Women's basketball has big plans

The Norwich women's basketball team has started practice and looks to accomplish a lot this season, according to coaches and players.                          

The Cadets participate in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), where last year they finished with a 10-2 conference record and a 20-8 overall record. The Cadets look to build on that success.         

Coach Mark Zacher starts his second season as head coach. "We have a number of new faces that are going to have to step up in a number of different roles, which is a major change. Personnel wise we lost a very strong class."

Christine Daniels, a 21-year-old senior criminal justice major from Concord, N.H., said, "We lost a lot last year but one by one each new player is going to fill the gap. It may take awhile, but we can be just as good as last year if not better."

"We lost five seniors from last year's team due to graduation; they were extremely strong performers and they contributed a great deal of success to the program," Zacher said.

Brittany Ramsay, a 19-year-old sophomore criminal justice major from Brunswick, Vt., said, "I think we have a lot of work to do, but we will have a positive season, it will all work out in the end."

"At the start of the season I was a little skeptical and worried but now that we are into the season, and we have recruited some great players, I feel really confident," Daniels said.

The lady Cadets say they look forward to reaching a lot of goals.

"We want to go beyond everyone's expectations. Everyone thinks this is a rebuilding year for us, but we want to be a great team," said Jessalyn Sweeney, a 20-year-old sophomore physical education major from Stanfordville, N.Y.

"So far everyone (who is) a part of our team seems to know what they are doing, things are looking up for us his season so far," Daniels said.

Team members seem to be on the same page about the start of the season. They are all optimistic about what this year will bring.                                   

Erin Clark, an 18-year-old freshman biology major from Newbury, Vt., said, "Our team chemistry is outstanding, what ever happened last season we are putting all of that behind us."         

The Lady Cadets have a very good team relationship on and off the basketballcourt.    

"I think we are pretty focused; we are just waiting for the season to start. We have great chemistry this year, a lot better than last year," Sweeney said.

"Team chemistry is good; we are very productive, it's my first year on the team and even I notice it, we communicate very well on the floor," Ramsey said.

"We want to get better as a team and beat Emanuel College, and of course win the GNAC championship," said Daniels.

"We want to be the most competitive team we can be throughout the season. Our goal every year is to compete and win the GNAC title, which is our ultimate goal. As long as we are progressing and improving we are going to be fine. We want to be better in January than we were in December," Zacher said.