Lorenz: Super-senior standout
Senior night was something special as Lorenz walked off the court
As time ticked away in the second half of the Bison’s victory over Central State (Ohio), the final score almost seemed to be an afterthought. The legions of sign-toting fanatics from Langdon, N.D., told the real story.
Katie Lorenz and her illustrious basketball career at NDSU came to a close with a laundry list of accomplishments to show for it.
The list includes finishing as the all-time career leader in free-throw percentage, No. 10 in points and No. 2 in 3-point shots made in Bison history, placing her amid legendary players in Bison history.
“ Kate never missed a day of practice, never missed a game, and that’s a credit to her as far as taking care of herself, conditioning and being ready to go,” head coach Amy Ruley said.
Lorenz has been the model of consistency for NDSU, starting for every game in her four years with the Bison at a total of 117 games after this season.
Lorenz has been instrumental in the transition to Division I for NDSU. Last season she scored a career high 30 points in the Bison’s 75-67 win at the University of Cincinnati — the first D-I opponent the Bison defeated as a D-I school.
This season the Bison have felt the bumps in the road that go along with the transition, finishing with a 9-17 record, easily the worst record the Bison have had in Lorenz’s four seasons in Fargo.
“ She’s human. You can see frustration and we all have it. You can tell she feels the weight of it,” Danni Heintzelman, Lorenz’s teammate and friend, said. “At the same time, she handled it in stride. You hardly ever see her break down.”
Lorenz has made the move from her natural position of shooting guard to point guard after Amanda Girodat injured herself early in the season. Lorenz made the best of that move, leading her team in points, assists, steals and minutes per game this year.
Lorenz has also taken on the role of mentor for some younger players. Her backup at point guard was a true freshman, Danielle Ellison, and her starting two-guard for 25 of the 26 games this year was a sophomore, Lisa Bue.
Bue credits Lorenz’s leadership skills and her ability to utilize her teammates’ strengths as two of Lorenz’s best talents on the court.
Lorenz has plenty of great moments to look back on in her career, despite the rough season. She finished with an 85-32 career record that included a big-time shot against SDSU in 2005.
“ The shot I made against SDSU was a lot of fun,” Lorenz said. “I’ve never really had that big of a shot before. We didn’t really have any tournaments to go to last year, so that was kind of our national championship.”
Lorenz’s impact on the court can be measured, but her impact off the court is truly what makes her a special person.
Lorenz is always quick to mention her teammates and her friends when she talks about her accomplishments.
“ A lot of people know her name, and when we go out, a lot of people know who she is,” Heintzelman said. “It doesn’t even faze her. She shrugs it off and for what she has accomplished she is definitely humble and gives credit to everyone else.”
She excels in the classroom and was recently named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team. Lorenz has been on the second team for two straight years and was on the third team in 2004. She currently has a 3.82 GPA in business administration.
Although the fanfare centered around Lorenz for most of this game, she did share the spotlight with the only other Bison senior on the roster, center Brandee Gibbs.
Gibbs, originally from Buffalo, Minn., transferred to NDSU after her sophomore year at Ohio State University. She sat out the 2003-04 season with a knee injury before playing a key backup role to Leah Klabo last year. She started 25 of the 26 games in her senior season and was a force in the paint for the Bison.
“ Her presence defensively in the lane has been really instrumental,” Ruley said. “Her ability to get the ball in the low block and finish, and she has a nice face-up shot as well.”
Despite only playing two seasons and starting in one, Gibbs ends her career as No. 7 in Bison history in blocked shots.
Gibbs led all players in Division I independent basketball in the same category and would have been No. 19 in all of NCAA women’s basketball.
Gibbs also holds a share of the NDSU record for blocks in a single game with 7 against Dickinson State in 2004.
“ I’ve enjoyed my time here, and I’ve met some incredible girls and would never give up that experience,” Gibbs said. “I love the girls here.”
Both Lorenz and Gibbs received extensive ovations as they left the court for the final time Saturday. They have made their mark on the record books in the program, but more importantly, have left a mark on the people they have met at NDSU.