Print edition: 
It might be the last connecting thread to the past in Jody Adams' second year of rebuilding the Wichita State women's basketball program.
With signs suggesting forward movement, one thing that has escaped the Shockers has been road wins.
Last year, WSU ended a 30-game road losing streak and 21-game Missouri Valley losing streak. Still, WSU finished the season 1-10 in road games.
Wichita State, renovated with seven newcomers, has its first of two non-conference chances to rewrite the road woes this afternoon at Colorado State in the season opener.
"We want to make our own identity," said Morgan Boyd, one of four junior-college transfers this season. "We're going to start something new. We're going to be part of a new foundation."
For that to happen, WSU has to start games better. In the 11 road games last season, seven times the Shockers went into halftime down by double-digits.
"I think in the past we kind of let the fear of the road get to us," said Haleigh Lankster, one of three returners from last season. "This year I think we're pretty pumped up about going on the road. We're going to bring the same energy we had against Newman (a 97-46 exhibition win last Sunday)."
The opportunity is there with Colorado State, who returns one starter from a 9-20 team and is pegged to finish eighth in the Mountain West Conference.
One obstacle will be guarding 5-foot-10 guard Kim Mestdagh, who averaged 27.5 points and seven threes in two exhibition games for the Rams. That assignment will likely go to Sheena Johnson, who gives five inches, but is an Adams favorite as a perimeter defender.
"I think we're going to have to disrupt their offense," said freshman Chynna Turner. "Not letting them get easy, open shots. Be physical and make everything they want to do difficult."
Adams and second-year Colorado State coach Kristen Holt have gone about restructuring their programs in different ways. But inexperience is their common denominator.
"We're probably on very even ground," Adams said. "Just two very different teams."
Notes — Fans might remember Holt and Rams' assistant coach Taylor Steven. Holt was an assistant coach for WSU from 2003-06 and Steven was a point guard for the Shockers from 2003-07.
