University of Richmond Athletics
Richmond's Goppert Remains Dependable
10/28/2003 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 28, 2003
Reprinted courtesy of Watertown Daily Times
by Cap Carey, Times Sports Writer
First published: Friday, October 17, 2003
At midnight, former Malone standout Amber Goppert will officially begin her final season of college basketball.
For the first time in Goppert's career at the University of Richmond, the Spiders will begin the season with a Midnight Madness practice session.
But that's not the only reason Goppert eagerly awaits the beginning of a new season. For the first time in her Richmond career, she's on a team that stands a realistic chance of playing in the women's NCAA Division I basketball tournament.
"That's definitely our goal," Goppert said. "I think we can definitely play with anyone in our conference (Atlantic 10), including George Washington. They've always been the big dogs. Our goal, at the end, is to win the A-10."
Goppert's first team had a solid 16-12 season, but the Spiders slipped to a 14-16 record during her sophomore year. Bob Foley, the coach who recruited her, resigned at the end of that season.
But when rumors started circulating on campus that Foley's replacement was going to be one of the Duke University assistant coaches, Goppert got excited.
The job wound up going to Joanne Boyle, who was on Duke's staff during former Malone standout Missy West's entire career. West was Goppert's childhood hero, so the match seemed perfect.
And on the court the results bore that out, as the Spiders improved to a 21-11 overall record last year and made the quarterfinals of the women's National Invitational Tournament.
"When I signed here it was a different coach and a totally different style of playing," Goppert said. "(Boyle) has brought a lot to the University of Richmond. Greater things are ahead for us, too. I was talking to Missy, online, a couple of times (about Boyle). They got along well. It was kind of one of those things where through other people you get to know people, and (West) had nothing but great things to say about coach Boyle."
Goppert flourished on the court under her new coach. She started in every game, for the first time in her college career, and reached double-figures in scoring in 23 of 32 games. She averaged 12 points, 5.6 rebounds and had 151 assists with 61 steals.
"She's definitely one of the top players in the league," Boyle said. "Because she's such a great athlete, she can do different things. She's so athletic she can get away with things. We look for her to get the third most rebounds in a game, behind our two post players. She's always getting scrappy points on putbacks and going to the basket. I think her game is pretty complete.
"Amber's a great athlete. She can shut people down. Every part of her offensive game is there. She just prefers to do certain things. This year I look for her to maybe make people play her differently."
Having coached two of the area's best-ever girls basketball players, in Goppert and West, Boyle can see some similarities.
"It's funny," Boyle said. "It's not even in their games, they are definitely different. But it's their mentality. They are both very physical players and have an edge to them. They are very competitive and strong-willed. Their personality kind of reflects how they play on the court.
"Missy was a very aggressive shooter and Amber is very aggressive (driving) to the basket."
The Spiders' first game is an exhibition against the West Coast All-Stars on Nov. 16. The first real game is at the University of Delaware on Nov. 21.
But Goppert also is beginning to plan her postcollege future, which she hopes will take her to Europe to compete in a women's league.
"A lot of variables play in that," Goppert said. "You never know what's going to happen. The (Women's National Basketball Association) may fold, and that decreases my opportunities. My goal is to see the world, so I'd be happy going anywhere."
Boyle also won't be surprised if Goppert has a productive professional career.
"She definitely wants to play overseas and is totally capable of doing that," Boyle said. "It's a matter of opportunity and getting her with the right agent. My hope would be (some WNBA team) would give her a chance at a tryout, an open-camp kind of thing.
"She's matured a lot. I've seen a huge growth in her in one year from a maturity level. She's so committed to this year and this program. I rely on her a lot. She's a person I can depend on for certain things."
