Women's basketball hopes to build on last year's success

Despite the shorter days and falling temperatures, the women's basketball team is heating up in preparation for its 2003-2004 season.

Last year under then-rookie coach Carla Berube, the Jumbos posted a 17-7 overall record and earned a NESCAC tournament berth. The team finished sixth in the league and broke into the New England top ten rankings with the most wins recorded by a Tufts squad since the 1990-91 season.

"We hope to build on what we did last year [this season]," Berube said. "Our ultimate goal is to get to the top of the NESCAC."

This year's squad has a similar look to what it was last year. The Jumbos lost just one senior, former captain Hillary Dunn, to graduation last spring. This year's senior tri-captains, Maritsa Christoudias, Kate Gluckman, and Erin Buckley, look to fill void left by Dunn.

"The leadership from [Dunn] will be missed," Berube said. "But we had three great juniors last year and they have all stepped up. Hopefully they will pick up where Hillary left off."

Two junior forwards, Krissy Nierenberg and Devin Rhoades, will be absent from the team this season as well while they study abroad.

Along with the three senior tri-captains, the Jumbos bring back sophomores Jessica Powers, last year's NESCAC rookie of the year, and Julia Verplank. Powers averaged 13.5 points per game as a freshman and looks to continue her collegiate success at guard.

"Jess is one of the best players on the team," Gluckman said. "She leads on the floor just by her style of play, but is becoming more vocal in practice and on the court. This year she will not only be one of the best players on the court, but also one of the best leaders."

Verplank will be the likely starter at the point guard position.

Junior forward Allison Love will also play an important role this season after averaging 10.5 points per game last year.

In addition to last year's core group, five freshman will bring a new look to the court this season. The first-years should see sufficient playing time under Berube's high-energy strategy.

"With our run and gun, in your face defense, we need everybody," Berube said. "[The freshmen] will all get some quality time."

"We are trying really hard to integrate these five really amazing freshmen into the team," Gluckman said. "We have really great team chemistry."

The Jumbos started practicing two weeks ago. Players worked on their conditioning with double sessions and played in their first scrimmage on Sunday at Suffolk.

"[Suffolk] was a good chance to see what we can do against people other than ourselves," Berube said. "We worked very hard and had good defensive pressure in the half court setting. We fouled a little too much and at points our defensive transition wasn't where it needed to be, but there was nothing we can't work on."

Much of this year's success will be based on the Jumbos' NESCAC performance. Last season, the team was 4-5 in the league despite its 17-7 overall mark. Tufts will play league rivals Amherst, Trinity, Colby and three time defending champ Bowdoin at home this season. With a 10-2 record in Cousens Gym last year, home court advantage could help the Jumbos beat their strong NESCAC competitors this season.

The Jumbos will play their first real games of the season this coming weekend in the Ford Tip-Off Tournament at Montclair State College. Their first game will be on Saturday versus FDU Florham. The team's first home game will be next Tuesday, Nov. 25 against Johnson and Wales. NESCAC play will not begin until mid-January.

Berube feels confident about this year's team and is optimistic about its chances to not only repeat, but surpass, 2002-2003's success.

"I'm pleased for the most part [with the preseason]," Berube said. "We are far ahead from where we were at this point last year."

"This year we need to take it one game at a time," Gluckman said. "One of our goals is [to go] undefeated with area schools. We really want to be very competitive in NESCAC and hopefully get to the NCAA's."