Jan. 31, 2004

Cullowhee, N.C. - Many kids around the country are lucky enough to make the middle school or high school basketball team. Some even play AAU ball (Amateur Athletic Union). If you are fortunate enough, you may even go on to play in college. But the really lucky ones are the ones who find themselves among friends when playing in college. This is the case for Western Carolina juniors Jennifer Gardner (Norcross, Ga.) and Ki-Ki Glass (College Park, Ga.) who have played together since before the two were even teenagers. In fact, their friendship, as they explained, had a great deal to do with both of them making their way to WCU to play out their collegiate careers.

Glass, who played for her mother in high school and was on her father's AAU team, first met Gardner when the two played for the Ben Hill Lady Tigers, Charlie Glass' AAU team. "We've had fun playing together," Glass said. "We played together in our team's first AAU National Tournament and at the Junior Olympics in Florida, which is where (WCU head coach) Beth (Dunkenberger) saw us play."

"I was recruiting Ki-Ki when I was at Florida," explained Dunkenberger. "She is a great leader on the court and has an excellent mind for the game. She has great instincts and can be the spark that makes the team go. I didn't see Jen until the summer after her junior year at the tournament down in Florida. I thought she was a great scorer and tremendous rebounder, making her a major threat in that national tournament."

For Glass, her visit to Cullowhee to practically love at first sight. "I already knew I liked Beth, but once I got to meet the rest of the coaches and players and see the school and where it was located, I knew I wanted to come here," Glass said. "When I knew that she (Dunkenberger) also needed a post player, I suggested Jen."

"For me, it was an easy decision," said Dunkenberger. "Jen might be 5-11, but her heart and desire to rebound the ball should make her listed at 6-6. She has great timing and strong hands. She seems to get the ball and the basket right when we need it the most."

"Ki-Ki was definitely one of the reasons that I came here (to Western)," Gardner acknowledged. "It really made my decision easier knowing that she was going to be here."

So now that the two have made their way to Cullowhee and are nearly three-fourths of the way through their careers as Catamounts, we wondered what it's like for the two of them to play together on the court.

"We communicate very well on the court," said Glass. "When she gets the ball, I know she's going to score and I'm probably going to get an assist."

"Ki-Ki really motivates me on the court," Gardner chimed in.

Junior Jennifer Gardner attributes her firendship with teammate Ki-Ki Glass as one of the reasons she's here today playing for the Catamounts.

Another factor that led them both to Western Carolina was its proximity to their hometowns, both being from the Atlanta area. That closeness leads to more opportunities for them to travel home to see family as well as more chances for their families to come see them play.

"It a perfect distance," explained Glass. "It's far enough away that I can lead my own life, but still close enough that I can see my family whenever I can."

"We also came here because we saw what Beth and the other coaches were trying to do with the program as far as building a tradition and we wanted to be a part of that and know that we could come make a difference." And make a difference they have. Just to name a few of their accomplishments, Glass was named to the Southern Conference's All-Freshman squad in 2002 and Gardner earned All-Conference honors in 2003. Glass already appears on WCU's top 10 single-season and career lists three times, including currently ranking eighth all-time with 227 career assists and counting. Gardner additionally ranks among the program's top 10 in three categories, including placing second in both field goal and free throw percentage as a freshman, shooting 56.7 from the floor and 85.4 percent from the charity stripe.

So what sort of legacy does the duo hope to leave on the Catamount program? "I want everyone to be able to look back and know that we played hard," admitted Gardner.

"I just want to help build a winning tradition here," Glass said. Not surprisingly, they already have. In their two and a half year career at WCU, the team has amassed a 44-30 record to date (.595 winning percentage). The two helped the Lady Cats to a 21-7 finish last season and a second place final ranking in the Southern Conference, the program's highest finish in the league ever.

The one thing that has eluded them since their arrival that they continue to strive for is the coveted SoCon title. When asked what they could each do to help this team achieve that feat, they had this to say:

"I need to rebound hard and play hard every game," Gardner said. "Most importantly, we need to stay positive."

Glass agreed. "We need to be leaders on the team. I need to play the best defense that I can and just push the ball hard in transition."

"One thing that helps us stay positive," continued Gardner, "is that we know we're better than this (6-12 overall record so far this season). We just figure there's no where to go but up from here and we know we can win so we just try to stay focused on practicing hard and playing one game at a time as well as stepping up our defense."

"We just figure there's no where to go but up from here and we know we can win." Jennifer Gardner

Knowing that Glass played ball for both of her parents, one might think that the guard had it made pretty easy. However, Glass paints a slightly different picture.

"Playing for my parents was rough," Glass explained. "They were tougher on me because I was their daughter and they expected more from me. But I think that prepared me for playing college ball and playing for Beth."

Dunkenberger acknowledged that fact. "Ki-Ki's parents are both excellent coaches. I think they both truly helped develop her basketball mind and passion for the game."

An interesting fact about Gardner other than her love of basketball is her desire to some day work for either the FBI or the Secret Service. What led her to this conclusion? "I think my personality fits it," Gardner said. "That kind of job will always be around and there will be a demand for it. Plus it's interesting to me and I'll have the chance to help people."

Wherever life leads both Gardner and Glass, we're sure that the lessons they learn here at Western on and off the court will have been good preparation for these two friends from Atlanta.