Playing for three
Alexandra Cardozo
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Sports
With the women's basketball program opening up the season with Xavier, there is a lot to be said about how the season plans to turn out in the end.
Ending in successful style last year as the back-to-back NEC Champions, head coach Sal Buscaglia has high hopes for his team this season.
"This season, I hope that we, as a team, continue to progress and reach new levels," he said.
After losing key players Chinata Nesbit and Psyche Butler at the end of last season, Buscaglia leaves the leadership roles to his older players. Senior captain Kendra Williams, Grace Williams and Angie Pace will all have a hand on leading the team on and off the court.
Injuries have seemed to make an impact already for the Lady Colonials.
"[Sade] Logan is a huge part of this team, as well as every other girl on this team, with this injury, it's going to take a team effort to step up take over that position," Buscaglia said.
He is referring to Sade Logan, who was a huge part of the Colonials success last season. She is ranked 3rd in the NCAA D1 in scoring and has been selected to the pre-season All-Conference team and was given the NEC Player of the Year award last season.
With Xavier polled in the top 25 in the country, the girls know what its' going to cost to pull off a win against such a big school.
"I believe that we, as a team, are going to play well, we all just have to have the same mind set and everyone has to be on the same page," Pace said.
With almost half the team under-classmen, the pressure builds for the girls to add on another championship banner up at the end of the season.
"I am excited to get the season started, I know how well the girls' played in the previous years, and to be apart of that is a great," freshman forward Monica Jones explained.
"I want the team as a whole to get better everyday, every practice and every game, that is how we are going to win the NEC's and able to participate in the NCAA Tournament," Buscaglia said.
Williams believes that with a team compromised of young players and players who have transferred from junior colleges.
"It's going to be tough to get everyone on the same page," Williams said. "High school and junior college are nothing compared to the Division 1 level of basketball, so they have to adapt to a whole new style of playing ball."
Williams believes that with hard work and dedication, the team will go far again this season.
This season is unlike the other seasons that the ladies have faced. There is only a handful left from the previous seasons, and with so many new faces, its going to take them a bit to get situated in the right place.
"With Xavier, it's going to be a really tough game, but I believe that we are going to be able to handle it, as long as we stick together," said Williams.
The girls play on Sat. November 29 against Howard at the Sewall Center.
Ending in successful style last year as the back-to-back NEC Champions, head coach Sal Buscaglia has high hopes for his team this season.
"This season, I hope that we, as a team, continue to progress and reach new levels," he said.
After losing key players Chinata Nesbit and Psyche Butler at the end of last season, Buscaglia leaves the leadership roles to his older players. Senior captain Kendra Williams, Grace Williams and Angie Pace will all have a hand on leading the team on and off the court.
Injuries have seemed to make an impact already for the Lady Colonials.
"[Sade] Logan is a huge part of this team, as well as every other girl on this team, with this injury, it's going to take a team effort to step up take over that position," Buscaglia said.
He is referring to Sade Logan, who was a huge part of the Colonials success last season. She is ranked 3rd in the NCAA D1 in scoring and has been selected to the pre-season All-Conference team and was given the NEC Player of the Year award last season.
With Xavier polled in the top 25 in the country, the girls know what its' going to cost to pull off a win against such a big school.
"I believe that we, as a team, are going to play well, we all just have to have the same mind set and everyone has to be on the same page," Pace said.
With almost half the team under-classmen, the pressure builds for the girls to add on another championship banner up at the end of the season.
"I am excited to get the season started, I know how well the girls' played in the previous years, and to be apart of that is a great," freshman forward Monica Jones explained.
"I want the team as a whole to get better everyday, every practice and every game, that is how we are going to win the NEC's and able to participate in the NCAA Tournament," Buscaglia said.
Williams believes that with a team compromised of young players and players who have transferred from junior colleges.
"It's going to be tough to get everyone on the same page," Williams said. "High school and junior college are nothing compared to the Division 1 level of basketball, so they have to adapt to a whole new style of playing ball."
Williams believes that with hard work and dedication, the team will go far again this season.
This season is unlike the other seasons that the ladies have faced. There is only a handful left from the previous seasons, and with so many new faces, its going to take them a bit to get situated in the right place.
"With Xavier, it's going to be a really tough game, but I believe that we are going to be able to handle it, as long as we stick together," said Williams.
The girls play on Sat. November 29 against Howard at the Sewall Center.
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