Women shoot for Cancun
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ISSUE: 11/29/07 > Sports > Women shoot for Cancun
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Jessica Bobbitt, above, and Brooke Sunday aim high for the basket during a home game against Bowling Green. |
The women’s basketball team will spend part of their Christmas break in Cancun. However, this trip isn’t just about lying in the sun. They’ll travel to Mexico for the Caribbean Classic, a Dec. 18-19 tournament.
Just because it’s in Cancun doesn’t mean it will be easy – Belmont’s first opponent is the University of South Florida, a team that beat Notre Dame in overtime last season. And this tournament is just part of the grueling schedule that lies ahead of them.
“We have a very tough schedule,” said senior Brooke Sunday. “This should help us for conference games.”
Head coach Tony Cross said tough games go along with the schedule.
Additionally, he said, “We are not the team we were last year.”
On the “not” side is the loss of Alysha Clark. Clark, seventh in the nation last season in field goal percentage and fourth in rebounding and Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, transferred to MTSU. Another challenging factor is that the team is young – three freshmen and five sophomores join three seniors and two juniors, and one of those juniors, Shardé Burkhead, is a transfer new to the team.
The players can feel the anticipation of the new season, following last year’s season in which the players earned the A-Sun Conference championship and made Belmont women’s first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament.
“I am excited about the upcoming games,” sophomore Kristin Bunch said. “We hope to win another A-Sun tournament.”
Of their 13 non-conference games, only four will take place on the home court. The constant travel and away games do have their challenges.
“Its harder to defend a team on its home court,” Sunday said.
However, the Lady Bruins have had some success as they defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi 45-42 in the season opener for both teams.
Freshman Rachel Swisher scored seven points in her first collegiate game.
“I was shocked what the outcome was,” said the freshman post player. “I did better than I thought I did.”
Though the victory was sweet, it was tainted by a 77-65 loss to San Antonio two days later.
“It’s kind of disappointing,” Sunday said. “But it’s too early to get down.”
The sentiment is shared by teammate Bunch who scored ten points during the game.
“I’m disappointed we lost, but I’m hoping we get better,” said the sophomore guard.
On Nov. 15, the Bruins lost to the Mississippi State Bulldogs; the final score was 66-51. That game was followed by a loss to Bowling Green, 77-66, and then a win at Tennessee Tech, 65-59.
But things took a nose dive in the Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by the nation’s No. 19 team, Vanderbilt. The Bruins had their worst loss ever against the host team, falling 104-43, followed by another loss the following day, 80-43, to first-time opponent Michigan.
Still, the whole team echoes the goal of returning to the NCAA tournament this year.
“We know we have to improve,” Sunday said.
