Women's basketball season suffers a weak lift-off

Despite a 1-3 start to the season, the Middlebury women’s basketball team should not be written off.

“Our record thus far does not reflect the team’s potential by any means,” said captain Kaitlyn Fallon ’10.

The team turned in strong performances at the Swarthmore tournament in which they competed against Haverford and the host school, falling 59-42 and 60-57 to the two teams, respectively. In their match-up against Norwich on Tuesday, the Panthers again dropped a frustratingly close game, losing 65-62 to the home team.

The team shooting percentage has been low throughout these opening games, as they shot just .246 and .292 from the floor in the two games of the Swarthmore tournament. However, the Panthers displayed tenacity and determination in both contests, battling back against Swarthmore to bring the game to within three in the final minutes before ultimately falling short. Fallon stepped into her new leadership role with poise, earning all-tournament team honors and contributing 19 points to the team over the two games.

The Norwich game also featured some bright moments for the Panthers. Three players scored in double figures, including Stephany Surette ’12, who posted a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds. The team furthermore proved its heart and determination as it rebounded from a 14-point deficit in the second half to bring the game to within a point, and while their effort did not earn them a win, it is an encouraging sign that this team is nowhere near quitting.

Middlebury refused to be discouraged by these initial setbacks, but rather focused on gearing up for an intense week of three home games that could turn the season around.

“This is going to be an exciting week,” said Maddie Moreau ’12. “Hopefully we’ll be able to bounce back.”

The team has a lot of potential and Moreau is confident that they can make progress going forward into the season. This year’s squad is extremely young, featuring a group of four talented first-years, four sophomores, two juniors who are returning from abroad in January and three seniors. They survived a demanding preseason of intense training together, and are coming back out this season with a new full-court press. Because of the challenging running regimen of the offseason, the Panthers are now a faster and more aggressive team.

“We’re much more athletic this year,” affirmed Moreau. The team is also playing with a greater sense of urgency and effectively pressuring the ball on both ends of the court. The three games now under their belt have been learning experiences for the younger players, and the team expects to take these games and build off of them as the season progresses.

The Panthers do not enter NESCAC play until January, and so are able to use these early games to assess their strengths and weaknesses as a team.

“We’re just trying to gain experience quickly and learn from every game,” said Fallon. “The team is hard-working and dedicated — it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together.” Going forward, the players’ positive outlook and increased speed of play should help them be contenders in the NESCAC division.