With four starters and a group of young prospects returning, the women's basketball team has intensified practices early on, realizing the potential for a breakout year.
Although official practices began last Thursday, the team has been meeting three times per week since early September for captains' practices. And while the season does not begin for another two weeks, all early indications point towards a successful year.
"We are really excited after the first week of practice," coach Janice Savitz said. "The work ethic is definitely up. It's very competitive."
The top eight leading scorers from last year's squad are back, lead by captains senior forward Jayme Busnego and junior point guard Hillary Dunn, who have helped focus the team early on. "I think the leadership that the captains have exhibited has translated into better play on the floor," Savitz said.
The only starter lost to graduation was point guard Shira Fishman, who led the team with 4.4 assists per game and 54 steals last season. Fishman's leadership will be missed as well as her skill at the point guard position, but the team has the depth and experience to make up for her absence.
"She was an experienced player and that is not something that you want to lose," junior center Emily Goodman said. "But we have a core group of people back who should be able to fill in the gaps."
Goodman will be leading the way again this season, after averaging a NESCAC-best 18.7 points per game last year. Supporting Goodman will be three-point threats junior Erin Harrington, sophomore Maritsa Christudious, and Dunn. Busnego, a forward, finished second on the team last year with rebounds (5.1) and fourth in points (5.7), and senior forward Katie Kehrberger is a returning starter, who was recently named Second Team All-NESCAC as a soccer midfielder.
Sophomores Kate Gluckman and Erin Buckley both played in all 23 games last year and should continue to build upon the success of their freshman seasons. Their experience will help the team create a more balanced offensive attack. Savitz has employed a motion offense system where instead of set plays, the offensive runs variations depending on defensive looks. "I think we have a lot of versatility and depth," Savitz said. "With this offense, we will be able to rotate people in according to their strengths."
Depth will be the key this season, as eight returning players saw time in at least 18 games last year, and four new freshman will likely see playing time as well. "We have a really good group of freshmen," Goodman said. "We already seem to be on the same page."
One position that may require additional support is at point guard, where Dunn will take on the brunt of the responsibility without a backup. Last year, Dunn began the season as the primary ball-handler, and clocked serious minutes with Fishman on the bench with an injury. Dunn will again begin the season as the lone point guard until another player is trained to spot at her when she tires.
"We'll see what happens as a result of practice," Savitz said. "I know some of the younger kids will be able to step up come game time."
One goal of the team will be to improve its 4-5 record in the NESCAC. Tufts blazed to a 7-1 record to begin last year's season, but dropped four of its first five conference contests. A strong run at the end of the season earned the team a spot in the first ever NESCAC tournament, where it bowed out in the first round following a 65-54 loss to Colby.
With more experience and a more balanced attack, the team should easily improve its conference standing. "Each year we get better and better, and this year we have a shot to make some noise in the conference," Goodman said.
The team's performance in the past two years, a span in which it combined for a 29-17 record, has been the best two-year run since 1991-92, when Sharon Dawley was head coach. If everything falls into place, the women's team appears on track to have one of the most successful seasons in recent memory.
"Everybody is having fun and that's always important," Savitz said. "I think the chemistry is good right now."
