Women's Basketball Stuff
By John Scognamiglio
I would just like to give this disclaimer: Those who dare enter this very blog, beware.
Now that I have that out of the way, I think it's officially time to call the women's basketball season over. It pains me to say it, but this team is definitely not built for the MIAA. With the 74-55 loss to Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State coming to Pershing tomorrow, the Bulldogs sit in the bottom of the MIAA standings at 1-9, although Southwest Baptist is only one game better. Should those two tie at the end of the season, which is very possible, the unusual tiebreaker of who beat a higher team will come into play. The Bulldogs lone conference win thus far is against Missouri Western, 4-6 in conference. The Bearcats already hold a victory over the 'Dogs, but their other win is against 6-4 Missouri Southern. So the Bulldogs may lose out on the tiebreaker.
Despite all that, I can just no longer sit idly by and try to make people feel better about this team. The MIAA is a power conference and the Bulldogs are going through a power crisis. That is not to say, however, that there are no players on this team giving their all. Lone senior Ali Long still is one of those players who refuses to do things easy and still does all the little things to confound an opposing team's offense, little things, like getting back to the hole after a made basket or a shot.
I've been around women's basketball for four years on the periphery due to my position as men's basketbsll student manager/assistant. There is one puzzling trend that I have noticed: the puzzling disappearances of certain players. When Long was a freshman, she was joined by Sarah Bernard, who is no longer with the team. The year afterward, the 'Dogs had a stellar freshman class enter with Megan Patti, Noelle Peterson, Natalie Schupbach, and Emily Markovich. Patti has since transferred, Peterson left the team, and Markovich unfortunately had arthritis that ended her career. Last season, Katie Fowler, Candi McGee, Carmen McGee, and Callie Sears began their Bulldog careers. Sears has since left the team. This year, the squad has already lost Hilary Adams and Lucie Lueken, though the pickup of Sarah Gordon may do wonders for the team.
Four years of basketball, seven players leaving the team. While the men are shooting for 20 wins, the women will be lucky to get to 10. And it's not just the cold shooting that's dooming the Bulldogs. It's an overall sense of frustration that I get when I watch them play. I will never give up watching this team play basketball, for I remember a time when the men's basketball team was in the same boat, scratching and clawing their way to win a few games each season. Maybe it'll be a few years down the line till the women's basketball team returns to glory. As for this season, well...still come to Pershing, you might see Laura Cooper set a new record for three's in a game, or watch the final few games of Alison Long's underrated career as a Bulldog. As for wins, they might come, but, they might not too.
I would just like to give this disclaimer: Those who dare enter this very blog, beware.
Now that I have that out of the way, I think it's officially time to call the women's basketball season over. It pains me to say it, but this team is definitely not built for the MIAA. With the 74-55 loss to Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State coming to Pershing tomorrow, the Bulldogs sit in the bottom of the MIAA standings at 1-9, although Southwest Baptist is only one game better. Should those two tie at the end of the season, which is very possible, the unusual tiebreaker of who beat a higher team will come into play. The Bulldogs lone conference win thus far is against Missouri Western, 4-6 in conference. The Bearcats already hold a victory over the 'Dogs, but their other win is against 6-4 Missouri Southern. So the Bulldogs may lose out on the tiebreaker.
Despite all that, I can just no longer sit idly by and try to make people feel better about this team. The MIAA is a power conference and the Bulldogs are going through a power crisis. That is not to say, however, that there are no players on this team giving their all. Lone senior Ali Long still is one of those players who refuses to do things easy and still does all the little things to confound an opposing team's offense, little things, like getting back to the hole after a made basket or a shot.
I've been around women's basketball for four years on the periphery due to my position as men's basketbsll student manager/assistant. There is one puzzling trend that I have noticed: the puzzling disappearances of certain players. When Long was a freshman, she was joined by Sarah Bernard, who is no longer with the team. The year afterward, the 'Dogs had a stellar freshman class enter with Megan Patti, Noelle Peterson, Natalie Schupbach, and Emily Markovich. Patti has since transferred, Peterson left the team, and Markovich unfortunately had arthritis that ended her career. Last season, Katie Fowler, Candi McGee, Carmen McGee, and Callie Sears began their Bulldog careers. Sears has since left the team. This year, the squad has already lost Hilary Adams and Lucie Lueken, though the pickup of Sarah Gordon may do wonders for the team.
Four years of basketball, seven players leaving the team. While the men are shooting for 20 wins, the women will be lucky to get to 10. And it's not just the cold shooting that's dooming the Bulldogs. It's an overall sense of frustration that I get when I watch them play. I will never give up watching this team play basketball, for I remember a time when the men's basketball team was in the same boat, scratching and clawing their way to win a few games each season. Maybe it'll be a few years down the line till the women's basketball team returns to glory. As for this season, well...still come to Pershing, you might see Laura Cooper set a new record for three's in a game, or watch the final few games of Alison Long's underrated career as a Bulldog. As for wins, they might come, but, they might not too.
posted by Anonymous at Friday, February 03, 2006
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