The Wolfpack women are running with an elite crowd.
The ladies’ basketball team was ranked #1 in the conference in the preseason, and nothing they have done so far has proven that ranking unwarranted.
Now, the Loyola’s women’s basketball team is looking to move up in the national rankings.
After upsetting eighth-ranked St. Xavier University of Chicago in the Disney Classic 64-59 on Dec. 18, the team improved to 7-2 and positioned themselves, once again, as the number one team in the conference.
The team had a slight hiccup – losing to both Rockhurst and Regis Universities in the Jesuit Classic on Dec. 29 and 30, respectively – but followed that up by opening conference play with two resounding wins against LSU-Shreveport and Belhaven University.
In those two wins, the team outscored opponents 162-127.
“Right now we are ranked 19th in the country and we’re hoping to move up in the new poll due out Wednesday,” coach Dobee Plaisance said after the Saturday night victory over Belhaven.
Plaisance credited the recent success of her ladies to rebounding, scoring well and a few outstanding individual performances.
She said that Christine Mainguy, management senior, and Kiely Schork, mass communication senior, have been particularly good at rebounding, with their defense contributing significantly.
Trenese Smith, whose 35 points against Belhaven tied a Loyola record, has been scorching hot from the field. It was the fourth time this season that she scored more than 20 points, a feat which largely contributed to her earning a second consecutive GCAC Conference Player of the Week Award on Dec. 30.
“This conference is always competitive,” Plaisance said. “Good teams with competitive coaching. Without our A-game any one of them could beat us. When we bring our A-game, we are hard to beat.”
Plaisance, not to be complacent, would like to see improvement in her team’s performance in the first half of games.
“We need stronger defense, more stops and fewer turnovers, better shooting and protecting the ball. We play great in the second half, the first half effort has to get better,” she said.
As the crowd erupted in cheers when the men’s team exited the court at halftime against Belhaven, Plaisance glanced at the scoreboard and the surrounding crowd.
“I’m very pleased with the support of the fans over the holiday break. I’m anticipating even more energy in the Den when the students return.
“I’m looking forward to a great 2008 season and looking forward to repeating our conference performance from 2007,” Plaisance said.
“We are on track to do that.”
Don Weaver can be reached at [email protected]@loyno.edu.
