Run, pass, shoot.While watching the Stags’ women’s basketball team scrimmage during practice, one cannot help but notice the fast-paced offensive game plan that is being put in place. “We’re going to run, said Head Coach Diane Nolan. “You can see that this team loves to run, too. You can see they like it, too. They throw it up and go. If we don’t run a half-court offense for two-thirds of the game I’ll be more than pleased.”
Dean’s Defense
In order to create more opportunities to run, Nolan and her staff are working on implementing a new defense. It is called a point zone and is a shifting, aggressive half-court set that involves skill and communication. The tall forwards lie back while faster players anticipate steals. Dean Smith made this zone famous during his tenure as head coach of the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team.
“We used it back when we last made the tournament in 2001,” said Nolan. “We have quick perimeter players and tall inside players. We had a profile of a team back then like we have now. The defense helps keep our taller players inside and utilizes our speed with our back court players.”
Ivana’s injury
Ivana Podrug, a senior co-captain, is inching her way back to full strength. Podrug suffered an injury to her lower leg during the off-season while playing for the Croatian National Team. She shot around at practice this past weekend and is looking more and more mobile.
“Ivana will be ready for the opener,” said Nolan. “It was one of those injuries that took a long time to heal. But she is making good progress.”
Riverside Girls
Sophomore guard Sabra Wrice and freshman Baendu Lowenthal will be reunited this season in the red and white. Wrice and Lowenthal have been next-door neighbors and life-long friends in Riverside, N.J. The two played together for four years at Riverside High. “Last year the bookends weren’t together,” said Nolan. “You can see that they are very comfortable playing with each other.”
Tough competition
The Stags first road game is just about as tough as road games get. They travel to what is widely believed to be the loudest basketball arena in the country: Duke’s Camden Indoor Stadim. And if the atmosphere itself wasn’t intimidating enough, the hose Blue Devils were picked as the No. 1 team in the country by ESPN. com.
The Stags also travel to Philadelphia to take on Big East powerhouse Villanova. The Wildcats are just three years removed from a conference title, which they achieved when they ended UConn’s NCAA women’s record 70-game winning streak in the 2002-’03 conference title game.
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