The Women’s Basketball team opened SUNYAC play with an 85-61 loss to SUNY Fredonia on Dec. 6 and then an 84-60 loss to Buffalo State on Dec. 7.
Head Coach Jamie Seward said the team “really struggled” defending and rebounding, which became more magnified since the team was not making shots. He also said the team is better than their performance in these two games.
Fredonia out-rebounded the Lady Hawks 45-31 and Buffalo State had a 59-39 advantage. On defense, the Lady Hawks have a minus nine scoring differential this season and are allowing 66.5 points per game.
“To be perfectly honest, and we were perfectly honest with our players today when we watched film, it was embarrassing,” Seward said. “We were not pleased with that.”
Third-year Captain Shannon Walker said the team wasn’t tough enough getting loose balls and rebounds and can’t let teams out-compete them.
Despite their struggles, Seward said first-year guard and forward Kit Small and second-year Captain Goldie Harrison were the two “bright spots” from the weekend. Small averaged 13.5 points over the two games and Harrison averaged 10 points.
Seward said the team needs to re-establish their identity as a tough opponent.
“We need to get back to being a team that nobody wants to play against because right now we’re a team that everybody wants to play, which is a complete 180 from what we’ve always been and want to be moving forward,” Seward said.
Walker said the team learned a lot about themselves during the two losses.
“Sometimes you need to get brought down to build up to your potential, so that’s what we’re working on right now,” Walker said.
Seward said the team needs the underclassmen to develop at a faster rate to help the team progress. He also said fourth-year Captain Jeanette Scott has to make sure she stays out of foul trouble, so she can stay on the court to help the team.
“Nobody’s more disappointed than her,” Seward said.
Walker said Seward told the team he still has “complete faith” in them and that the team needs to change their image.
This season, Walker is averaging seven points per game and 2.2 assists per game so far and she said she still has a lot of room for improvement.
“It’s still early in the season and I know I can get up to the level that I want to be,” Walker said.
In their last game before winter break, the Lady Hawks lost to Hamilton College 62-46.
After trailing 34-24 at halftime, the Lady Continentals went on an 11-0 run over the first 5:45 of the second half.
Harrison and Walker led the Lady Hawks in scoring with 11 points each and Scott led the team in rebounds with seven.
Walker said it’s a challenge for the team to stay in game-shape while they’re away from each other, so she said it’s important for the team to go to the weight room and work on their individual skills.
Seward said the team will have off until Jan. 2 to focus on schoolwork, but said they must make sure they stay in shape while they’re away.
“When we get back here for practice we really need to start building from the foundation and working on the fundamentals, which made us successful in the past,” Seward said. “If we’re going to be successful in the future, we need to get back to doing those things.”
Walker said the team still has high expectations for the remainder of the season.
“We still think we have the ability to win the SUNYAC Championship,” Walker said.
The Lady Hawks will have five games over break against SUNY Cortland Jan. 7, SUNY Oneonta Jan. 11, SUNY Oswego Jan. 14, SUNY Plattsbrugh Jan. 17 and SUNY Potsdam Jan. 18.
All of their games over break, except the Oswego game, will be played at the Hawk Center.