Lisa Foss isn’t the only member of the NIU women’s basketball team to try out for the Olympic team.

NIU’s assistant coach Kamie Ethridge, former University of Texas standout, tried out and competed on the 1988 Olympic gold-medal winning women’s basketball team.

And, ironically, Foss’ future plans are unfolding exactly like Ethridge’s life turned out.

After leading her Longhorns squad to the NCAA championships in 1986, Ethridge went on to play for the 1988 Olympic team. One year after the gold-medal celebration, Ethridge traveled overseas to play a year of basketball in Italy.

This summer, Foss will travel to Colorado Springs attempting to make one of three international teams that will eventually compete in the 1992 Olympics. After focusing on that team, Foss desires a spot on an Italian team.

Thus no one knows the ropes better than Ethridge, and the two-time Kodak All-American (1985-86) foresees a difficult challenge as far as the Olympic hope is concerned for Foss.

“I think Lisa is hurt by the fact that she doesn’t have any international experience,” Ethridge said. “But the best thing for Lisa is to be in the best shape for the tryouts and do some incredible things.”

Ethridge cited “politics” as a drawback to the system of selecting the first team for competition. For example, if a player comes into the tryouts with two gold medals and sloughs off, while a person like Foss plays phenomenally, Foss would be less likely to get a bid because of inexperience, according to Ethridge.

“They weigh heavily on previous international experience,” Ethridge said. “They really rely on that. It’s unfortunate the way the system works, but Lisa needs to just get her foot in the door.”

Ethridge did not rule out Foss’ chances at the top team, but sees them as narrow. She did note that Foss has a legitimate shot at the second or third team. Each team has 12 members.

As far as Italy is concerned, Ethridge thinks Foss has proven herself on the collegiate level, but Italy is an entirely different scenario. Ethridge noted that those European teams only choose according to their needs.

“If a team needs a guard,” Ethridge said, “then they look for a guard. If they need a shooter, they look for a shooter. It all depends.”

“Everybody needs a guard and someone that can score,” Ethridge said. “Lisa could play in any country and do well because she can score, and put the ball in the hoop night in and night out.”