championships.

What is the focus of your team now following the 1-5 start?
We are trying to take care of our personal responsibilities and bring those together to gel as a team. We need to make sure that we are all at the right spot on the floor when we need to be there. We have been really focused on our offensive sets so that we are all on the same page as a team.

How trying of a situation is it for your team now that you are in a position that you have rarely been in during recent years?
It is really difficult to come in start your senior year this way. But we've just got to continue to move forward and look past the start we've had. There is nothing you can do about the past, so we have to keep looking ahead.

With injuries, your team is extremely thin now. How much of an effect has that had on your team?
Of course you need players to win games. So when you are down to six-to-eight players, it makes it that much more difficult. To have those injuries set us back is tough, but again there is nothing we can do except move on.

This Sunday at 1 pm, Oakland (MI) University visits Alumni Arena. How important is it for your team to snap the losing skid and get back on the winning track?
Our top priority right now is to focus on our next game and to pick up another win. It is so important for us to do that. Right now we are focusing on what we need to do to make ourselves better and our team better. We have to be ready to win heading into that Oakland game.

How much film do you watch in preparation for a team? What other things are done in practices leading up to a game?
We run through a lot of preparation during practice. Our scout team will give us looks at what our opponent does. As far as film, we probably watch around an hour or so of their offense and defense. But you really can't predict anything that an opponent is going to throw at you; you just need to be ready for anything. Preparation gives you an idea of what they like to run and what type of personnel they have.

Earlier this year you played a Top 25 team in Auburn, while a match-up with another ranked opponent, Colorado, is coming up in a couple of weeks. What is the significance of playing such highly-ranked teams to you as a player?
Those are games that we always look forward to - you look to upset those teams. It is good for us as a team because you see where you are at. It also is an experience that you can draw from to make you a better player and a better team.

-The "10 Questions with…" feature is compiled by Geoff Nason.