Women’s basketball looks to build momentum heading into new season
Brady Goldblatt, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Robbie Gawrys
North Greenville University women’s basketball is getting ready for a new season with a young yet experienced roster and team chemistry that has improved with a goal of becoming one of the best defensive teams in the conference.
After trying to deal with injuries and learning from past seasons mistakes, the Trailblazers are looking to take another step forward. With a lot of players returning and a stronger connection throughout the team, NGU thinks they have what it takes to compete and improve as the season starts soon.
Head coach Lakeisha Brown said the team’s biggest goal heading into the season is to focus on improving every day rather than looking too far ahead.
“Our goal is competing each and every day and getting 1% better every day,” Brown said.
A big challenge for these women will be the team’s schedule. NGU will have to spend much of the opening portion of the season on the road, earning the nickname of “road warriors” from Brown. The Trailblazers will not play their first game at home until December, making it super important for them to dial in when they play away.
Brown also talked about Converse and Lees-McRae as two matchups the team is looking forward to this season. Each game will give NGU an opportunity to test themselves against conference competition.
As the conference schedule approaches, Brown believes the team’s biggest challenge will be to avoid certain mistakes they made last season and stay disciplined on both ends of the floor.
“I think the biggest challenge will be not beating ourselves,” Brown said. “Limiting the mistakes and being the toughest team in the league on defense.”
NGU did not lose many players from last year’s group and is still young for the most part. However, the returning players have gained valuable experience that should help them throughout the season.
Two players Brown thinks will make an impact are Maliyah Mason and Amiyah Lamelle. Mason has continued to develop her leadership and experience while serving as a strong presence in the paint. Lamelle, who missed last season with an ACL injury, is returning stronger and ready to contribute.
The Trailblazers also added a new face to the roster with transfer Ahtiana Benway, who joins the team from Shorter University. Her addition gives NGU another key player, it looks to build depth and continue developing its roster.
While Brown highlighted the importance of the players on the court, she also thinks the relationships in the program will play a major role in the team’s chemistry for success.
Returning player Emery Lindsey shared similar thoughts about the team’s direction and believes its chemistry has improved significantly since last season.
Lindsey said one of the biggest goals for the team is developing mental toughness. With injuries, difficult games and other challenges being part of a basketball season, the team wants to become better at staying focused and supporting one another when things do not go as planned.
Preparation has also been a big focus during the preseason. Brown has started to pay more attention to strength and conditioning after the team dealt with several injuries last year. The players have worked through more intentional strength training and tougher conditioning to increase their endurance and help prevent injuries.
Just like Brown, Lindsey also talked about team chemistry as one of its biggest strengths and how it has improved. Players have developed stronger relationships both on and off the court, allowing them to trust one another.
For Lindsey, she personally hopes to become more consistent throughout the season, especially with shooting, defense and rebounding. Rather than having great performances and dealing with difficult ones, the goal is to become a more dependable player every time she steps onto the court.
Looking ahead, Lindsey thinks the team has plenty of motivation after last season’s struggles. With injured players returning and everyone wanting to improve, the Trailblazers feel they have something to prove.
Lindsey also believes the team’s biggest strength is having nothing to lose. NGU can focus on improving and showing what it has worked toward during the preseason, because the Trailblazers don’t have any pressure on defending a conference championship.
As the season approaches, both Brown and her players understand that building a successful program takes more than talent. It takes commitment, trust and a whole team that is bought in.
Lindsey hopes NGU fans will see a team that is hungry to win and willing to compete together through the ups and downs of the season. She also went of the importance that building a winning culture takes support from the fans, not just the 15 players on the roster.
With a young roster, returning talent and stronger team chemistry, NGU women’s basketball is ready to put its preseason preparation for the test and see where the progress takes them this year.
