Daily Pilot College Athlete of the Month: Kristen Urban - Ms.

Inside/outside

Tony Altobelli

The key to Orange Coast College women’s basketball standout Kristen

Urban? Throwing elbows with the boys on the beach.

“Over the summer, I was playing against the guys at the 38th Street

courts in Newport almost every day,” Urban said. “It really helped me get

tougher on the court and it also helped me become a better player.”

It’s that same gritty play that has helped the 5-foot-10, 140-pound

forward/center hold her own against players much bigger, taller and

stronger.

“From playing the guys, it’s really helped me play post defense

against players way bigger than me,” Urban said. “I try to keep them out

of the key as best as I can. Some days are easier than others.”

Most of Urban’s success has come on the offensive end. After coming

off the bench for OCC last year, averaging five points and four rebounds

per game, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Month is leading the Pirates in

scoring (13.5 points per game) and rebounds (6.8 per game).

In addition to playing down low, Urban can stretch out the

opposition’s defense with some long-range bombs. Her 53 three-pointers

lead the Pirates.

“I try to play an in-and-out style of offense,” Urban said. “If a

bigger player is guarding me, I’ll try to bring her out of the key with

three-pointers. If they come out, I can either put up the shot, or try to

drive around them.”

So far, so good for the former Newport Harbor High All-Sea View League

selection.

Urban scored a career-high 28 points in OCC’s 82-61 win over

Bakersfield at the Cuesta Tournament and was named the tournament’s Most

Valuable Player

“I wasn’t really expecting to have the season I’m having,” Urban said.

“I was just hoping to do the best job I could, but I knew as a sophomore,

I had to step it up.”

Urban began playing organized basketball in junior high, but

remembered playing long before that.

“I used to play against the boys as far back as the third and fourth

grade,” Urban said. “I just love playing basketball. I don’t care who

it’s with.”

Urban then moved on to Newport Harbor, where she lettered three times

in both basketball and softball and also played volleyball.

While at Newport, Urban played for current Pirates’ assistant coach

Gregg Savage. “He knows what I’m capable of doing out there,” Urban said

of Savage. “He sees my facial expressions out on the court and knows

what’s going through my head.”

Following her career at OCC, Urban would love to continue playing at

whatever college she decides to go to. “I think I can play at the next

level, somewhere,” she said.

When she’s not on the court, Urban likes to hang out at the beach or

play hoops against her older brother Joe, who is currently playing

baseball at Iowa State University.

“I loved beating him,” the ever-competitive Urban said. “He gives me

great competition. He’s been a good role model for me to follow.”