The women’s basketball team will play its first game of the season against Covenant Christian on Nov. 2 in the Welch Activity Center. The team has been preparing since the summer, and Head Coach Mrs. Lisa Finn said she is excited to see the results of this preparation on the upcoming season. 

This year’s team will look a lot different than last year’s. Of the seven players on last year’s team that played in more than 15 games, five graduated. As a result, Finn said, younger, more inexperienced players as well as transfer students will have to step up and play big roles. 

This lack of experience worried Finn at first. She wrote in an email, “I thought (this lack of experience) might be a factor, but our new additions and youngsters are really falling into their roles well. If we can get everyone to accept their roles and play for the success of the team, we could be really good.”

The team does have some returning experience to help lead the team. Finn said, “We only have two returners from last year that played significant minutes, seniors, Katie Bremer and Darren Ely.” Bremer, a returning starter, will play a big scoring role after averaging 12 points per game last season. Ely grabbed 4.7 rebounds per game last year, averaging 17 minutes per game.

Coach Finn expects lots of contributions from newcomers as well as underclassmen. The team brought in senior Gabby Gay and junior Layla Gold as transfer students, and they are expected to play significant minutes. Sophomores Eliza Langfeldt, Taylor Lewis and Catherine Cline and freshman Abby Beasley will also see minutes, according to Finn.

Although the season is beginning, the team has not had much time to practice as a full unit, due to some of its members playing fall sports. Finn said, “We have only had our full roster together for about six practices.” 

However, this is all the time Finn needed to see the team’s strengths. She said, “We have some depth, which will allow us to play fast and get up and down the court. Our size will be a really big factor this season. We are at times going to be 6 feet across the lineup.”

Finn, her assistant coaches and the team are ready to start the season and see what they can do. She said, “I really like this group, and they seem to be coming together. I am excited to see what the future holds for them this season!”

The game against Covenant Christian will be played on Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Welch Activity Center, with JV playing at 6 p.m. and the varsity set to tip off at 7:30.