All-Decade Women's Basketball Team

We came out with the UCO all-decade wrestling team a few days ago and now it's time for my women's basketball squad of the 2000s.

The captain of the all-decade team is easy -- Lizzie Brenner, who finished her fabulous career last year. One of my favorite all-time players in any sport, Lizzie holds eight career school records and was a three-time All-Lone Star Conference North Division pick. A fantastic athlete who played the game with great passion, Lizzie could virtually do it all on the court and led the Bronchos to the best two seasons in school history her last two years.

Next on my list is Laura Hamilton, who was a first-team All-LSC North performer during the 2002-03 and 2004-05 seasons while missing the year between with a knee injury. "Ham" holds school records for season and career 3-point accuracy and was a multi-talented player who absolutely hated to lose.

From the early part of the decade is Keri Smith, who played from 1998-02 and was a first-team All-LSC North selection as a senior when she set a single-season school record for scoring average at 18.3 points a game. Keri, who ranks third on UCO's all-time points list, was virtually impossible to stop when she got position in the post.

Meghan Craig made the list after showcasing a wide range of skills during her two years at UCO from 2004-06. The only player in school history with three 30-point games to her credit, Meghan could hurt teams in a variety of ways offensively and she was also a quality rebounder despite her slender frame.

Rounding out my starting five is a member of this year's team -- senior Cristina Yarbrough. A defensive whiz who has been LSC North Division Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons, Cristina ranks second on the school's career list for steals and assists and is a key cog in what UCO does both offensively and defensively.

Every team must have an effective sixth man, or woman in this case, and completing my all-decade team is Mallory Markus. A steadying force on the court throughout her four-year career, Mal was also a dangerous long-range shooter who could light up the scoreboard in a hurry with her 3-point accuracy.

So there it is, the UCO women's basketball all-decade team for the 2000s. Coming up in a couple of days will be the men's team.