The women’s basketball team is preparing for their upcoming season. Coaches, as well as players, have been putting in time during the offseason all hoping it will show on the court just in time for the start of the season.
Head women’s basketball coach, Kathleen Pearson, has been getting her team as ready as she can for the season. She said every girl has been bringing a lot of energy into the gym during the preseason and how much improvement she has seen from each of her players.
She explained how she is not only working physically with the players but mentally as well.
“We are preparing by working hard at practices on our fundamentals as well as working to execute our game plan at both ends of the court. We have also worked to identify our team standards and core values so that we are all on the same page,” Pearson said.
She emphasized how she wanted her players to be in the best mental and physical state they can be in. It will help them individually as well as a team if they all work on it.
The women’s team lost some core players from last year but have players that are stepping up and ready to fill in their positions. Incoming freshmen and transfers have been a great addition as well.
“The new players already bring lots of energy and have been pushing our veteran players to raise their level of play,” Pearson said.
Pearson is ready for the new season and a new journey that every season comes with. Her main priority as a coach is making every season memorable for everyone involved, especially the seniors because this is their last go around.
“I am excited to see our seniors rise and how the rest of the team rally around them,” Pearson said.
Not only is Pearson ready for the season but the players cannot wait to step out on the court.
Ashley Tutzauer, junior early childhood and special education major, is eager for the season to begin. She said how well the team chemistry has been going so far and that is showing on the court.
While Tutzauer, who is a three-sport athlete, had been taking any free time she had to be with the team during preseason feels that her team will succeed this season.
“At the conference, the hardest team we will face will be Marymount, we lost to them in the championship last year but this year we are excited about revenge,” Tutzauer said.
She hopes to win the conference as well as at a large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Cassidy Gallagher, senior psychology major, is taking in everything in preparation for her final season. She said how the expectations for the team this year are limitless.
In practice, they have all been working very hard and it has paid off. Gallagher said how they all hold each other accountable and push each other every day in practice, it is the only way they are going to get better as a team.
“Major changes would just be the number of new girls we have and adjusting to playing with new and different people,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher explained how the freshmen and transfers need to learn and practice the plays that they have implemented on the offensive and defensive side but are getting right up to speed.
The women’s basketball team is ready to face their first opponent in their season opener away, against Elizabethtown College, Thursday, Nov. 21.
