Nov. 17, 2000

By Tim Mimick
The Gazette

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Rozi Russ said she doesn't feel "set apart" or special.

As a junior, though, she's the captain of the Air Force women's basketball team. No senior was selected because there isn't any senior on the 2000-01 team.

It's up to Russ to lead. To tell the freshmen what coach Sue Darling expects. To call team meetings. To ease the pains of another season trying to win at the NCAA Division I level.

She's prepared to withstand disappointment. She went through the 4-24 record for the 1999-2000 season and the 5-21 mark as a freshman.

"I guess I have to be more vocal, but my personality is to lead by example," Russ said. "I think already we've made leaps and bounds."

Many more will be needed to bring this team close to the goal that Russ has as her aim: a .500 record in the Mountain West Conference.

The Falcons were 1-13 in the new league last season. The lone victory ended a 37-game conference losing streak that dated to their membership in the Western Athletic Conference.

The top two scorers, Mollie Peters and Megan Theideman, are gone. Russ, a 5-foot-8 forward, was third at 9.9 points.

Three other players with starting experience return: Samantha Clifton, ShaNekia Peebles and Morgan Bennett. Bennett set the academy's Division I record with 23 starts as a freshman last season, when she averaged 5.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Among the freshmen, 5-10 forward Amoy Jackson from Houston is "probably the best athlete in our program for a long time," Darling said. Darling also expects 5-10 freshman Shawna Neff to help the team at point guard, shooting guard and forward.

"But for now, her head is spinning," Darling said.

Russ has tried to help settle the new player. She wants to be a leader like her brother, Steve Russ, who was a star Air Force linebacker from 1992-95. He played for the Denver Broncos and is awaiting the start of the new XFL with the Los Angeles franchise.

She doesn't shy away from the family connection or the comparison.

"He is my role model," she said. "His hard work, his dedication, his work ethic, what he stands for - well, I hope to be up to that level.

"I guess we're alike, but if he shows up at one of our games, he's pretty vocal."

Darling doesn't gripe about any aspect of Russ.

"Rozi is an overachiever," Darling said. "She's obviously a skilled and talented athlete, but the things that put her above the rest are her heart and determination and desire. I would assume that's how people would describe her brother.

"There's not a harder worker than Rozi."