Women's basketball has successful 'rebuilding year'

After losing four starters and graduating five players, this was supposedly the Lady Cadets' "rebuilding year." The talk around campus and the league were that they were going to struggle and have a losing season.

So far, they have proved their critics wrong.

"We definitely wanted to prove everybody wrong," said Karissa Doyan, a 21-year-old senior from Canaan, Vt., majoring in criminal justice with a minor in sociology. "We felt that coming into the season, we had to show everyone that we had players who could contribute and just hoop."

The Norwich women's basketball team started the 2010-11 season with two early losses, but it turned the season around quickly, winning six of the next seven games.

The team has an overall record of 16-9 and in conference 8-4, according to the Norwich athletic website. Before heading into the quarterfinal game on Tuesday, it was ranked fourth in its conference. (The quarterfinal game occurred after press time.)

"So far we have been doing great with a couple bumps in the road," said Laurel McWilliams a 22-year-old senior from Swanton, Vt., majoring in international studies with a minor in Spanish. "But we knew all along that with dedication and hard work, we were capable of having a successful season like this."

Last season the team failed its goal despite a winning season with 20-8 record. The team's goal for the 2010-2011 season is to win the GNAC championship and qualify for a bid in the NCAA Div III tournament, according to McWilliams.

The Lady Cadets have been led by three key players, Christine Daniels, Karissa Doyan and Laurel McWilliams, all seniors who have stepped up and taken the leadership roles.

According to the Norwich athletic website, Daniels has led the nation this year in double doubles and leads the team in rebounding and scoring, averaging 17 points and 14 rebounds per game. Doyan leads the team in steals with a total of 52 for the season and averages 16 points per game. McWilliams contributes a consistent double double per game averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds.

"Those three have definitely stepped it up this season." said Jocelyn Fasulo, a 21-year-old junior from Merrimack, N.H., majoring in health science. "We look to them for leadership on and off the court." Fasulo has also contributed by leading the team in blocks with a total of 24 for the season.

The program also reached a milestone when Christine Daniels, a 22-year-old senior from Concord, N.H., majoring in criminal justice, scored her 1,000 career point in a recent game against Pine Manor. According to the Norwich athletic website, Daniels became the 11th person in Norwich women's basketball history to achieve this accomplishment.

"I was so overwhelmed," said Co-captain Daniels. "It was a relief, because the pressure was off and I was just so happy and thankful for my teammates in helping achieve this milestone."

With four seniors, the underclassmen look up to the upperclassmen for support and guidance on and off the court.

"All the upperclassmen are welcoming and help us [freshmen] in learning new things," said Kristin Brown, an 18-year-old freshman from Williamstown, Vt., majoring in sports medicine. "If I have any problems in the class or on the court I can always ask them for help."

"On the court I'm not the vocal one, I try to let my play speak for itself and hype up the team defensively," said Doyan. "But I also try to set a good example off the court for our underclassmen."

According to Fasulo, the team's chemistry off the court has been "better than ever."

"This year we're the closest we have ever been," said Fasulo. "As a whole we all bond and gel together well."

"The chemistry off the court is very good and amazing," said co-captain, McWilliams. "And the chemistry on the court is getting better every game."

Practices are typically two hours long and are very intense, according to Daniels.

"We try to make the practices fun," said Daniels. "But at the same time we are always focused and go hard in every drill. We push each other to make ourselves better as well."

"Practices are pretty good," said Brown. "All of us go hard to improve daily, and as the season comes to an end we try to amp it up a little bit to get ready for playoffs."

According to Brown, the team wants to play their rival, Emmanuel College, in the championship game, which beat them 86-53during the regular season.

"Beating Emmanuel would be a great accomplishment for us," said Doyan.  "They're a tough team to beat, but if we continue to play together we can surely hang with them and beat them."

The Cadets are currently third in the conference with three conference games remaining before playoffs begin.

"A lot of people doubted us this year but we still have a lot to prove," said Daniels. "We set our goals high, and are going into the playoffs with a chip on our shoulder. Especially for the seniors on this team, we want to end on a great note."

The Lady Cadets last home game was Feb. 15 in Andrews Hall.