It is always a trying task to embrace what one has in the world of college sports because of the turnover a team endures each year. Departing seniors, incoming freshman, players coming and players going define this continuity quandary, and the women's basketball team is no exception.

The loss of seniors Lesley Juedes and Monica Frede will be canceled out by the transfer of Kelly Lam from Oklahoma and the welcoming of incoming freshmen Krystal Ellis, Erin Monfre and Marissa Thrower.

Lam, a 6-foot-3 center from Milwaukee, is transferring to Marquette after her freshman year at Oklahoma. In her first season, Lam played in eight games and averaged 1.4 points and 1.1 rebounds. In addition, Lam received the PACE (Participation, Achievement, Community and Excellence) Award, which honors the top 1 percent of the freshman class at Oklahoma. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Lam will have to sit out next season, but she has some advantages that most players lack.

"In terms of transfers the one area you worry about is academics," assistant coach Jon Cain said. "This is not a problem for Kelly. The most important thing is to get the most out of the year that Kelly has to sit out and use it wisely. Some tend to waste their time while others are antsy and try to do too much."

Ellis, a first-team all-state selection by the Associated Press and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, averaged 24.3 points per game for St. Catherine's of Racine, tops among the other first team selections.

"Krystal is so athletically gifted," Cain said. "Her speed, quickness, leaping ability and her athletic background give her the ability to take over a game. The challenge for her will be her ability to play within the team system."

Monfre, a 5-foot-11 guard from Waukesha South, was named Player of the Year in Wisconsin by the Associated Press. Monfre averaged 14.2 points per game last season.

According to Cain, Monfre's ability to see the court will lead to playing time.

"Erin has such great court sense because she is such a great passer and scorer," he said. "It will depend how quickly she can assume the role of scorer."

Thrower, a 6-foot forward from Renaissance High School in Detroit, was named first-team all-city by the Detroit News. Thrower averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game last year.

"Marissa is so versatile in what she can do," Cain said. "She can rebound if you need her to, she can post-up if you need her too. Her strength is her versatility. You hate to compare players, but she reminds me of (former Marquette player) Crystal Weaver because of what she can do."

The Golden Eagles' recruiting class received honorable mention status in the Blue Star Report's national top 20 classes.

"You want to recruit a certain caliber of athlete," Cain said. "But an incoming class is a lot like a draft class in the NFL. You do not know how things will work out until the recruits get here and start applying themselves."

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on May 5 2005.