Dent intent on helping inexperienced Cowgirl teammates

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming coach Joe Legerski needed to tell Marquelle Dent to slow down last week.

Dent, the Mountain West Conference Preseason Player of the Year, was on the floor with two freshmen and two sophomores during the first quarter of the Cowgirls' exhibition game against Adams State.

Legerski told his 5-foot-7 senior guard from Denver to ease her pace so her less-experienced teammates could keep up offensively.

"It was only the first game," Dent said. "I like to get out and run obviously, but we'll get used to it."

Last season Dent started all 30 games and led the team with averages of 17.7 points, 6.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

Legerski wanted her to give the other Cowgirls enough time to move into the post or other positions on the court to set up the motion offense. Wyoming likes to play fast-paced, but Dent was moving too fast.

"Coach always says in practice 'Just keep running and put your hands up, because you never know what's coming from Marquelle,'" sophomore guard Liv Roberts said.

The Cowgirls never trailed and won 90-41, while Dent finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

"She's being such a leader this year making sure she incorporates everyone into the offense," Legerski said. "That's what we need from someone who has been picked as preseason player of the year. She has to direct traffic for everyone else."

Dent was a first-team All-Mountain West and MW All-Defensive team selection last season, in addition to her WBCA honorable mention All-America recognition. During the offseason she stepped up as the Cowgirls' leader on and off the court. She and Jordan Kelley are the only seniors on a team with 11 underclassmen, which includes six freshmen.

Because the Cowgirls are young, Dent also said they can't expect to win a conference championship, they're going to have to earn it. So Dent is intent on making sure everyone gets better every day, whether they're conditioning or practicing.

She feels a responsibility to be a vocal leader and instill a mindset to the younger players that they always need to be striving for improvement.

"Having an opportunity to play with someone like Marquelle really benefits you," Legerski said. "Marquelle is someone who makes everyone around her better and that's a quality that is so invaluable to a program and to players."

Despite the preseason accolades, Dent isn't focused on her statistics and doesn't have personal goals. As a senior, she feels pressure to make sure she's facilitating the offense to the best of her ability.

Although she shot 43 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free-throw line last year, Dent is making an emphasis to include everyone offensively. The only other two Cowgirls to average double-digit points last season - Kayla Woodward and Kaitlyn Mileto - have graduated.

"When I can get my shots, I get my shots, but right now I have teammates around me who I know can score and try to get them the ball," Dent said. "When I get my opportunity I've got to be focused and be ready to shoot."

Dent thinks she and her teammates can "shock some people" this season, though Wyoming was picked to finish seventh in the Mountain West preseason poll. Like she did throughout the offseason, Dent is ready to keep pushing her teammates to be successful.

Wyoming begins the regular season on Sunday when it hosts Chadron State.

"I think we can have a pretty good year if we keep that mindset of getting better every day," Dent said.

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Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com