Amy Pack gets back on track
By Drew Irwin
Skiff Staff

Two years ago, junior forward Amy Pack was reigning Western Athletic Conference player of the year and voted Texas-El Paso’s Most Valuable Player for the second season in a row.

This season, after sitting out a season due to NCAA transfer regulations, Pack is beginning to play like her old self again in the Lady Frogs jersey.

“She’s a good player, and we were excited to get her,” head coach Jeff Mittie said. “We’ve played against her, so we knew how hard she is to stop.”

Pack said she left UTEP for several reasons, but the team’s lack of success was at the top of her list. During her final year in El Paso, the Miners had an overall record of 8-20. TCU had a 25-8 record that same season.

“I’m a big competitor, and I didn’t like to lose,” Pack said. “Also, my coach (Sandra Rushing) resigned, and I thought it would be a good time to leave.”

Pack said she knew that when she arrived at TCU, she would not have to carry the team the way she did at UTEP.

“I didn’t expect to put up the same kind of numbers because this is a more well-rounded team,” Pack said. “I knew I didn’t have to be the leading scorer on this team to succeed.”

However, because of transfer regulations, Pack was forced to sit out last season.

Although she said it was difficult to watch from the sidelines, she took advantage of the time she had in practice.

“I got to lift a lot more and I got stronger,” Pack said. “I also worked out a lot so that I could get in better shape.”

When this season started, Pack was named a starter. But inconsistent play sent her to the bench for a large part of the year.

“She went through her struggles in the beginning of the season, and I think we’re just now seeing her play the way we know she can,” Mittie said.

Pack said she attributes her recent success to a gain in confidence.

“It has let me play more than I was before,” Pack said. “It gives me confidence knowing that I’ll play at least 15 minutes to get a chance to do something.”

Her confidence has certainly given her an edge in scoring. Against Southern Mississippi Feb. 21, Pack had a game-high 20 points. She said the most memorable game of the season was Feb. 11 at Tennessee.

“The Tennessee game was great even though I scored all my points in the first half,” Pack said. “It was fun to play with the number three team, and we nearly beat them.”

In the first half of the game, Pack scored 14 points.

Mittie said he attributes Pack’s recent play to a connection with sophomore forward Sandora Irvin.

“I like the way she and Irvin are playing inside,” Mittie said. “They’ve complemented each other really well so far.”

Since the implementation of the team’s new rotation system where it rotates groups of five different players throughout the game, Pack has averaged nine points a game and started four of those six games.

r.a.irwin@tcu.edu