Alex Webster's parents, Cory and Jackie, traveled to 16 of their daughter's 29 basketball games at the University of Southern Mississippi.

But thanks to Alex transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in the fall, they'll save a lot of money in travel expenses because the school is only a little more than a four-hour drive and the Phoenix play teams like Loyola of Chicago, Illinois-Chicago and Butler in the Horizon League.

The 2002 Crown Point High School graduate averaged 2.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while playing 12 minutes a game off the bench for Southern Mississippi.

"I just felt it wasn't a good fit for me and that I couldn't reach my full potential here," Webster said as she prepared for final exams. "My parents making it to 16 games was pretty amazing. They realize that college will be the end of basketball for me."

She will be improving her team standings with the move because the Eagles finished 14-15, failing to make postseason play.

The Phoenix made their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in March as a No. 8 seed, defeating Washington in the first round before losing to LSU 80-69 in the second round.

Webster as a Post-Tribune All-Area first team selection in 2002, averaging 15.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.5 steals per game as a point guard for the Bulldogs. She also was named a McDonald's All-America nominee and was voted the Duneland Conference MVP.

UWGB also fits Webster's game to a T as the Phoenix were ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in 3-point percentage at 43.1.

"I won't be limited to strictly playing the point position," she said. "They do a lot of cutters and moving in their offense."

She will be playing for Coach Kevin Borseth, who recently signed a five-year contract extension at UWGB.

"We are excited, obviously, that Alex chose to return closer to home and play for us," Borseth said. "She is a player we tried to recruit out of high school. She likes to take it to the basket and play up-tempo. She'll be a good fit at UWGB."

Webster joins fellow Northwest Indiana native Natalie Yudt (Portage) on the Phoenix.

NCAA regulations state that she must sit a year before playing in the 2004-05 campaign. But she will still have three years of eligibility remaining.

"I thought about sitting, quite a bit," she said. "I don't like sitting and watching, but I look at it as a positive. It gives me a year to get quicker and stronger."

Webster said there is only one negative to going to school in Green Bay, and it has to do with a different sport.

"I'm a huge Bears fan so it's killing me a little," she said referring to playing in the same city as the Packers. "But maybe I'll buy some Packers season tickets and sit there in my orange and blue."

Contact Steve T. Gorches at 648-3141 or by e-mail at sgorches@post-trib.com.