With half of the available players freshmen, and most of the starting lineup in an unfamiliar position, the women's basketball players may just need a little time to get acquainted.
Through the first two games of the season, the Jumbos fielded a starting lineup that looked very different from the one that led the squad to a 15-8 record last season. In fact, only the center, Emily Goodman, was among last year's regular starting corps.
While the team shuffled its roster several times last season, two key elements, forward Molly Baker and guard Melissa Harvill, were lost to graduation, and point guard Shira Fishman will miss a few weeks with a torn meniscus. Injuries and illness have also forced guards Erin Harrington and Meghann Gill, and forward Sarah Conlon, out of commission, while guard Emily Desmarais is abroad.
The new-look team is faced, then, with three problems: size in the frontcourt, a lack of depth in the backcourt, and a relatively untested group of athletes. While the team can rely on point production from Goodman, if it wants to get through the early, and easier, games unscathed, the uncertainties must not stand in the way.
The problem in the backcourt is only temporary, as senior co-captain Fishman, the usual starting point guard, had surgery on Monday and is expected to return soon. Meanwhile, rookies, especially temporary starter Maritsa Christoudias, will benefit by gaining a few weeks of game experience. Christoudias scored 14 points in the Nov. 21 opening win over Johnson and Wales.
For now, though, the pressure falls on sophomore Hillary Dunn, Fishman's backup last season. Dunn is the only healthy point guard on the roster, and will see a lot of minutes in the early games; she played all 40 minutes of the season opener against Johnson and Wales. When Fishman returns, though, Dunn will probably just move to the shooting guard spot, and start alongside the senior.
"Because both captains are hurt, as a point guard, one of the aspects of my role is to be more of a leader," Dunn said. "On the floor, I'll have to organize the team."
Dunn may also be looked upon to pick up some of the scoring slack in the absence of Baker and Harvill.
"The only thing that I would like Hillary to do more of is shoot, and she's capable of doing that," coach Janice Savitz said. "I'd like her to find shots more and be a more verbal leader."
"Hillary has totally upped her game since last year," Goodman said, "I think we're going to see a lot from her."
Joining Dunn in the backcourt may be Katie Kehrberger, who gives the team some needed experience in the starting group. Kehrberger has not seen too much time early on because she is returning from the soccer season, but will quickly be called upon to increase her four points per game average from last season.
Dunn and Kehrberger will get open looks on the perimeter when Goodman is doubled-teamed down low, a prospect the team says it is ready for. Still, the squad would benefit from players like Harrington and Harvill in the backcourt.
"It's pressure that I don't mind at all," Goodman said about the likely double teams. "I'm ready for that, and we've been working on it."
Goodman's problems will not only include a lack of shooters to kick the ball out to, but a lack of help on the boards as well. The team as a whole averaged 42.7 rebounds a game last season; Baker, Fishman, Harrington, and graduated senior Karen Robator combined for nearly half of those boards. Baker's 9.4 rebounds a night will be especially missed.
"We're going to need to pick up the rebounding slack from losing Molly," Goodman said. "We need to play aggressively and intensely. Rebounding is the major emphasis for this year, especially since we're not the tallest team."
Height indeed will be a problem. With the exception of the freshman class, no member of the team
stands six feet tall. Goodman is 5'10", and Jayme Busnengo, a guard/forward, is 5'11". Freshmen who may see significant time include forwards Kate Gluckman (5'10") and Erin Buckley (6'0"), as well as 6'2" center Rebecca Anderson.
The freshmen will see more playing time than would normally be expected both because of the injuries and because they give the team much-needed height. Buckley started at the four in the opener, while Gluckman came off the bench to notch seven rebounds. Gluckman may be the team's regular starting power forward, since her rebounding ability and defensive toughness in the post should at least partially compensate for the loss of Baker.
Things may be somewhat back to normal for this team in time for the conference games, which begin on Jan. 20 against Bates. Fishman should be back in a few weeks, and Harrington will be suited up for the post-break games, while it remains uncertain whether Gill will return at all this season. For now, though, younger players will be forced into a spotlight they may not have expected.
"We're not playing conference games," Fishman said, adding about Dunn, "I have confidence in her, I just want to be out there playing with her.
"The options that are out on the court are just as good as ever. We just don't have very many people subbing in. I'm worried about the people out there in terms of getting tired."
The team can only suit eight or nine players, including the addition of junior forward Mara Schanfield, and half of those players are freshmen. With two home games next week, including Sunday's Cousens opener against Lowell, and a trip to Wheaton on Dec. 9, Tufts may field the regular version of the team in time for its winter break trip to the Bahamas, where it will compete in the Great Goombay Shootout.
Until then, the Jumbos will have to bide their time, and play with patience. And actually get to know each other.
