Spring Break
Guard-heavy Pirates hit the court
Hart Holloman
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Sports
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This year's squad will be led by senior guards Jasmine Young and LaCoya Terry, both preseason All-Conference selections. Their talent and experience was highlighted by Head Coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener.
"Our strength is definitely our guard play with Jasmine and LaCoya," said Baldwin-Tener. "I think we have a lot of experience there and a lot of talent there."
Baldwin-Tener was also quick to point out other areas of the team that she will be counting on to produce good results.
"We also have Allison Spivey out on the wing; she's come along very well," she said.
This year, the Lady Pirates will try to balance out an attack that too many times last season became one-dimensional. Young and Terry both averaged more than 34 minutes per game last year as well as being the only two players to average double figures in scoring. Add in that the two also led the team in assists, and the picture is starting to get a little clearer.
However, finding production from other areas of the court could happen with more frequency this season. Spivey and senior Gabriela Husarova are experienced and active wing players who can also contribute with passing and scoring from the high post.
But the Achilles heel of the team remains the lack of a dominant low post presence.
"The biggest question mark for us is our post players and what they're going to do," Baldwin-Tener said.
Despite the lack of experience, Baldwin-Tener was optimistic about the progress her post players have made since last season.
"Our post players have really conditioned very hard over the last year," she said. "We've really tried to get in better shape on the inside. We've also been working on their technique as well as physical and mental toughness.
"We've got to get better both defensively and offensively on the inside and I think this past year has helped our post players gain a lot of experience that is going to help us this season."
The Lady Pirates are certainly trying to improve on last season's finish; a mediocre seventh in the conference and first round exit in the conference tournament will not do this season as Baldwin-Tener and her players look to win big.
"Every year as a team it's our goal to go to the postseason and this year is no different," Baldwin-Tener said. "We want to win the conference regular season and tournament, and we want to make it to the NCAA tournament."
And this season she believes the team has the talent to accomplish those goals.
"I think our talent has gone up since last year," she said. "I think we are deeper and certainly the incoming freshmen have helped that. We have a very talented squad and they should play very well this season."
ECU has a good chance to finish in the top half of the standings and may advance one or two rounds into the conference tournament, but their lack of skill and experience in the frontcourt could hinder their success this year. Young and Terry will get a lot of attention, but the Lady Pirates will have to find other players who can win games.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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