by Patrick Cabel
the Carillon

As her university basketball career draws to a close, Andrea Gottselig has that rare opportunity that all athletes wish for, but so few ever receive. She can go out on top of the world.

Gottselig will play the final games of a brilliant five-year CIAU career this weekend in Edmonton, a career that has seen her win virtually every title or award available to a GPAC player - every title, that is, except the Bronze Baby, awarded annualy to the CIAU women's basketball champion.

But time is running short. If Gottselig is to add that trophy to the crowded mantle, it will have to be done this weekend.

For Gottselig, two trips to the national championship tournament have resulted in two "learning experiences. In 1998, the Cougars were beaten by an experienced team in the second half of their semi-final with the eventual champion Victoria Vikes, and in 1999 they were upset by the lower-ranked Laurentian Lady Vees in the first round.

Now, those two learning experiences under their belts, an experienced and veteran Cougar squad heads off to Edmonton ready to do some winning instead of some "learning." While excitement around the Cougars has been building all winter and hopes of a first-ever national championship have been rising with each victory, Gottselig has been careful not to look to far down the road.

"I haven't really thought about it being my last weekend," says Gottselig. "It comes so quick; you're not really ever prepared for it until it actually happens."

Gottselig has watched former teammates and close friends Trena Mott and Amy Mickleborough end their careers in tears. While there is no disputing that each player had a terrific career as Cougars, the final games played by each player didn't end as they wanted them to, Mott losing to Manitoba in the 1997 GPAC championship and Mickleborough losing to Laurentian in the aforementioned first round upset.

"I want to go in there and give everything I have, and leave nothing on the floor," says Gottselig.

"Whether I kill myself doing it, I want to give everything I have to win this weekend."

Fortunately, Gottselig has a voice of experience in her corner, someone who has been in the exact same position.

"That's out of her control," says coach Christine Stapleton, referring to any previous disappointing ends to seasons. "That's something that happened to a different player in a different year and a different time.

Stapleton gives much of the credit for the turnaround that has occurred in the five years Gottselig has worn number 10 for the Cougars. In 1994-95, the year prior to Gottselig's arrival at the U of R, the Cougars were a dreadful 3-15 and didn't even make the playoffs in a four team conference. Since then, they've gone from GPAC contender to GPAC champion, and have spent the last two years firmly entrenched as a national title contender.

Stapleton has been there - being able to count the number of games remaining in the university career on one hand, and reaching for the pinnacle of the sport all at the same time.

"Next week is a long way away in the life of a basketball player when they're preparing for nationals."