We’re Off!

First things first, let me apologize for our lack of blogging so far this season. We have been so busy since the start of the season that we’ve not blogged in awhile but don’t fear we promise to be better heading into 2012!

It always seems like it takes SOOOO long for the season to actually arrive and then when it does BOOM it comes quick. I’m sure the players feel this but it also extends to coaches, athletic trainers and even athletic communications folks. I tell ya, it seems like just yesterday I was counting down the days to our first game and here we are in the fourth week of the season with seven games under our belt already!

I’m sure you all have been following the team this season and I liken a basketball season to a roller coaster with numerous peaks and a few valleys and we’ve certainly had our share of peaks and valleys so far this season.  Most of you all know that we’re YOUNG. We have two upperclassmen in Sasha Dosenko and Faziah Steen and the rest of our squad is sophomores and freshmen. The grind of a college basketball season is tough for even the most veteran of teams so I’d like to commend our team and coaching staff for taking the season by the horns, young or not.

So far, we’ve had some valleys with tough losses to Kansas State, St. Joseph’s (Pa.), Providence, New Hampshire and Bryant but there have also been some awesome peaks this season. Namely seeing Faziah Steen go bananas against Vermont with a career-high 32 points and 11 rebounds against the then-undefeated Catamounts but for me the biggest and best peak has been the progress of the team as a whole.

Our 2-5 record might not accurately reflect it but this team has made some big strides this season. The rookies are beginning to gel with the upperclassmen and the group as a whole is learning how to play better together and within coach Wielgus’ system. It’s always a learning process when you have so many youngsters but for me its been neat seeing them grow together and also individually. We still have a long way to go but I have no doubt that this group will make some noise especially when we get into Ivy League action.

I’d also like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season from the Dartmouth women’s basketball program. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday season and we hope to see you at Leede Arena really soon!

Make sure to stick with our blog this season (we promise to be more regular with it and I promise we’ll get some of the Big Green players to guest blog here soon).

Also stay updated on all things Dartmouth women’s basketball related by following us on Twitter (@Dartmouth_WBB) and “liking” us on Facebook (Dartmouth Women’s Basketball). As always leave us any questions or comments and we’ll do our best to get them answered.

Happy Holidays,

Jess Poole