Spotlight: Sarah Conner

Sarah Conner is entering her second and final year on the Weber State University Women’s Basketball Team.
Conner grew up in the small town of Guernsey, Wyo., a small suburb northeast of Cheyenne. She spent her childhood following her two brothers around, wanting to do everything they did.
“I think that I have had a basketball in my hands since I could probably walk,” Conner said.
Conner attended Guernsey-Sunrise High School, a small 1A school, where she was part of the volleyball, basketball and track teams. She lettered all four years in each sport, winning a volleyball championship and two track championships along the way. She also captured three individual track titles in the 100-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and the high jump.
Conner was recruited out of high school to play basketball in Colorado for Northeastern Junior College. As a freshman she started all 32 games for the Plainswomen, where she averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. She also led her team in three-point field goals and steals. As a sophomore she earned All-Region IX First Team Honors, was named to the All-Tournament Team and given a Division 1 Junior College All-American Honorable Mention.
“My junior college experience was a good step for me,” Conner said. “I’m not sure I was really ready to play at the division-one level right when I got out of high school. It opened up so many doors for me. I would have never gotten the scholarships at Weber State if it wouldn’t have been for my junior college.”
It was during her sophomore year at Northeastern that Conner was recruited by WSU Coach Carla Taylor.
“We actually heard about Sarah from a JC college coach that played against her,” Taylor said. “He said, ‘Hey, I don’t know if you are in the need, but you might want to check her out.’”
On a trip to Colorado, Taylor traveled to watch one of Conner’s games and was very impressed with what she saw.
“The thing that most impressed me was her leadership,” Taylor said. “She was very vocal and she understood the game. She is a player. She’s the real deal.”
Conner was offered basketball scholarships from other schools, but after touring the WSU campus and meeting the women’s basketball team and coaches, she knew she wanted to play here.
“I came in and fell in love with the team, fell in love with the coaching staff,” she said. “It was a good fit.”
And the team fell in love with her in return.
“I love her energy,” said junior Caitlin Anderson. “She’s always positive, no matter what’s going on. She is really crucial to the leadership on our team.”
As a junior, Conner was awarded the 2008 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year Award after averaging 9.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. She was sixth in the Big Sky and led the team in free throw percentage at .780. Conner was also ranked 13th in the Big Sky for assists with an average of 2.3 per game, and 15th in steals, with an average of 1.25 per game.
As far as the upcoming season goes, Conner says she has her sights set high and expects the season to go well for the Wildcats.
“As far as individual goals, I just want to come in and get better every day,” Conner said. “I want to be a good teammate and be a good leader. And obviously as a team, we want to be successful and bring a championship back to Weber State.”
Taylor said she is very happy to have Conner on her team, and has been very impressed with her on and off the basketball court.
“We are extremely happy and lucky to have her,” Taylor said. “She is a player that represents Weber State in a good manner. She represents the name on her chest and does it in a way a coach would want her to.”
Conner is currently majoring in human performance and health promotion. After graduation, she would like to travel the world, have a family and become a physical therapist.