SPORTS:
Women’s Basketball Update By Shannon Beamon
Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/ kevin813/2311334985/in/photostream/
It’s that time of year again! College basketball season is well underway, and we’re all eagerly listening to the squeak of sneakers, the drumming of basketballs, and the sweet swish of the net. As anyone in the Triangle area will tell you, this here is basketball country, and we’re ready for the best season yet. But it’s not just the men that have us crowding into the gyms, arenas, and domes of college basketball. The women of Duke, NC State, UNC, and NCCU have us shouting, jumping (and otherwise going crazy) this year as well. UNC’s Jessica Breland looks to pass.
The season so far…
Duke University
Conference: ACC Win-Loss Record*: 3-0 (Conference) 12-2 (Overall) After making it to the NCAA Elite Eight for two years running, the Lady Blue Devils are chomping at the bit to go farther and push harder. And already second in the ACC standings, they seem to be winding up for an even better season than last year. “I want our team to win it all,” says senior Kathleen Scheer, talking about the national championship, “It has never happened at Duke, and it would be a dream come true.” With fourteen games left to go, two of which will be against rival team Carolina, the Lady Blue Devils will have to keep fighting to get there. As Scheer says, “We must keep working hard and continue to get better on a daily basis in order to make that dream come true.”
ter, but plays as if it expects nothing less. “I want to go to the NCAA tournament, I want go past the first game, go all the way,” says senior Emili Tasler.
North Carolina Central University
Conference: MEAC Win-Loss Record*: 0-2 (Conference) 2-13 (Overall) With a single senior and only five upper classmen altogether, the young Lady Eagles have had a bit of a bumpy start, but they’re pushing through with what their coach considers to be excellent determination. “Their work ethic has been phenomenal,” said Coach Joli Robinson during the 2011-2012 media day. Every player’s working hard, everybody’s doing what we asked them to do; we’re just excited.” Already that hard work is paying off, and the young team is showing promise. Despite a recent loss to Florida A&M, Coach Robinson said in a post-game interview that younger players displayed great initiative with freshman Lakisha Evans and Kabrina Truesdale leading the team on a good run towards the end of the game.
Photo courtesy of NC State Alumni Association
SPOR
Photo courtesy of NC State Alumni Association
Former senior Tia Bell of NC State goes for the shot at the NC State-UNC game last year.
Coach Kelly Harper of NC State 16
U the Magazine | February-March 2012
North Carolina State University
Conference: ACC Win-Loss Record*: 0-3 (Conference) 10-3 (Overall) During an interview at the beginning of the season, head coach Kellie Harper described her team this way: “They have a chip on their shoulder. They have an attitude that they want to prove people wrong, that they want to go out and fight.” Despite being predicted to place seventh in the ACC standings, which Harper feels underestimates her team, the Lady Wolfpack not only believes it can do bet-
UNC Chapel Hill
Conference: ACC Win/Loss*: 2-1 (Conference) 12-3 (Overall) At the end of last season, Coach Sylvia Hatchel said on the radio show Sylvia Hatchel Live!, “I like where we’re playing, I like who we’re playing, and I’m just ready to play again.” And play they have. Ranked third in the ACC conference, and trailing Duke by only one conference loss, the Lady Tar Heels won’t settle for less than the best. “We play hard…we don’t accept losing,” said head coach Sylvia Hatchel after their overtime loss to Maryland, ranked number one in the ACC. Even after forcing Maryland into a season high of 21 turnovers, the Lady Tar Heels will be working harder than ever to ensure that they win the next one. And while every team is having a season to be proud of, for some that success is bittersweet. “It means I’m close to the end of my