The women's basketball team at Multnomah Bible College needs more players. The team consists of six women. Ten to 12 players is a good number for a basketball team, Coach Laurie Kutz said. Several extra players are needed to cover for the five playing on the court. The MBC athletic department was not sure if MBC could host a women's basketball team in the league this semester.

A few weeks ago, the team only had four players, but two more women have come forward to play. The official basketball season started Oct. 12. Amanda Lehman, Melody Lundquist, Jane McGuire, Heather Mortimore, Ro Potter and Terri Wedel have decided to play basketball for MBC.

Lehman and McGuire have been practicing since the basketball tryouts in September. Mortimer just started practicing. Lundquist and Potter are on the women's volleyball team and did not have a chance to practice with the basketball team during volleyball season.

Circumstances kept many of the returning women from playing basketball this year. One member became a resident assistant, and others were ineligible for the year. A few didn't return to MBC due to financial reasons. Three team members are returning players.

Games start Nov. 11 when the team will play in a tournament at Simpson College in Redding, Calif. MBC is a part of the National Christian College Athletic Association and the Pacific Northwest College Conference. The team will play 18 games and two tournaments during the season. If the team goes to Nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla., the season will end March 4, 2000.

Because of the volleyball season, two basketball scrimmages were canceled. "Usually, having the scrimmage wouldn't be a problem. I just use the other players, but this year we don't have extra players," Coach Kutz said. The MBC women's basketball team is in its third year. Coach Kutz has been the head coach for two years and assistant coach during the first year.

MBC had a women's basketball team in the early 1980s. However, the team was discontinued for lack of interest. Coach Kutz said she wasn't discouraged about the team having so few players. She said, "It takes five or six years to get a new program going."

Most years, the basketball team has gone on an overseas mission trip. But this year the team is going to stay home to hold a basketball camp on the MBC campus in June. The main focus will be third- through ninth-grade girls. "[We are] targeting our own culture," coach Kutz said.

Last year, the team went to Mexico. Lehman had the opportunity to go along as a new recruit. Lehman was able to get a feel for the team, and she was excited about the new school year. She said she was surprised to see so few returning players, but she thinks the team will come together.

Coach Kutz said students have to decide what they can do. She still hopes for more team members, but she is ready for the team to play.