Women’s hoops Begin Turnaround After Rough Start

With 10 games remaining in the Women's Basketball season, it seems as though the early season storm has passed. The Stars, plagued with injuries and the lack of a full off-season, struggled in the first half of the season. The season began with the Stars winning just 2 of its first 12 games.

"With me taking over just three weeks before the season started, and the tough schedule we played, we understood that winning would not come easy," said Coach Kristy Ward.

Coach Ward was quick to dismiss the notion that this is a down year for her team.

"I wouldn't say it's a down year, I would say it is a rebuilding year," said Ward.

Coach Ward doesn't like to make excuses, but if she did she would have a long list to choose from. Key post players Christy Roewe and DeAndrea Outten each missed long stretches of the season with concussions. The absence of Roewe and Outten resulted in an inability to defend the paint, grab rebounds, and to consistently score inside. Roewe, who was out for a month after her concussion, was second on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.6 per game.

Guard Sharmayne Edwards also missed the entire first half of the season due to academic reasons. After regaining her eligibility through hard work in the classroom, hard work in the gym followed and helped the Stars gain some momentum going into the last 10 games. In Sharmayne's first two games back, she is leading the team in scoring averaging 19 points a game during that stretch.

The Stars are starting to get back on track and have captured two pivotal road wins in the last three games. The first came in a narrow 58-56 victory over Miami-Dade College, and the next was a convincing 65-55 victory over Santa Fe Community College, who has won the last three conference championships.

"The win against Santa Fe was the first time since 2007 that we had beat them. A win like that can really turn a season around and is huge for our team's confidence," said Ward.

The Stars have continued to lean on standout point guard Williesha "Shorty" Spencer, throughout the up-and-down season. Despite a 6-win and 13-loss record, Spencer has maintained a level of consistent solid play, leading the team in scoring and steals with 12 points per game and 2 steals per game. Monecia Cook has also displayed impressive scoring abilities and is averaging 11 points for the first 19 games.

"Every day in practice we are working hard to raise expectations and working to understand what it takes to win. As long as we improve everyday, I will consider it a successful season," commented Ward.

The Stars begin a three-game home stand on Saturday, Jan. 21, against conference rival College of Central Florida at 4 p.m., and follow with Hillsborough Community College on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m., and take on Santa Fe College on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.